Today, January 20, marks the seventieth anniversary of the Battle of Nowo-Postojalowka Nikolajewka, the lastbattle fought by our military dell'ARMIR during the retreat from Russia. It lasted seven days, during which our Alpinecercarno out of the bag created by the Russians who had broken through the lines on Don North and South do not want to dwell on this because there are hundreds of books available on these facts, what can be definitely say is that the comparison was certainly learn, and means for number of men. Nevertheless the Alpine succeeded with incredible losses, to move towards the way home. Unfortunately for them, this march created, perhaps, more victims of the battle itself because of the shortage of supplies and equipment that are not suitable for climates so rigid.
In addition mockery of life, many arrived near the Italian border were captured by the Germans, who meanwhile had become enemies, and interned in some prison camp.
A Mondovì these days, despite the snow, we commemorate the anniversary with a gathering of Alpini from all over Italy and an interesting exhibition in the chapel of St. Stephen.
Today I've toured armed with my beloved Canon 40D and Tamron 17-50 f 2.8.
About mules will transcribe these lines that might make it more like the idea of the situations where our grandparents lived.
Letter to my dear Urbisaglia of the Alpine driver Peter Bongiovanni from "In Russia with Urbi" - From Peveragno toDon and back "
Dear mule,
if today I write these few lines I owe it to you because with your help are one of the few who have returned from the Russian front.
Urbisaglia was your name, but I had abbreviated "Urbi" were always ready to my call, I said "anduma urbi" and youwere leaving, I will not say you've never done. You have always done more than your duty, to the impossible. First with the cart during marches closer, then in service until January 17 with the slide, on this date began our ordeal.How hungry you eat only to suffer a bit 'of straw and with how much snow you have to quench your thirst, but in spite of everything you've always gone ahead with the slide loads, sometimes frozen, sometimes injured. Had evenlearned to move the slide when the pads ice remained stuck in the snow. Who knows how many will remember and still can say thank you to be back with you.
After many hardships you're still back in Italy, your partner no, "Bimbo" died exhausted while driving making the most of his duty just when he was beginning to feel the scent of Italy.
Maybe someone will laugh, but the truth is that before leaving, I said hello embraced and kissed her with tears.
Thanks dear Muli.
And finally we come to the sore spot, boots. As you can see, the Germans were the most forward technically speaking, Italian boots were not bad for our climate, but the nails were as a thermal bridge and the cold of the Russian winter did not take much time to get your feet frozen. The Russians instead wore simple shod in felt, in fact, at those temperatures the snow does not get wet and you are walking on a soft layer.
