| 101 Motorised Division Trieste | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939–1943 |
| Country | Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch | Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Motorised |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Italian XX Motorised Corps |
| Nickname | Trieste |
| Engagements | World War II Operation Crusader Battle of Gazala Battle of Bir Hakeim First Battle of El Alamein Second Battle of El Alamein |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
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| Identification symbol |
Trieste Division collar insignia |
101 Motorised Division Trieste or 101 Divisione Trieste (Italian) was an Motorised Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Trieste was formed in 1939 and served in Albania and North Africa where it surrendered to the Allies in 1943.
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Formed in 1939, from the 8 Infantry Division Po[1] the 101 Motorised Division Trieste was mobilized for war in 1940. It was initially held as a reserve formation in Italy, until 1941 when it was sent to Albania.
The Trieste was sent to Libya in North Africa in August 1941, as part of the Italian XX Motorised Corps under General Gastone Gambara with the 132 Armoured Division Ariete. The division participated in all the major Western Desert battles from then on; Operation Crusader, the January 1941 Axis counteroffensive, the Battle of Gazala in 1942, the Battle of Bir Hakeim, the First Battle of El Alamein and the Second Battle of El Alamein where it was virtually destroyed. During Operation Crusader the Trieste took advantage of the British 4th Armoured Brigade's withdrawal from the Tobruk sector, and achieved a notable success on December 1 when its armoured columns moved forward and cut the tenuous link the 6th New Zealand Brigade had established with Tobruk on November 27.[2] On December 13, the 1st Buffs captured Point 204 on the Alam Hamza Ridge, but the Trieste Division successfully defended Point 208.[3] During the Battle of Gazala, the Trieste played an important part in the destruction of the British 2nd and 4th Armoured Brigades south of Knightsbridge on June 12.[4] During the First Battle of El Alamein, the Trieste on Ruweisat Ridge put up a tenacious defence and lost two regimental commanders before being partly overcome, delaying the Allied advance for several hours and allowing German armoured forces to launch a devastating counteratack.[5] The division formally surrendered to the Allies in May 1943.[1]
The divisional order of battle changed considerably throughout its history. The OOBs given here apply at the time of Operation Crusader during the time of the El Alamein battles, from July to September 1942.[6]