Battle of Chazepetovka

Battle of Chazepetovka
Part of Italian–Soviet War
Map highlighting Italian moments and advance on Chazepetovka during the Battle of Chazepetovka
Date 5–14 December 1941 Location Shepetivka, modern day Ukraine 50°11′0″N 27°04′0″E Result Axis victory Capture of Shepetivka
Belligerents
Kingdom of Italy Nazi Germany	Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Giovanni Messe Ugo de Carolis †	Unknown

The Battle of Chazepetovka was fought between combined forces of Italian Royal Army and 1st Panzer Army of Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union in the Second World War. The Axis forces under the command of Giovanni Messe defeated the Russians forcing them to retreat towards Petropavlivka and occupying Chazepetovka.

Battle

In the late November after the Germans lost their ground at Mikhaylovka they planned a combined offensive with the Italian Royal Army on the village of Chazepetovka. The offensive began on 5 December when the temperature was as low as –30 degrees which caused the automatic weapons of the Italians to malfunction. The 80th Regiment which was still advancing towards Chazepetovka after their victory at Gorlovka immediately encountered enemies further slowing their advance. At the morning of 6th December, two columns one consisting of two Battalions of the 82nd Infantry, a Horse Artillery Group, an Anti-Tank Company, and a Flamethrower Squad and the other consisting of two Battalions of the 81st Infantry, a Mortar Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company, a Horse Artillery Group, and a Flamethrower Squad advanced upon the village of Chazepetovka, however they faced heavy resistance by the enemies as the darkness fell the Axis armies retreated to find shelter.

At the dawn of 7th December the offensive was continued, the 81st and 82nd Regiment on one side and 79th Regiment on another side. The offensive continued until 8th December, when the three regiments were finally able to reunite in the town of Chazepetovka. The Axis forces soon captured Chazepetovka but the resistance continued in attempt to recapture the village. The occupation of Debalzevo, Jelanovka, Rajevka,Nekomitovka, Sofjno by the Germans and OIkovakta area by the Italians further weakened the Russian positions. By 13–14 December the Russian positions were severely weakened which forced them to retreat towards Petropavlivka and the Axis occupied the locality.

References

Bibliography

• Scianna, Bastian Matteo (2019). The Italian War on the Eastern Front, 1941–1943: Operations, Myths and Memories. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-26524-3.