The Battle of Nikolaevka (Бой под Николаевкой): a fierce clash between Axis occupation forces and Soviet troops. The Soviets launched a very significant attack that led to a chaotic retreat to the southern part of the Eastern Front, and constituted the crucial and decisive phase of the retreat, resulting in the annihilation of the Italian troops, decimated by deaths, wounded, and prisoners, with only a small portion able to escape from the pocket.
