Furious at not having been informed by Hitler of the launch of Barbarossa, Mussolini nevertheless insisted on sending an expeditionary force to take part in the "crusade against Bolshevism". The Corp Spedizione Italiano in Russia (CSIR) arrived in early August in Ukraine. After modest initial commitments, the CSIR took part in the gigantic battle around Kiev in September. On the 23rd, the "Pasubio" Division thus crossed the Dnieper by main force and established a bridgehead which, by evening, was three kilometers deep. But the Red Army was not giving up.
Attacker: Russian (No more details)
Defender: Italian (Elements of the 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio")
