Capture of Stalino

Assault on Stalino
	Part of Eastern Front of World War II
	; Military Memorial Monument of World War II located at Stalino
Date	12 October–20 October 1941
Location	Donetsk, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Result	Decisive Italian victory
Belligerents
Italy; Supported by:; Germany	Soviet Union; Supported by:; United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Giovanni Messe	Georgy Zhukov
Strength
3 divisions; 3rd Bersaglieri; 2 Infantry Battalions; 1 Assault Unit; ;	5 division; 1st Infantry Division; Other Unknown; ;

Assault on Stalino also known as Capture of Stalino was fought between the Italian forces and Soviet Union during the Eastern Front of World War II. The city today is known as Donetsk.

Battle

In its rapid advance toward the Sea of Azov in October 1941, the German 1st Panzer Army pushed the Soviet Southern Front into retreat, prompting the German High Command to order an advance toward Taganrog, Rostov, and Stalino. The Italian “Celere” Division supported this movement, advancing alongside German units despite poor roads and limited transport. Its cavalry and Bersaglieri battalions carried out fast attacks, often fighting scattered Soviet rearguard forces and overcoming strong automatic-weapon resistance. Notable actions included a cavalry charge by elements of the “Savoia” Regiment and the difficult advance of the “Novara Lancers.” After several days of fighting, the Celere Division, using small mobile groups supported by horse artillery, helped break Soviet defenses and took part in the occupation of Stalino on 20 October. Italian commanders praised the division’s determination and mobility, while German commanders acknowledged its decisive and often self-initiated support during the advance.

"The Celere has accomplished superb feats in recent days, reviving the glories of its magnificent regiments. Its contribution to the occupation of the Stalino industrial zone was decisive. I feel immense pride in being your leader, because with your intrepid demeanor, you have created new and greater reasons for Italy to be proud. To all... my warmest praise."
— Giovanni Messe

References

↑ Plocher, Generalleutnant Hermann (2017-06-28). The German Air Force versus Russia, 1941. Eschenburg Press. ISBN 978-1-78720-603-8. Italian corps, captured Stalino on 20 October and occupied thereby the center of the industrial Donets Basin.
↑ Amministratore. "C.S.I.R. - Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia". www.unirr.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
↑ Boylan, Kevin (2024-08-01). Barbarossa 1941: An Atlas of German Army Situation Maps. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4728-4393-7.

[1] Plocher, Generalleutnant Hermann (2017-06-28). The German Air Force versus Russia, 1941. Eschenburg Press. ISBN 978-1-78720-603-8. Italian corps, captured Stalino on 20 October and occupied thereby the center of the industrial Donets Basin.

[2] Amministratore. "C.S.I.R. - Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia". www.unirr.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2025-11-15.

[3] Boylan, Kevin (2024-08-01). Barbarossa 1941: An Atlas of German Army Situation Maps. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4728-4393-7.