Battle of the Two Rivers
The Battle of the Two Rivers () was fought between the Axis forces and Soviet Union during the Eastern Front of the Second World War. The Axis forces during the campaign in combat with the Red Army near two rivers, Bug River and river near Petrykivka, the Axis forces successfully defeated the enemies capturing the strategic positions which weren't recaptured until the counteroffensive of 1943.
Background
The CSIR was formed in an attempt to provide a somewhat mobile unit to fight on a front where mobility was key. Two of the divisions were truck-moveable and one was a (fast) division, drawn from the reserve Army of the Po but this was more on paper than in reality. The CSIR was created by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to show solidarity with Nazi Germany after German dictator Adolf Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa and attacked the Soviet Union. Mussolini created the CSIR, despite the lack of enthusiasm shown by Hitler, on 10 July 1941 and between July and August 1941, the units of the CSIR arrived in southern Russia. The CSIR included an Aviation Command () with a limited number of fighters, bombers and transport aircraft. This command was part of the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) and was also known as the Expeditionary Air Corps in Russia ().
The CSIR was initially subordinated to the German 11th Army (General Eugen Ritter von Schobert). On 14 August 1941, the CSIR was transferred to the control of German Panzer Group 1 (General Ewald von Kleist). On 25 October 1941, Panzer Group 1 was renamed the 1st Panzer Army. The CSIR remained under von Kleist's command until 3 June 1942 when it was subordinated to the German 17th Army (General Richard Ruoff).
Battle
Battle near Bug River
The outbreak of the Battle of Two Rivers began with German aim of nihilation of the Red Army between the Dniester and the Bug River. The first Italian unit which entered the battle was 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio", who was supposed to advance on Nikolayev, then march along the right bank of the Bug, encircling the Soviet forces and eliminating their remaining bridgeheads. On 10 August the vanguard of 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio" advanced upon Voznesensk and the following day despite facing a violent storm marched into Pokrovskoye facing the Soviets who avoided the combat by crossing the Bug River.
The next morning the conflict continued with the first combat of the battle taking place between the Axis forces and the Red Army. The battle remained inconclusive until Axis reinforcements arrived. Upon their arrival the Soviets were defeated, They lost their positions at Nikolayev bridgehead on the Bug River and were forced to retreat. The first Gold Medal which was awarded during the Russian Campaign, was awarded to Alfredo Lutri of the Royal Italian Army. He was a motorcyclist who was on an advanced reconnaissance mission, under heavy fire from an enemy ambush, persisted in his reconnaissance task until he was seriously injured along with his companion in the car. With supreme effort, he resumed driving the motorcycle to communicate the outcome of the reconnaissance to his commander and to rescue his companion. He collapsed dying immediately afterwards, but only mentioned his companion's wound, so that he would be given priority in the treatment.
Battle of Petrikowka
On 16 September 1941 the 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio" was temporarily aggregated to the German 17th Army of Heeresgruppe Sud under Field Marshal von Rundstedt, and on 18 September it took position along the Oril river. On 23 September, the "Pasubio" created a bridgehead at Tsarytchanka, beyond the Dnieper river, in order to allow the German armoured units to cross to the other bank. Soviet forces launched heavy attacks against the bridgehead for three days, but it resisted; farther north, the division's 80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" launched a surprise attack and created another bridgehead at Voinovka. These two bridgeheads allowed German armoured units to cross the river with their tanks and thus break through the Soviet lines. Meanwhile, the 52nd Infantry Division "Torino" and the 63rd CC.NN. Assault Legion "Tagliamento" were transferred to Dnipropetrovsk, whereas the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" was left to garrison the positions along the Dnieper and prepare for crossing.
The 79th Infantry Regiment took a bridgehead at Zaritschanka at first light on 23 September, supported by the 8th Artillery and the Abraham Group, under heavy enemy fire. Despite the gallantry and determination of our soldiers, the Soviets fell back about 10 kilometers beyond the river, repelling all of their counterattacks over the following days.
In the morning of 28 September 1941 the "Torino" attacked the Soviet forces, in order to broaden the bridgehead and reach Obuskvskje. Soviet forces put up a tenacious resistance, but despite this and the minefields the "Torino" eventually broke through the lines held by the Soviet 47th Tank Division near Petrikowka.
On the following day, both the "Torino" and the "Pasubio" divisions were ordered to carry on with their advance towards Petrikowka, where the two divisions were to rejoin and thus cut off the Soviet retreat. At the same time, the 3rd Cavalry Division would send two Bersaglieri battalions of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment on the other bank of the Dnieper, to start to sweep up the Soviet soldiers trapped in the pocket. The two regiments of the "Torino" division (81st and 82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino") and the Tagliamento Legion started their advance in the morning, clashing with several dissolving Soviet units and taking a number of prisoners. The vanguards of the "Torino" were the first to reach Petrikowka, where they met units from the "Pasubio" around 18:00. The 3rd Cavalry Division, after crossing the river, started the sweeping operations, and rejoined the other Italian units in Petrikowka in the evening. The sweeps continued on the following day.
Casualties
Total Italian casualties numbered 291 men, of whom 87 were killed, 190 wounded and 14 missing. About 10,000 Soviet prisoners were captured, along with a large amount of weapons and quadrupeds.
Legacy
General von Mackensen praised the Italian Units for their engagement in this battle:
General Von Schwedler who was made incharge of the Pasubio division wrote:
General Von Kleist who hailed from the Royal Prussian family along with various other Axis generals and numerous common soldiers added to this by praising the Royal Italian Army :