In early December 1941 in Debaltseve direction, offensive and defensive battles of World War II started. After German troops were defeated in the Red Army’s attack at Rostov-on-Don, the enemy began offensive operations on the final capture of Donbass. In this regard, the 52nd Italian division "Torino" and General Schwedler’s troops were sent. At the front of the 12th Army began a fierce battle. The Red Army represented by the 71st NKVD Brigade (consisting of the 95th Border Regiment, the 172nd, the 175th and the 176th Infantry Regiments), the 74th Infantry Division (consisting of the 78th, the 109th and the 306th Infantry Regiments) commanded by General Fiodor Sherdin, and the 176th Infantry Division as part of the 404th and the 591st Regiments (commander - Major General Vladimir Martsinkevich) resisted the enemy in this area.