Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
18 August 1944
[No. 167]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Konev

The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, having forced the River Vistula in the Sandomir area, in the course of stubborn fighting advanced up to 50 kilometres forward, expanded the bridgehead captured on the western bank of the Vistula to 120 kilometres along the front, and today, 18 August, took by storm the city of Sandomir — an important German defensive strongpoint on the left bank of the Vistula.

In the fighting during the forcing of the Vistula and for the capture of the Sandomir bridgehead, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Pukhov, Lieutenant-General Zhadov, Colonel-General Gordov, Major-General Cherokmanov, Major-General Onupriyenko, Lieutenant-General Rodimtsev, Major-General Makovchuk, Lieutenant-General Lebedenko, Major-General Puzikov, Major-General Zakharov, Major-General Vekhin, Colonel Belyayev, Major-General Pankratov, Major-General Krasnov, Colonel Muratov, Major-General Gladkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Madatyan, Colonel Samsonov, Colonel Kolobov, Major-General Trofimov, Major-General Baklanov, Major-General Oleinikov, Major-General Motov, Colonel Skryganov, Major-General Pichugin, Major-General Sukhanov, Colonel Rusakov, Major-General Antsiferov; artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Varentsov, Major-General of Artillery Yarovoy, Major-General of Artillery Polosukhin, Major-General of Artillery Kubeyev, Major-General of Artillery Dzevulsky, Major-General of Artillery Poluyektov, Colonel Khusid, Lieutenant-Colonel Tsesar, Lieutenant-Colonel Petruny, Colonel Basov, Major-General of Artillery Dobryansky, Colonel Chevola, Lieutenant-Colonel Korozin, Colonel Rukosuyev, Colonel Sussky, Colonel Franchenko; tankmen of Colonel-General of Tank Troops Novikov, Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Getman, Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Sukhov, Major-General Dremov, Major-General Novikov, Major-General of Tank Troops Mitrofanov; airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Krasovsky, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Ryazanov, Major-General of Aviation Agaltsov, Major-General of Aviation Baranchuk, Lieutenant-Colonel Fetisov, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Zlatotsvetov, Colonel Osadchy, Colonel Kurochkin, Major-General of Aviation Utin, Colonel Pokryshkin, Colonel Machin, Colonel Geibo, Colonel Yuzeyev; sappers of Lieutenant-General of Engineering Troops Galitsky, Colonel Volodin, Colonel Sokolov, Colonel Kordyukov, Colonel Shalokhov, Colonel Podolynny; signallers of Lieutenant-General of Signal Troops Bulychev, Major-General of Signal Troops Akhremenko, Colonel Bogomolov, Lieutenant-Colonel Kostin.

To commemorate the victory won, the formations and units which have distinguished themselves most in the fighting during the forcing of the Vistula and for the capture of the Sandomir bridgehead will be recommended for conferment of the honorary designations "Sandomir" and "Vistula" and for award of orders.

Today, 18 August, at 23.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute the valiant troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front which forced the River Vistula and captured the Sandomir bridgehead with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my thanks to the troops under your command who forced the Vistula and liberated Sandomir.

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

18 August 1944 [No. 167]