1st Blackshirt Division (23 March) (Italy)

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The Italian Blackshirt Division 23 Marzo (Italian, Divisione CC.NN. "23 Marzo") was an Italian MVSN Blackshirt militia unit formed for the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. During the Second World War it was encircled at Bardia and surrendered to the British forces in January of 1941. It was named 23 Marzo (Italian, 23 March) in honor of the founding of the Italian Fascist Party in 23 March 1919.

Contents 1 Order of Battle 1935-36 2 Order of battle 1940 3 Source 4 External links

[edit] Order of Battle 1935-36

"23 Marzo" Blackshirts Division - Gen. Ettore Bastico, (23/4/35 - 20/11/35), Gen. S.A.R. Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia (20/11/35 - 29/2/36)

• 135th Blackshirts Legion "Indomita"
  • 135th Blackshirts Battalion "Indomito"
  • 88th Blackshirts Battalion "Cappellini"
  • 135th MMG Company
  • 135th pack-artillery battery
• 192nd Blackshirts Legion "Francesco Ferrucci"
  • 190th Blackshirts Battalion "Pisa"
  • 192nd Blackshirts Battalion "Francesco Ferrucci"
  • 192th MMG Company
  • 192th pack-artillery battery
• 202nd Blackshirts Legion "Cacciatori del Tevere"
  • 202nd Blackshirts Battalion "Cacciatori del Tevere"
  • 204th Blackshirts Battalion "Trotti"
  • 202nd MMG Company
  • 202nd pack-artillery battery
• 1st Blackshirts MMG Bn
• 1st Artillery Battalion (65L17 - Army)
• 1st Special Engineers Company (mixed Blackshirts and Army)
• 2 x Replacements Battalions

Notes:

• Additionally the Division had a Medical Section, Logistics Section, and transport of a Pack-Mules unit (1600 mules), and a Mixed Trucks unit (80 light trucks)

[edit] Order of battle 1940

"23 Marzo" Blackshirts Division

• 219. CCNN Legion
  • 114. G. Veroli CCNN Battalion
  • 118. Volsca CCNN Battalion
  • 119. N. Ricciotti CCNN Battalion
• 233. CCNN Legion
  • 129. Adriatica CCNN Battalion
  • 133. Lupi di Matese CCNN Battalion
  • 148. Tavogliere CCNN Battalion
• XLI Light Tank Battalion
• 1. CCNN Anti-tank Company
• 201. MG Battalion
• 201. Artillery Regiment
• 201. Mixed Engineer Battalion

[edit] Source

• Ettore Lucas and Giorgio de Vecchi, "Storia delle Unità Combattenti della MVSN 1923-1943", Giovanni Volpe Editore, 1976. pages 63 to 116 plus errata

[edit] External links

• Regio Esercito: Divisione CC.NN. "23 Marzo"