Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
11 February 1944
[No. 73]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Vatutin

Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre and a frontal attack, today, 11 February, captured the town of Shepetovka — a large railway junction and an important strongpoint of the German defence.

In the fighting for the capture of the town of Shepetovka, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Chernyakhovsky, Major-General Afonin, Major-General Chuvakov, Major-General Golosov, Major-General Mishchenko, Major-General Kozik, Colonel Petrenko, tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Poluboyarov, Colonel Novokhatko, artillerymen of Major-General of Artillery Frolov, and airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Krasovsky.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are to be submitted for the award of the honorific title "Shepetovka" and for the award of orders.

Today, 11 February, at 21:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who captured the town of Shepetovka with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Shepetovka.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

11 February 1944 [No. 73]