| 20th Infantry Division Friuli | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939 - September 20, 1944 20th Infantry Division Friuli September 20, 1944 - October 15, 1945 Combat Group Friuli October 15, 1945 - April 15, 1960 Infantry Division Friuli |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname | Friuli |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Giacomo Carboni |
| Insignia | |
| Friuli Division Infantry Regiments Collar Insignia | |
The 20th Infantry Division Friuli was a Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II.
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The 20th Infantry Division Friuli was formed in 1939 by renaming the existing 20th Infantry Division Curtatone e Montanara. It was a reserve force during the Italian invasion of southern France in 1940 and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 as part of the Italian VI Corps. Afterwards it remained in Yugoslavia on anti-Partisan duties.[1] When Italy and Germany occupied Vichy France after the Allied landings in French North Africa the division was ferried to northern Corsica on 8 November 1942 to occupy the island.[2]
After the armistice between Italy and the Allies on 3 September 1943 the division in conjunction with the 44 Infantry Division Cremona and French Partisans engaged in heavy combat with the German Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS and 90th Panzergrenadier Division and the Italian 12 Parachute Battalion of the 184 Parachute Regiment,[3] which came from Sardinia and retreated through Corsica towards the harbor of Bastia in the islands north. On 13 September elements of the Free French 4th Moroccan Mountain Division were landed in Ajaccio to support the Italian efforts to stop the 30,000 retreating German troops. But during the night of 3 to 4 October the last German units were evacuated from Bastia leaving behind 700 dead and 350 POW's. After the end of operations on Corsica the division was sent as garrison unit to Sardinia. On 24 November the 88th CCNN Legion was renamed 387th Friuli Infantry Regiment.
In July 1944 the division was transferred to San Giorgio del Sannio on the Italian peninsula. On 20 August 1944, the third battalions in the 87th and 88th Infantry regiments were replaced by two Granatieri di Sardegna battalions and on 31 August the 387th Friuli Infantry Regiment was dissolved. On 20 September. the division was renamed Combat Group Friuli. On 5 February 1945, the division returned to front line duty, replacing the 5th Polish Division Kresowa of the II Polish Corps on the Senio river near Brisighella. From there the division advanced with the Allies Armies to liberate Imola, Castel San Pietro and Bologna.[4]
On 15 October 1945, the Combat Group Friuli was renamed Infantry Division Friuli retaining the 87th and 88th Infantry Regiments as well as the 35th Artillery Regiment; additional units were the 120th Mixed Engineer battalion and some minor support units. On 15 April 1960, the division was reduced to brigade level, losing all its regiments and receiving new units (see Infantry Brigade Friuli)
As of its deployment to Corsica in 1942:[2][4][6]
Attached units in Corsica: