During [[Operation Barbarossa]] (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the Italian spearheads tasked with securing bridgeheads over the Dnieper and Don Rivers for the panzers units and supporting German infantry, a task which they carried out successfully and suffered heavy casualties defending them during the Russian counterattacks mounted during the [[First Battle of Kiev]].<ref>"From the 20th to the 26th of August Italian Forces have been subjected to extremely fierce Soviet attacks along the Don River. The Bersaglieri, Cavalry and Black Shirts have untiringly repulsed the attacks which wave after wave were launched in the desperate attempt to break through the Italian lines." Il Marco Polo, Issues 13-14, p. 126, Shanghai, 1941</ref> | During [[Operation Barbarossa]] (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the Italian spearheads tasked with securing bridgeheads over the Dnieper and Don Rivers for the panzers units and supporting German infantry, a task which they carried out successfully and suffered heavy casualties defending them during the Russian counterattacks mounted during the [[First Battle of Kiev]].<ref>"From the 20th to the 26th of August Italian Forces have been subjected to extremely fierce Soviet attacks along the Don River. The Bersaglieri, Cavalry and Black Shirts have untiringly repulsed the attacks which wave after wave were launched in the desperate attempt to break through the Italian lines." Il Marco Polo, Issues 13-14, p. 126, Shanghai, 1941</ref> |