Rare World War II-dated official Soviet Union document in Cyrillic, two pages, 7.75 x 11.5, March 10, 1944. An untranslated decree from Joseph Stalin to Marshal Ivan Konev thanking his troops for their outstanding performance during the March offensive in Ukraine against the Uman axis. As a result of this operation, 14 German divisions suffered a resounding defeat. The document names generals who were particularly successful in the operation and gives the honorific title of ‘Uman’ to their units. It also announces that there will be an artillery salute in Moscow to honor the 2nd Ukrainian Front’s victory over the Uman Khristianovka Group of German troops. Signed at the conclusion in pencil by “Captain Podva,” assistant commander, Operational Department of the Headquarters of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. These two pages were typed on the reverse of pre-WWII vintage maps of the area, a distinction that owes to either the urgency of the missive or to the sheer lack of paper supplies. In very good to fine condition, with overall creasing, and paper loss to the upper left corner.
