Italian Divisional Histories (1-23)

24. Pinerolo
(infantry)
Home Station: Chieti.

Only partially mobilized at the time of the Italian entry into the war, this unit saw service on the Alpine front in June 1940. It was brought up to full strength before deploying to Albania in January 1941. After heavy losses it was pulled out of line and sent to Tirane in March. The next month it was part of the force that invaded Yugoslavia from Albania, where it occupied Ocrida. In May it transferred to Larissa where it remained until the armistice.

25. Bologna
(Infantry)
Home Station: Napoli.

This division was sent to the Libyan-Tunisian border in October 1939. It was transferred to Sirte in March 1941 in an effort to stop the British advance. In May it was one of the divisions besieging Tobruk. It was supposedly motorized in late 1941, but this appears to have been a paper transformation only. In July 1942 it followed the Afrika Korps into Egypt, suffering heavily in the subsequent fighting. The remnants of the 25th were destroyed at El Alamein.

26. Assieta
(Light/"Mountain" Infantry)
Home Station: Asti.

Assieta was partially mobilized in November 1939 in the Torino reserve area and fought the French at 40% strength. After reequipping, it was sent to the Yugoslav frontier as part of Second Army. It occupied Delnice in April 1941, but was brought back to Italy the next month, forming part of the strategic reserve until July. Assieta was then sent to Sicily, where it was destroyed in August 1943.

27. Brescia
(infantry)
Home Station: Catanzaro.

This division formed part of the covering force on the Tunisian border in early 1940. Part of the 27th was deployed with the Tenth Army and was destroyed in early 1941. The rest of the division was reforming in the Tripoli area until mid-1942. At this time it was supposedly motorised, but as with the 25th Division, only on paper. Brescia fought and was destroyed at El Alamein.

28. Aosta
(Infantry)
Home Station: Palermo.

This division mobilized in June 1940 as part of the permanent garrison of Sicily and was later destroyed there in August 1943.

29. Piemonte
(Infantry)
Home Station: Messina.

Mobilized in June 1940 and kept as part of the strategic reserve in Italy until its deployment to Albania in September 1940. It attacked Greece in October of that year and occupied Epirus until June 1941 when it was transferred to the Peloponese. It later formed the garrison of the islands of Aigon, Arxose, Pirgos with the divisional HQ at Patrasso. It was dissolved during September 1943.

30. Saubauda
(infantry)
Home Station: Cagliari.

The 30th was mobilized as part of the permanent garrison of Sardinia. It saw no action until it was marginally involved in fighting the Germans in September 1943. The survivors formed security units for the Allies in October 1944.

31. Calabria
(Infantry)
Home Station: Sassari.

The history of the 31st was much like that of the 30th division as it was part of the Sardinian garrison and was not mobilized until June 1940. It fought the Germans unenthusiastically in September and was also formed into security units in 1944.

32. Marche
(infantry)
Home Station: Venezia.

Marche was mobilized in June 1940 in the Treviano area as part of the general reserve. In March 1941 it was sent to Albania and invaded Yugoslavia the next month, capturing Ragusa and Metkovick. On the 17th of April it met advance motorized elements of the Second Army moving down the Dalmatian coast. It occupied Hercegovina and was later transferred to Ragusa where it surrendered in September 1943.

33. Acqui
(Infantry)
Home Station: Merano.

The 33rd Division was partially mobilized in October 1939 and invaded France the following June. It occupied the Gonca di Condamie area until December 1940, when it was transferred to Albania. It garrisoned the islands of Corfu, Zante, and Santa Maura with the divisional HO at Cephalonica. Elements of Acqui forcibly resisted disarmament by the German forces. The commanding general and 5000 officers and men of Acqui were executed in October for their efforts.

36. Forli
("Mountain" Infantry)
Home Station: Saluzzo.

Forli was partially mobilized in October 1939 and was sent to the Alpine frontier with France. It occupied Maulbosset after the French capitulation. Forli was sent to Albania in February 1941 and fought on that front until the Greek surrender. It then became the Athens garrison until the Italian surrender.