Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
6 February 1944
[No. 70]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Malinovsky

Troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, after engaging the enemy in fighting of local significance, pierced the strongly fortified German defence in the areas north-east of Krivoi Rog and north-east of Nikopol, advanced forward over four days of offensive fighting from 45 to 60 kilometres, and widened the breach to 170 kilometres along the front.

In the course of the offensive our troops, having routed four infantry and three tank divisions of the enemy, captured the town and large railway junction of Apostolovo, west of Nikopol, the railway station of Marganets, east of Nikopol, and in addition seized more than 250 other populated places, and reached the lower Dnieper not far from the town of Nikopol.

Thus our troops have cut off the ways of retreat to the west for the German grouping — comprising more than five infantry divisions — operating in the Nikopol area.

In the fighting, distinction was won by the troops of Colonel-General Chuykov, Lieutenant-General Glagolev, Lieutenant-General Sharokhin, Lieutenant-General Shlemin, Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Tanaschisin, Major-General Glazunov, Lieutenant-General Fokanov, Lieutenant-General Utvenko, Major-General Ruchkin, Major-General Kotov, Major-General Kuznetsov, artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Nedelin, Major-General of Artillery Pozharsky, Major-General of Artillery Ratov, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Voznyuk, and airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudets, Major-General of Aviation Tolstikov, and Major-General of Aviation Shevchenko.

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 titles "Apostolovo" and "Lower Dnieper" and for the award of orders.

Today, 6 February, at 21:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who pierced the German defence with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops under your command who carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for Apostolovo and on the lower Dnieper.

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

6 February 1944 [No. 70]