Several sources seem to indicate that Italian blackshirt infantry battalions were smaller than the regular army counterparts (60%). Did this hold true for just those blackshirt battalions attached to regular army divisions, or also for the 4 blackshirt infantry divisions in Libya, 1940 ? Sources differ on whether or not the balckshirt division units were "full sized".
thanks,
Tom
Italian Blackshirt battalions
Moderator: George Lepre
Re: Italian Blackshirt battalions
A full strength Battaglione CCNN would have had 735men & would have compared favourably with a Motorised Battaglione Fanteria. At least on paper!
P.S. There were really only three Divisione Blackshirt in Libya, the fourth was broken up & used to form Divisione Catanzaro.
P.S. There were really only three Divisione Blackshirt in Libya, the fourth was broken up & used to form Divisione Catanzaro.
Thanks. Dave.
Re: Italian Blackshirt battalions
David (same person on comandosupremo ?), you say a full strength CC.NN battalion would be 735 men. I take it that you mean that the full strength battalion was for the separate 3 CC.NN divisions, and not the ones attached to the line infantry divisions ?
Sorry to labor the point, but I have so many conflicting reports. Is your value from Montanari or other similar source ? <-- I need to get a copy of this book.
thanks,
Mad Dog
Sorry to labor the point, but I have so many conflicting reports. Is your value from Montanari or other similar source ? <-- I need to get a copy of this book.
thanks,
Mad Dog
Re: Italian Blackshirt battalions
Thanks David.
Mad Dog
Mad Dog