225th Coastal Division (Italy)

The 225th Coastal Division was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was located on the French island of Corsica. The division was formed from units of the regular army, from the 172nd and 173rd Infantry Regiments.^[1] Normally Coastal divisions were second line divisions, usually formed from men in their forties and fifties intended to perform labouring and second lined duties. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement. Their equipment was also second rate. The Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini had hoped to obtain large quantities of arms and equipment from the disbanded Vichy French army, but this was often negated by the fact that they arrived with no ammunition.^[1]

Order of battle

• 172nd Infantry Regiment
• 173rd Infantry Regiment
• 52nd Artillery Regiment^[1]

References

• Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940–45 (1): Europe 1940–1943. Oxford, New York: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.