In the early 1930s, the Italian Army began to experiment with many of the new concepts introduced during the First World War. The cyclist bersaglieri units had played a prominent role in the final stages of 1918 along with the cavalry divisions. It was decided to produce units combining the mobility of the cavalry with the elite infantry support of the bersaglieri regiments. Additionally, a role was to be given to the newly organized tank units, which would be included in the new celere (mobile) divisions.

The first tests were conducted in 1932. While the concept, as well as the divisions, existed before 1932, they had previously been strictly cavalry formations. The new units were conceived as breakthrough and pursuit units in a future war of maneuver. The celere division also addressed Italy's lack of motor vehicles, in that they required less motorized transport than an armored or motorized division and could operate more effectively in the rugged Italian terrain.

The 19th (Guides) Cavalry Regiment formed the first cavalrytank units, equipped with the CV 33 tankette and later the "improved" CV 35. The 1/19 formed the first tank group "San Marco" in January 1933, soon followed by the "San Guisto", and the "San Martino" in June. Each consisted of 43 CV 33s. These were later reinforced to a strength of 61 tankettes, organized in 3 companies. The bulk of each division was made up of two cavalry regiments (occasionally three) as well as a cyclist bersaglieri regiment. Each cavalry regiment deployed two battalions (each of two companies) as well as a regimental machine gun company.

The bersaglieri regiment consisted of three battalions of bicyclists, although many of these later converted to motorized or motorcycle units. Heavy weapons support was provided by an artillery regiment with one horsedrawn and two motorized battalions of 75n7 guns. All battalions deployed three batteries of four guns each. Anti-aircraft protection consisted of one or two batteries of 20mm guns and there were usually one or two anti- tank companies also attached. The total unit consisted of over 300 officers, 400 NCOs, and 6600 men. There were 172 LMGs, 249 HMGs (including those mounted on AFVs), 16x 20mm Breda AA guns, 24x 75/27 guns, and 8x 47/32 AT guns.

Motorized transport was provided by more than 400 cars, 530 trucks and 32 tractors. During the course of the late 1930s, the celere units continued to train together as well as swap regiments back and forth. By 1938, the units were finally officially recognized as divisional entities and were part of the elite Arrny of the Po.

Exercises continued during this time, as the Italian army "perfected' its celere doctrine. A scratch regiment was formed with a battalion of bersaglieri from each celere division in April 1939, for the invasion of Albania, but these were soon returned to the parent units. By September 1939, there were 66 cavalry squadrons, 15 MG squadrons, and 9 tank squadrons serving with the cavalry forces.

War Diary

The Italian declaration of war in June 1940 found the celere divisions in the Veneto area as army reserve. They were not involved in the conflict with the French. The divisions were called upon to give up the motorized portion of their artillery in March 1941, due to the critical situation in North Africa. Each of the celere divisions supplied its two motorized battalions of 75/27 guns, which left only the battalion of horse-drawn 75/27s as divisional artillery support.

At this time, each of the divisions was reinforced to three regiments as a temporary strengthening for combat. The three divisions formed the Celere Corps of the 2nd Army and invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. The 1st Division was only marginally involved, ending the campaign in Karlovac where it performed anti- partisan and railroad security duties until the Italian surrender, ending the war at Susak and Fiume.

The 2nd Division was involved in minor fighting in the Delnice area and later performed security duties in the Italian occupation zone. It was back in Italy by October for additional training where it was selected in early 1942 to become the next armored division, the 134th Frecchia (arrow), and began intensive training. The 10th Cavalry Regiment (Victor Emanuelle 11) was assigned to the 134th as the armor regiment and in June 1942, the 8th Cavalry Regiment (Lancers di Montebello) began reequipping as the divisional recon unit.

However, due to material shortages in North Africa, the conversion to armor was halted. The unit was rebuilt as an understrength motorized division (or cavalry depending on which source you believe) with 3 cavalry regiments. The 2nd Celere Division invaded Vichy France in Nov. 1942 and was transferred to Torino in September 1943 where it surrendered.

The 3rd Celere Division ended the Yugoslav campaign in Split, where it performed occupation duties in May 1941. The division was selected to become a part of the Italian expeditionary force in the Soviet Union. Due to the inadequate nature of its artillery support, the remaining artillery battalions were withdrawn from the 1" and 2nd divisions, which allowed the 3rJ to deploy a full regiment of horse artillery. The celere reequipped and was in line by August, 1941.

The 3rd Celere Division was a part of the CSIR, the Italian expeditionary force in the Soviet Union. The other two divisions (9th Pasubio and 52nd Torino) were only semimotorized, so 3rd Celere was a welcome addition to the force. The division was involved in several operations to fix Soviet forces, while other units of the corps, and German formations, surrounded the enemy.

The unit ended the year deep in Russia with most of its equipment and vehicles, including all the L3 tankettes, left behind in the mud. The 3rd Celere was reorganized in early 1942, as the Italian high command realized the limitations of the celere division on the Eastern Front.

Both of the cavalry regiments formed a separate unit, the "Balbo" cavalry brigade along with the horse-drawn artillery regiment (still of 36x 75/27 guns). The 6th Bersaglieri Regiment was sent from the 2nd Celere Division to join with the 3rd to form what was, in effect, a motorized bersaglieri division. Heavy support was provided by the 120th Motorized Artillery Regiment (two battalions of 75/27, one battalion of 100/17, one battery of 75/34 AT, and two batteries of 20mm AA guns). The 47th Motorcycle Bersaglieri Battalion was the division's reconnaissance unit and there were two additional AT companies with 8x 47/32 guns each.

Additional punch was provided by the 67th Bersaglieri Armored Battalion (equipped with 55 L6 light tanks) and the 13th Alessandria Battalion which deployed two squadrons of 47/32 semoventis. The reformed unit was now a part of the 35~ Corps in the 8th Italian Army. This force was placed in between the Hungarian Second and Rumanian Third Armies to minimize friction between these mutually hostile formations. At the same time, the Balbo brigade also deployed as a part of the corps and was in action on the Don. These cavalry units successfully maneuvered to defeat enemy columns on 24 August at Isuduchenskij, conducting one of the last cavalry charges in WWII.

The Don began to freeze in November 1942 and there were two Soviet bridgeheads on the Italian side of the river. The first Soviet attack hit on 19 December and the Celere Division moved to block the advance. The unit was quickly smashed and the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was surrounded and destroyed. The Balbo was in reserve behind the Alpini Corps and was destroyed fighting with the Cosseria Division.

Remnants of the division fell back in line with the other abused formations of the 8th Army, only the 6th Bersaglieri and, surprisingly, the 23 CCNN Brigade retaining any fighting value. The entire army was mustered at Gomel (where the Balbo was dissolved) and repatriated back to Italy in March 1943. The 3rd Celere began to reform in April in the Bologna area with the same regiments as before and was still reforming at the surrender.

Much of the Italian cavalry force was organized in independent regiments, which were structured identically as the regiments organic to the celere divisions, except for the addition of a small (15 AFV) armored unit attached to each regiment. The 6th, 7th, and 19th Regiments distinguished themselves in the Albanian campaign and went on to provide mobile support in the anti- partisan campaign which followed.

A new regiment (15th was organized in 1942 when the RECAM recon unit was reformed (see TEM 41 for a history of this unit). Other regiments sent battalions to North Africa to serve as armored recon units for the armored divisions in the desert. The 3rd battalion of the Nizza regiment served with the 132nd Ariete Armored Division and the 3rd battalion of the Novara Lancers provided the same function for the 133rd Littorio Armored Division.

Other cavalry regiments formed dismounted units (gruppo appiado) which were organized as very weak infantry battalions. As the new light tanks (the L6) became available, some of them were allocated to a few cavalry regiments as well. These included the 9th, 13th, 15th, and 19th. Each was organized with two battalions of light armor (three companies each) as well as a battalion of semoventis (most often 75/18). Additional cavalry regiments were part of the reorganized 134th and 135th Armored Divisions, but the structure of these units is more properly assigned to a forthcoming Italian armored unit article. Most of these units fought against the Germans (mostly with little or no success) and were disbanded in September 1943.

While the Italian Arrny had a good initial idea in the celere divisions, as was usual with the Italian military, poorly designed, obsolescent equipment made it difficult for the celere units to live up to their potential. While other countries also experimented with the cavalry-motorized concept, the Italians carried it further than most. Unfortunately, the concept was severely flawed.

Regiments of the Celere Divisions:

Unit	Cav	Bers	Art
1937
1st division	2,12	11	1 AC
2nd division	4,6	6	2 AC
3rd division	3,5	8	3 AC
October 1938
1st division	12,13	11	1 AC
2nd division	2,9,10	6	2 AC
3rd division	3,5	3	3 AC
June 1940
same as 1938
April 1941
1st division	1,12,14	11	III/1AC
2nd division	2,9,10	6	III/2 AC
3rd division	3,4,5	3	III/3 AC
September 1943
1st division	12,14	11	1 AC
2nd division	1,2,4	none	none
3rd division	3,5	3	3 AC

Abbreviations:

AC Artiglieri da Cavallarie;
Art Artillery;
Bers Bersaglieri;
Cav Cavalry
ADdA Amedeo Duca d'Aosta (Amadeo, Duke of Aosta]
EdS Eugenio di Savoia [Eugene of Savoy]
EFTF Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro [Emanuel Filbert, Man of Iron]

The Celere Divisions in Europa:

1st "Eugenio di Savoia" [16A:4815, Udine]
BF: 1x 5-8 Cav XX 1 EdS
SF 1x 5-8 Mot XX 1 EdS

2nd "Emmanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro" [16A:5122, Ferrara]
BF: 1 x 5-8 Cav XX 2EFTF
SF: 1x 5-8 Mot XX 2EFTF

3rd "Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" [16A:4722, Verona]
FoF: 1 x 5-8 Cav XX 3ADdA
BF: 1x 5-8 Cav XX 3ADdA
FiE/SE: 1x 5-8 Cav XX 3ADdA, 1x 5-8 Mot XX 3ADdA
SF: 1x 5-8 Mot XX 3ADdA

Bibliography:

Captured Italian Military Records. T 821, rolls 107, 374; T 78, roll 226.
Greene, Jack. Mare Nostrum; 1990.
Lami, Lucio. L'Ultima Carica; 1970.
Madej, Victor (ed.), Italian Army Order of Battle; 1990.
Military Intelligence Srv., Handbook of Italian Military Forces; 1943.
Sweet, J. I. Iron Arm: Mechanization of Mussolini's Army; 1980.
Storico, Ufficio. L'Esercito e I Suoi Corpi (vol. 11); 1971.