58 Infantry Division Legnano
The 58 Infantry Division Legnano was a Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Legnano Division was sent to Albania in January 1941, where it remained until June when it was recalled to Italy. It then took part in the invasion of Vichy France in November 1942. It returned to Italy again in July 1943 and surrendered to the Allies after the Italian surrender in September 1943.[1] The Division then fought on the Allies side in the Italian Co-Belligerent Army.[2] The first action they took part in with the Allies was in the Cassino sector at Monte Lungo. This action did much to remove the Allied distrust of the Italian soldiers fighting on their side.[3] The unit suffered heavy casualties and performed well enough.[2] Following service with the American 5th Army and re-organization, they were transferred to the Polish II Corps on the extreme left of the British 8th Army.[3]
Order of battle
- 67. Palermo Infantry Regiment
- 68. Palermo Infantry Regiment
- 58. Artillery Regiment
- 4. Artillery Regiment
- 162. Coastal Artillery Regiment
- 99. Frontier Regiment
- 58. Mortar Battalion
- 58. Anti-Tank Company
- 58. Engineer Battalion
- 61. Medical Section
- 163. Motor Transport Group
- 18. Carabinieri Section
- 19. Carabinieri Section
- 240. Carabinieri Section
- 104. Bersaglieri Company [nb 1][1]
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ 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. [4]
- Citations
- Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.
- Jowett, Phillip. The Italian Army 1040-45 (3): Italy 1943-45. Osprey Publishing, Westminster. ISBN 978-1-85532-866-2.
- Mollo, Andrew. The Armed Forces of World War II. Crown Publishing, New York. ISBN 0-517-54478-4.
Italian Divisions in World War II
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Armoured |
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Cavalry |
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Alpine |
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Mountain |
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Motorised |
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Infantry |
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Garrison |
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Airborne |
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Blackshirt |
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Libyan |
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Coastal |
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