Stalin Battalion
| Stalin Battalion | |
|---|---|
Flag of the partisan unit | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Disbanded | 14 May 1945 |
| Country | Republic of Carnia Italy |
| Allegiance | Brigate Garibaldi |
| Type | Partisan battalion |
| Colors | Red |
| Engagements | Operation Ataman Battle of Ovaro |
| Commanders | |
| Commander (Until November 1944) | Daniil Varfolomeevič Avdeev |
| Political director | Valentin Bobkov |
The Stalin Battalion was the term used for two partisan divisions that worked within the Brigate Garibaldi and operated in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The battalion was mostly composed of Soviet partisans of Russian, Polish, Georgian, Ukrainian and Cossack descent.[1]
Activities
The battalion was made of 361 partisans, and was founded on 8 September 1943.[2]
Initially, the party operated mostly in Cavazzo Carnico and Amaro, and its political director for most of the war was Valentin Bobkov, known as "Silos".[3]
Their main targets were the German Army and the Cossack SS divisions stationed and governing Kosakenland.[4] The Stalin batallion had two divisions, the first division which operated in Carnia, and the second one which operated in most of Friuli.[1]
Most of the Georgians living in Carnia during the rule of Kosakenland started to develop a favourable opinion of Joseph Stalin due to their discrimination by other groups settled in the area, and also started to idolize the Italian partisans; Multiple would join the Stalin batallion.[5][6]
Aftermath
A few days after the end of the war, on 14 May 1945, 150 partisans of the batallion departed towards the Allied-occupied Austria where they joined the Soviet forces and were pardoned, also bringing along two willing Carnese women.[7]
97 partisans within the battalion had died by the end of the war.[2]
References
- ^ a b Candotti, Mario (1986). Ricordi di un uomo in divisa: naia guerra resistenza (in Italian). Istituto friulano per la storia del movimento di liberazione.
- ^ a b "Partigiani sovietici morti in Friuli, il ricordo 'Comandante Daniel'". Il Friuli (in Italian). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ irsrec@irsrecfvg.eu (19 June 2024). "Scontro tra partigiani del Battaglione "Stalin" e un presidio cosacco a Campagnola di Gemona, Udine (26-27 agosto 1944) - Dizionario online della Resistenza" (in Italian). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ Redazione (14 July 2023). "A Trasaghis si presenta il libro sui partigiani sovietici che operarono in Carnia". Studio Nord News (in Italian). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ CANCIANI, N. (2000). Un anno di guerra – vita con i cosacchi. Villa Santina.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Raimondo Cominesi, Luigi. "ANCHE LORO, SÌ, ANCHE LORO!" (PDF). ANPI.
- ^ M.ROSSI, Soldati sovietici nelle formazioni partigiane del Friuli – Venezia Giulia» in Angelo Ventura (a cura di), La società veneta dalla Resistenza alla Repubblica – Atti del convegno di studi Padova 9 – 11 maggio 1996, Istituto Veneto per la Storia della Resistenza e dell’età contemporanea, Padova, Anni 17-18 1996-1997, p. 253.