| Capture of Gorlovka | |||||||||
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| Part of Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||||
 CSIR occupied territories of Soviet Union | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Supported by:  Germany |
Supported by:  United Kingdom | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Giovanni Messe |
 Nikolai Vatutin | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 600 Soviet soldiers taken as prisoners | |||||||||
Capture of Gorlovka was fought between the Italian forces and Soviet Union during the Eastern Front of World War II.
The Capture of Gorlovka was a battle during which Italian forces took control of the city of Gorlovka, which had about 120,000 people. Before the attack, soldiers from the Italian "Pasubio" Division spent a week clearing minefields around the city. At the same time, the "Duca d'Aosta" Cavalry Division fought hard to capture the nearby industrial town of Rukovo. On 2 November, the "Pasubio" Division moved toward Gorlovka from the west, and the "Duca d'Aosta" Division approached from the southeast. The city was defended by the Soviet 296th Rifle Division. The 80th Regiment of the "Pasubio" Division fought in close house-to-house battles, while the 79th Regiment, supported by artillery from the "Duca d'Aosta" Division, advanced through the city center with less resistance. About 600 Soviet soldiers were taken prisoner, though total Soviet losses are not known. The 296th Rifle Division eventually withdrew, and fighting continued for a few more days as Italian troops cleared the last defenders from Gorlovka and nearby areas.