53 Infantry Division Arezzo

53 Infantry Division Arezzo
Active 1939–1943
Country Italy
Branch ItalianArmy
Type Infantry
Size Division
Nickname Arezzo
Engagements World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 General Michele Molinari

The 53 Infantry Division Arezzo was a regular Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II.

Contents

WWII

The Arezzo Division took part in the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939. It was next involved in the Greco-Italian War in November 1940, as part of the Italian III Corps, suffering heavy losses. It was reformed and sent back to Albania as part of the occupation force. In April 1941 it took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia and captured Montenegro. It remained in the area for the rest of the war and, following the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943, the division was disarmed by the Germans. A large number of the men escaped to join the partisans.[1]

Commander

Order of battle

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ^ An Italian Infantry Division normally consisted of two Infantry Regiments (three Battalions each), an Artillery Regiment, a Mortar Battalion (two companies), an Anti Tank Company, a Blackshirt Legion of two Battalions was sometimes attached. Each Division had only about 7,000 men, The Infantry and Artillery Regiments contained 1,650 men, the Blackshirt Legion 1,200, each company 150 men. [3]
Citations
  1. ^ a b Marcus Wendal. "Italian Army". Axis History. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=9821. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
  2. ^ Enrico Tagliazucchi and Franco Agostini. "Royal Italian Army". World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations. http://niehorster.orbat.com/019_italy/40_organ/div_inf_40.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
  3. ^ Paoletti, p 170