During World War II, Alpini divisions in which applied to several fronts. In 1942 the Italian expeditionary force had been sent regarding Russian front side to support the Wehrmacht. It included the Alpini Julia, Tridentina and Cuneense divisions. The Italian Alpini took active component at the protection of this Don front nonetheless they had been outnumbered and surrounded by the troops regarding the Red Army. The Alpini divisions were forced to retreat with an extended and heroic march, in serious conditions, through the cool wastes of Russian steppe. During the retreat these were additionally engaged in tough clashes. The most famous could be the battle of Nikolajewka that happened on January1943