It is going to be important here to define just what I mean by a "full scale cavalry charge". I am looking at a charge made by multiple squadrons in close order against an actively resisting enemy. For American readers, a "Cavalry Squadron" referred to here is the European organisation of what would be a Company sized unit in an infantry formation, the US Army would refer to this unit as a "Troop". The charge of the Savoia Cavalleria was by no means the last cavalry charge in history, I have heard stories of Grey's Scouts, during the Rhodesian war, charging groups of insurgents in the 1970's, but it was the last full Regimental charge to destroy an enemy by shock affect and close combat; sabres, trumpets and all.
Colonel Alessandro, Count Bettoni Cazzago with the Regimental standard in Russia.
The battle took place a year into Hitler's Russian campaign, on 24th August 1942. Part of Mussolini's support for Operation Barbarossa was the 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Savoia Caballeria", part of the 3rd Mobile Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta", at that time serving in the Don River region. The Savoia regiment, commanded by Colonel Alessandro, Count Bettoni Cazzago, was at the time of the engagement at a strength of around 650 men (from a full strength of 872) organised with a HQ Squadron, 4 Sabre Squadrons and a Machinegun Squadron.
Background
The Soviet army had pushed back the Italian forces north of Stalingrad, through sheer weight of numbers the 2nd Sforzesca Division was being continually pushed back and unable to reform and hold a defensive position. The Italian 8th Army Command ordered the 3rd Savoia Cavalry Regiment to move to a flanking position to protect their comrades from the Sforzesca Division and allow them a respite in which to reform and get back into the fight.
On the evening of the 23rd August 1942, Col. Bettoni and his regiment arrived, after some skirmishes with small Soviet units, in the vicinity of the position that they were to secure and hold, the colonel ordered a halt around a kilometre short of the objective to allow for the men an horses to rest for the night and to advance into the rough, hilly terrain in good light the next morning.
During the night the Soviet 812th Siberian Rifle Regiment, with a strength of around 2,500 men, occupied hill 213.5, and dug in. Noting the Italians in the distance, the Soviet commander formed his units into a slight crescent shape with the bowl of the crescent facing the Italians to maximise the fire of his troops when the cavalry advanced. A most deadly ambush was in place and waiting to be tripped.
The Battle
Being nobody's fool Col. Bettoni dispatched reconnaissance patrols to examine the hill in the night and prepare for his occupation of the position in the morning. Before dawn on the 24th, at around 03:30, a patrol made contact with the Soviet troops, whether by design or through nerves the entire defensive position opened fire revealing their dispositions clearly to the officers of the Savoia regiment.
Under fire, the Italian machineguns engaged the Soviets at long range and Col. Bettoni assessed the situation. It was obvious that the Savoia Regiment was greatly outnumbered (more than 4 to 1) and so an engagement trading fire was out of the question. In order to complete his mission and relieve the pressure on the Sforzesca Division, the regiment would have to break the morale of the Soviets and have them flee in terror. The solution to the problem was obviously a cavalry charge, but how to actually manage to get close enough to the enemy to bring the true terror of an attack by shock action cavalry to bear on the Soviets dug in on the hill. The problem was lessened however when the Colonel was made aware of dead ground on the left of the position which could well screen a squadron moving onto the enemy's flank. The ground and the Soviet deployment both favoured a flanking attack and so over an early breakfast Col. Bettoni laid out his plans for his subordinates.
The Regiment paraded, colours flying above the grey clad ranks, the traditional blood red ties of the Savoia circling the troopers necks and trumpeters mounted on greys before the formation. There in the middle of the first mechanised war was a sight that would have found favour with Fredrick the Great or Eugene, the great Savoyard himself. Pristine, white gloved officers took their places and the battle began in earnest.
The 2nd Squadron, under Captain De Leone moved off to the left flank and into the dead ground, screen from both view and fire from the Soviets. Once in position and ready on the Soviet flank Capt. De Leone ordered the walk march, the trumpets brazen cry gave the order and so began the last great cavalry charge; the end of an era. As the horsemen advance the trumpets called for the trot and then gallop and finally "Carica!", Charge! and to the sound of the trumpets and shouts of "Savoy!" the traditional battle cry of the regiment, they fell upon the Soviet flank.
The 2nd Squadron, Savoia Cavalleria at Izbuscenski - Photograph taken by Captain Silvano Abbà, recovered from a camera found on his body after the battle.
The Siberians unable to bring any weight of fire against the threat were soon swarmed under by the cavalry troopers, throwing grenades and shooting from horseback as well as slashing with their sabres any Soviet who presented himself. The 2nd Squadron charged along almost half of the Soviet position before moving behind the position to regroup. Fewer than half of the squadron were present when they reformed, Captain De Leone was one of those dismounted on the hill.
Seeing the action underway, Col. Bettoni ordered the 4th Squadron, under Captain Silvano Abbà, to dismount and to assault the hill on foot in order to force the Soviets to split their attention from the 2nd Squadron. The 4th Squadron advanced in skirmish order putting the Soviet positions under fire and pinning them in position. At this point, with the Soviets wavering, the 3rd Squadron along with members of the Regimental staff were ordered to charge the enemy front.
Captain Marchio and his 3rd Squadron were the straw that broke the camel's back. The remnants of the 2nd Squadron at this moment charged back into the Soviet position and with troops fighting on foot atop the hill, infantry climbing the hill from the front, cavalry charging in support and then cavalry charging from behind, the Soviet will to resist crumbled and the 812th broke in rout and those who could fled. So ended the charge of the Savoia Cavalleria at Izbuscenski.
Aftermath
The "Savoia Cavalleria" lost 3 officers and 29 enlisted men, and 52 wounded (considerably more horses were lost during the action), and the Soviets lost around 1,000 (sources vary quite widely) men killed or captured along with 4 artillery pieces and numerous other weapons. This was a momentous victory for Italian arms, at a time when Italian forces had a reputation for cowardice and surrender, this action proves that without doubt, when well led, Italian troops can produce acts of gallantry that are outstanding.
www.esercito.difesa.it, via Wikimedia Commons
The Regiment lives on today, now as a modern mechanised cavalry regiment, serving in the Paracadutisti (Airborne) Brigade "Folgore", mounted in Centuro B1 Tank Destroyers. The Regiment still carries on the tradition of the red tie and its Regimental day is the 24th August in memory of their Regiment's famous charge at Izbuscenski.