Historical Background:
The Russian offensive on the rear of Axis troops in Stalingrad was going on. Defeated by the sudden attack, Italian divisions of ARMIR, withdrew in order to escape of the surrounding.
The Alpini Division "Tridentina" kept its cohesion and its combat force. On the 25th of January 1943,as vanguard of the retreating troops, the Italian Alpin Corps arrived in front of the town of Nikolaievka occupied by Russian troops closing the gap. For Italian officers, the only solution was to seize Nikolaievka then to rush out of the pocket. With the support of same German stugs, Italian Alpini attacked in a bayonet charge against Russian machine-guns.The battle lasted 10 hours and after the capture of the train station and the ballast, the access to the city was made by the underground and it was then a large street fighting.
Italian losses were heavy and the breakthrough was made and the remains of the ARMIR could reached the new Axis lines.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Italia] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [Russia]: 5 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
6 medals.
Exit markers are in effect on the whole Allied baseline, for the Axis forces (Action 23).

Special Rules:
- Use "Red Army" rules, (Nations 2).
- Use "Royal Italian Army" rules (Nations 6) to all Axis infantry units. Badges are not required.
- Hills represent the ballast of the railway.
- The bridge represent the underground under the railway. From the ballast, it's not possible to fire to the underground and vice-versa.
- The "Air Power" card is not allowed to any player, no plane due to bad weather.

Scenario Bibliography:
- Magazine 2ème Guerre mondiale n°21 - Itinéraire d'un capitaine des Alpini.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.