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

1. Candotti, Mario (1986). Ricordi di un uomo in divisa: naia guerra resistenza (in Italian). Istituto friulano per la storia del movimento di liberazione.
2. "Partigiani sovietici morti in Friuli, il ricordo 'Comandante Daniel'". Il Friuli (in Italian). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
3. [e-mail] (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.
4. 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.
5. CANCIANI, N. (2000). Un anno di guerra – vita con i cosacchi. Villa Santina.
6. Raimondo Cominesi, Luigi. "ANCHE LORO, SÌ, ANCHE LORO!" (PDF). ANPI.
7. 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.