Italian Army from 1939-1944

[Abel Ravasz]

Did it give at the Italian army also as as military districts?

I suppose Jan wanted to ask if there existed in Italy a system similar to the German Wehrkreise (=did each unit have a specific area from where the the troops were conscripted from, and if yes, what were these areas).

Best,

Abel

[Lupo Solitario]

Hi
And the other Divisions?

Jan

8th Army divisions in Russia were alpine 2nd "Tridentina", 3rd "Julia", 4th "Cuneense", infantry 2nd "Sforzesca", 3rd "Ravenna", 5th "Cosseria", 9th "Pasubio", 52nd "Torino", 156th "Vicenza" and 3rd celere "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta"

anyway a good list of italian division in WWII is there:
http://www.feldgrau.com/iaoob.html

[Lupo Solitario]

Did it give at the Italian army also as as military districts?

I suppose Jan wanted to ask if there existed in Italy a system similar to the German Wehrkreise (=did each unit have a specific area from where the the troops were conscripted from, and if yes, what were these areas).

Best,

Abel

Ah, ok, thanks...answer is complicated but more no than yes...

I mean: Italian Army usually keep conscripts from different districts and join them in a single unit, garrisoned in a different part of Italy and with a different name, too. Anyway in WWII, many italian units were enroled mainly in the same part of Italy. Unfortunately I ignore many of those conections...for example, division Sforzesca took personnel from Brescia and Bergamo provinces, division Torino mainly in Rome and the 6th Bersaglieri was largely formed by people from Emilia. Motorized troops came mainly from northern italy cause it was easier find learned conscripts.
The only corp where there was a close regional enrolement were mountain troops (alpini).

[Jan]

Where were the paratroopers set up?

Jan

Happy new Year

[Lupo Solitario]

Tarquinia parachute school, formed in 1939; a second school was opened in 1942 at Viterbo

Happy New Year to you, too

[Jan]

If you as much notion do not have why make you your own homepage?

Jan

[Lupo Solitario]

1) no time
2) not so good in managing internet

[Shadow]

Hello "Jan" -

Check your PM's please.

Best regards -

[Jan]

Hi Lupo
What for Italian army corps gave it?

Cheers Jan

[Lupo Solitario]

Hi Lupo
What for Italian army corps gave it?

Cheers Jan

ehmmm, sorry but I've not understood the question again...

[Jan]

What for army corps gave it at the Italian army?

Was für Armee Korps gab es bei der Italienischen Armee?

I.AK (it.)....

Jan

[Lupo Solitario]

ok, let's try...

Italian Army used roman numbers to indicate Corps, so: I Corps, II Corps, etc. Many corps had a functional name either than a number: armored corps, alpine corps, celere corps, etc...
Corps could switch from an army to another
A Corps included usually from 2 to 4-5 divisions. Corps Troops included a Corps Artllery Group of 4-5 battalions, an Engineer Group of 2-3 battalions (including Signal) and some other unit as MG, blackshirts battalions or a recon element plus the logistic structure.
During WWII, Italian Army operated about 35 Corps; they were rarely deactived (usually for complete distruction on field) and often reactivated after a bit.
In occupied nations as Greece, territory was divided in Corps Operative Areas which were substantially fixed. Divisions were rotated between Corps while Corps stayed on place.
Moving divisions between Corps was a usual move. Corps could be inserted in an army or depending directly by an upper command.

try to list main campaign for italian corps
I: france 6/40 italo-french armistice line 7/40-10/42 occupation of southern france 11/42-9/43
II: france 6/40 italo-french armistice line 7/40-spring 42 Russia summer 42-spring 43 rebuiling in central italy summer 43
III:france 6/40 greek-albanian front 11/40-4/41 occupation of thessalia 5/41-/43
IV: france 6/40 greek-albanian front 12/40-4/41 garrison north albania 5/41-9/43
V: italo-yugo border 6/40-3/41 invasion of yugoslavia 4/41 occupation of north dalmatia 5/41-9/43
VI: reserve 6/40 invasion of yugoslavia 4/41 occupation of south dalmatia 5/41-9/43
VII: reserve 6/40 occupation of Corsica 11/42-9/41
VIII: reserve 6/40 greek-albanian front 11/40-4/41 occupation of peloponnesos 5/41-/43
IX: garrisoning southern italy 6/40-9/43
X: north africa 6/40-11/42 (destroyed)
XI: italo-yugo border 6/40-3/41 invasion of yugoslavia 4/41 occupation of slovenia 5/41-9/43
XII: garrisoning sicily 6/40-6/43 sicilian campaign 7-8/43
XIII: garrisoning sardinia 6/40-6/43
XIV: reserve 6/40 invasion of yugoslavia 4/41 occupation of montenegro 5/41-9/43
XV: france 6/40 italo-french armistice line 7/40-10/42 occupation of southern france 11/42-9/43
XVI: activated in 1942 for Malta invasion. garrisoning sicily summer 42-6/43 sicilian campaign 7-8/43 north italy 9/43
XVII: activated in 1941 invasion of Yugoslavia 4/41 central italy 9/43
XVIII: activated in 1942 occupation of central dalmatia summer 42-9/43
XIX: garrisoning southern italy summer 1943
XX: north africa 6/40-5/43 (destroyed)
XXI: north africa 6/40-2/41 (destroyed) reformed north africa spring 42-5/43 (destroyed)
XXII:north africa 6/40-2/41 (destroyed) reformed italo-french armistice line spring-10/42 occupation of southern france 11/42-9/43
XXIII: north africa 6-12/40 (destroyed) reformed italo-yugo border spring 42-9/43
XXIV: activated in 1943 italo-yugo border spring-9/43
XXV: activated in 1940 greek-albanian front 10/40-4/41 garrisoning south albania 5/41-9/43
XXVI: albania 6/40 greek-albanian front 10/40-4/41 occupation of epirus 5/41-9/43
XXX: activated in 1942 for Malta invasion. North africa 11/42-4/43 garrisoning sardinia 6-9/43
XXXV: activated in 1942 Russia 7/42-3/43 northern italy 4-9/43

not numbered corps

Alpine: france 6/40 russia 9/42-3/43
Armored: reserve 40 central italy 9/43
Autotrasportabile: reserve 40, invasion of Yugoslavia 4/41
Celere: reserve 40, invasion of Yugoslavia 4/41
Special: Greek albanian front 12/40-6/41
CSIR: Russia 8/41-6/42
CAM: north africa fall 41-spring 42

hope having forgotten none

[Jan]

Very intrested.
Have you Information of 11.it.Army?

Jan

[Lupo Solitario]

Formed November 1940 as right wing of italian front in Albania on:
VIII Corps: infantry division 47th "Bari", alpine division 3rd "Julia"
XXV Corps: infantry divisions 23rd "Ferrara" and 51st "Siena", armored division 131st "Centauro"

Grown in succesive months. In March 1941, the OOB was
IV Corps: alpine division 5th "Pusteria" infantry division 22nd "Cacciatori delle Alpi"
VIII Corps: infantry divisions 24th "Pinerolo", 59th "Cagliari", 38th "Puglie", 47th "Bari", 51st "Siena"
XXV Corps: alpine division 3rd "Julia", infantry divisions 2nd "Sforzesca", 7th "Lupi di Toscana", 37th "Modena", 11th "Brennero"
Special Corps: special alpine division, infantry divisions 33rd "Acqui", 6th "Cuneo"
army reserve: armored division 131st "Centauro"

after "Marita", 11th Army was charged to occupation of Greece controlling three Corps Area
III Corps in Thessalia
VIII Corps in Peloponnesos
XXVI Corps in Epirus
plus the italian garrison of Crete.
Divisions changed often between corps. The only OOB I got is for October 11, 1942
III Corps: infantry divisions 11th "Brennero", 36th "Forlì", 24th "Pinerolo"
VIII Corps: infantry divisions 29th "Piemonte", 59th "Cagliari"
XXVI Corps: infantry divisions 56th "Casale", 37th "Modena"
Crete Garrison: infantry division 51st "Siena"

(continue...)

[alain piquet]

do you have orders of battle for the CSIR during its fight in russia(composition and superior formation from its beginning to the transformation in 8 italian army),and what was the mission of the vicenza division ,she doesn't appear on the oob of the 8 ital. army.thank you for the informations you could give.