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131st Armored Division "Centauro"

March 17, 2024

This article is about the historic Royal Italian Army 131st Armored Division "Centauro". For the historic Royal Italian Army namesake division, see 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro". For the historic Italian Army division and later brigade, see Armored Brigade "Centauro".

The 131st Armored Division "Centauro" (Italian: 131ª Divisione corazzata "Centauro") was an armored division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in April 1939 by expanding the I Armored Brigade (Italian: I Brigata Corazzata). The division's name came from the mythological race of half human-half horse creatures named Centaurs. The division participated in the invasion of Albania, Greco-Italian War, and invasion of Yugoslavia. In August 1942 the division was sent to Libya to participate in the Western Desert Campaign. After the Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein the division retreated with the German-Italian Panzer Army to Tunisia, where the division participated in the Tunisian Campaign. On 18 April 1943 the division was disbanded due to the losses suffered in the Battle of El Guettar.[1]

131st Armored Division "Centauro"
131st Armored Division "Centauro" insignia
Active20 April 1939 - 18 April 1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeArmored
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQSiena
EngagementsWorld War II
Greco-Italian War
Invasion of Yugoslavia
Tunisian Campaign
Insignia
Identification
symbol
WWII Centauro gorget patches

History edit

On 1 June 1936 the I Motor-mechanized Brigade was formed in Siena, which consisted of the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment and other minor units. On 15 July 1937 the 31st Tank Infantry Regiment was formed in Siena and assigned to the brigade.[2] On the same date the brigade was renamed I Armored Brigade. On 20 April 1939 the 131st Armored Artillery Regiment was formed in Cremona and assigned to the brigade, which on that date was renamed 131st Armored Division "Centauro".[1][3]

World War II edit

Greco-Italian War edit

In April 1939 Italy invaded Albania and formed the Italian protectorate of Albania. In summer 1939 the division moved to Tirana. On 28 October 1940 the division participated in the Italian attack on Greece, which started the Greco-Italian War. The main body of the division advanced towards Kalpaki in Epirus but Greek resistance stopped the division before reaching its goals. On 23 November 1940 the Greek launched an offensive, which drove the Italian units back into Albania. The Centauro unsuccessfully tried to stop the Greek advance at the Battle of Klisura Pass and then in Tepelenë. Due to the heavy losses the division was taken out of the line on 4 February 1941 to be rebuilt.[1] The 31st Tank Infantry Regiment was reinforced with the IV Tank Battalion "M" from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, while the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment was replaced by the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment.[2][4][5]

Invasion of Yugoslavia edit

In late March 1940 the division moved in preparation for the Invasion of Yugoslavia to Shkodër in northern Albania. After the war's start on 6 April 1940 the Centauro together with the 18th Infantry Division "Messina" and 32nd Infantry Division "Marche" defeated a Yugoslav attack towards Shkodër. On 16 April 1940 the division crossed into Yugoslavia north of Koplik and advanced to Kotor, Cetinje and Podgorica. On 17 April the Centauro reached Trebinje, where it met up with units of the 133rd Armored Division "Littorio", which had advanced southward from Istria. On 11 May 1941 the division began the return transfer to its bases in Tuscany.[1] On 31 July 1941 the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment returned to the division and relieved the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment.[5]

North Africa edit

Due to the experience of fighting in the Western Desert Italian armored Divisions were re-organized in 1942 and consisted on paper of three tank and three infantry battalions, a large artillery regiment, two battalions of self-propelled guns, one anti-aircraft battalion, one reconnaissance grouping, and a mixed engineer battalions. In October 1942 the Centauro was transferred to Libya. The division did not participate in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the first units of the division arrived at the front during the retreat from Egypt in late 1942.[1]

On 13 December 1942 the units of the division already in Libya and the Tactical Group "Ariete" forced the British 7th Armoured Division to retreat during the Battle of El Agheila. The division retreated with Axis forces from Libya to Tunisia, where the division ceded part of its units to the L Special Brigade and part of its materiel to other divisions. During the Battle of the Kasserine Pass troops of the Centauro overran the part of the US forces defending Highway 13.[6]

The division participated in the Battle of El Guettar, where it was severely decimated. From 7 April 1943 the division's remaining personnel and equipment were assigned to the 16th Infantry Division "Pistoia". On 18 April 1943 the Centauro was declared lost due to wartime events.[1]

136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro" edit

Main article: 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro"

On 15 August 1943 the Royal Italian Army activated the 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro", which continued the tradition of the 131st Armored Division "Centauro". After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro" was disbanded by the invading Germans on 12 September 1943.[7]

Post War edit

On 1 April 1951 the Italian Army raised the Armored Brigade "Centauro" in Verona, which on 1 November 1959 was expanded to Armored Division "Centauro".

Organization edit

Organization in Italy edit

  •   131st Armored Division "Centauro"[1]
    • 5th Bersaglieri Regiment[4]
      • Command Company
      • XIV Auto-transported Bersaglieri Battalion
      • XXII Bersaglieri Motorcyclists Battalion (reorganized as XXII Bersaglieri Support Weapons Battalion in September 1941)
      • XXIV Auto-transported Bersaglieri Battalion (joined the regiment in 1940)
      • 5th Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns; entered the XXII Bersaglieri Support Weapons Battalion in September 1941)
      • 5th Bersaglieri Motorcyclists (formed in September 1941)
    • 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
      • Command Company
      • I Tank Battalion "L" (L3/35 tankettes; disbanded in October 1941)
      • II Tank Battalion "L" (L3/35 tankettes; disbanded in October 1941)
      • III Tank Battalion "L" (L3/35 tankettes; disbanded in September 1941 to form the LI Tank Battalion "M")
      • IV Tank Battalion "L" (L3/35 tankettes; disbanded in September 1941 to form the LI Tank Battalion "M")
      • IV Tank Battalion "M" (M13/40 tanks; arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1941; transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1942)
      • XII Tank Battalion "M" (M14/41 tanks; arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in October 1941; transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in November 1941)
      • XIII Tank Battalion "M" (M13/40 tanks; arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in October 1941; transferred to the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment in summer 1942)
      • XIV Tank Battalion "M" (M14/41 tanks, joined the regiment in spring 1942)
      • XV Tank Battalion "M" (M14/41 tanks, joined the regiment in spring 1942)
      • XVII Tank Battalion "M" (M14/41 tanks, joined the regiment in spring 1942)
      • LI Tank Battalion "M" (M14/41 tanks; formed in September 1941; transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1942)
    • 131st Tank Infantry Regiment (Assigned to the division from 27 July 1941 to 2 January 1942)
    • 131st Artillery Regiment "Centauro"[9]
    • 131st Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
    • 141st Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns; transferred to the 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio" for the deployment in the Soviet Union)
    • 131st Mixed Engineer Company
    • 131st Medical Section
    • 131st Supply Section
    • 131st Transport Section
    • 106th Carabinieri Section
    • 131st Field Post Office

Organization in North Africa edit

Attached to the division during the Tunisian campaign:[1]

  • XVIII Carabinieri Battalion

Commanding officers edit

The division's commanding officers were:[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 327. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b . Italian Army. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. ^ . Italian Army. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "5° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "1° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  6. ^ . WWII Magazine. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  7. ^ Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 338. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b c F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 551.
  9. ^ a b F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 173.
  10. ^ "Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" 15°". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.

Bibliography edit

  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.
  • George F. Nafziger - Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)
  • John Joseph Timothy Sweet - Iron Arm: The Mechanization of Mussolini's Army, 1920-1940

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 131ª Armoured Division "Centauro".
  • Parade of the 131st Armored Division "Centauro". 1942 Italian newsreel on YouTube

March 17, 2024
131st, armored, division, centauro, this, article, about, historic, royal, italian, army, historic, royal, italian, army, namesake, division, 136th, armored, legionary, division, centauro, historic, italian, army, division, later, brigade, armored, brigade, ce. This article is about the historic Royal Italian Army 131st Armored Division Centauro For the historic Royal Italian Army namesake division see 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro For the historic Italian Army division and later brigade see Armored Brigade Centauro The 131st Armored Division Centauro Italian 131ª Divisione corazzata Centauro was an armored division of the Italian Army during World War II The division was formed in April 1939 by expanding the I Armored Brigade Italian I Brigata Corazzata The division s name came from the mythological race of half human half horse creatures named Centaurs The division participated in the invasion of Albania Greco Italian War and invasion of Yugoslavia In August 1942 the division was sent to Libya to participate in the Western Desert Campaign After the Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein the division retreated with the German Italian Panzer Army to Tunisia where the division participated in the Tunisian Campaign On 18 April 1943 the division was disbanded due to the losses suffered in the Battle of El Guettar 1 131st Armored Division Centauro 131st Armored Division Centauro insigniaActive20 April 1939 18 April 1943Country Kingdom of ItalyBranch Royal Italian ArmyTypeArmoredSizeDivisionGarrison HQSienaEngagementsWorld War IIGreco Italian WarInvasion of YugoslaviaTunisian CampaignInsigniaIdentificationsymbolWWII Centauro gorget patches Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 1 1 Greco Italian War 1 1 2 Invasion of Yugoslavia 1 1 3 North Africa 1 1 4 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro 1 2 Post War 2 Organization 2 1 Organization in Italy 2 2 Organization in North Africa 3 Commanding officers 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editOn 1 June 1936 the I Motor mechanized Brigade was formed in Siena which consisted of the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment and other minor units On 15 July 1937 the 31st Tank Infantry Regiment was formed in Siena and assigned to the brigade 2 On the same date the brigade was renamed I Armored Brigade On 20 April 1939 the 131st Armored Artillery Regiment was formed in Cremona and assigned to the brigade which on that date was renamed 131st Armored Division Centauro 1 3 World War II edit Greco Italian War edit In April 1939 Italy invaded Albania and formed the Italian protectorate of Albania In summer 1939 the division moved to Tirana On 28 October 1940 the division participated in the Italian attack on Greece which started the Greco Italian War The main body of the division advanced towards Kalpaki in Epirus but Greek resistance stopped the division before reaching its goals On 23 November 1940 the Greek launched an offensive which drove the Italian units back into Albania The Centauro unsuccessfully tried to stop the Greek advance at the Battle of Klisura Pass and then in Tepelene Due to the heavy losses the division was taken out of the line on 4 February 1941 to be rebuilt 1 The 31st Tank Infantry Regiment was reinforced with the IV Tank Battalion M from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment while the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment was replaced by the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment 2 4 5 Invasion of Yugoslavia edit In late March 1940 the division moved in preparation for the Invasion of Yugoslavia to Shkoder in northern Albania After the war s start on 6 April 1940 the Centauro together with the 18th Infantry Division Messina and 32nd Infantry Division Marche defeated a Yugoslav attack towards Shkoder On 16 April 1940 the division crossed into Yugoslavia north of Koplik and advanced to Kotor Cetinje and Podgorica On 17 April the Centauro reached Trebinje where it met up with units of the 133rd Armored Division Littorio which had advanced southward from Istria On 11 May 1941 the division began the return transfer to its bases in Tuscany 1 On 31 July 1941 the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment returned to the division and relieved the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment 5 North Africa edit Due to the experience of fighting in the Western Desert Italian armored Divisions were re organized in 1942 and consisted on paper of three tank and three infantry battalions a large artillery regiment two battalions of self propelled guns one anti aircraft battalion one reconnaissance grouping and a mixed engineer battalions In October 1942 the Centauro was transferred to Libya The division did not participate in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the first units of the division arrived at the front during the retreat from Egypt in late 1942 1 On 13 December 1942 the units of the division already in Libya and the Tactical Group Ariete forced the British 7th Armoured Division to retreat during the Battle of El Agheila The division retreated with Axis forces from Libya to Tunisia where the division ceded part of its units to the L Special Brigade and part of its materiel to other divisions During the Battle of the Kasserine Pass troops of the Centauro overran the part of the US forces defending Highway 13 6 The division participated in the Battle of El Guettar where it was severely decimated From 7 April 1943 the division s remaining personnel and equipment were assigned to the 16th Infantry Division Pistoia On 18 April 1943 the Centauro was declared lost due to wartime events 1 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro edit Main article 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro On 15 August 1943 the Royal Italian Army activated the 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro which continued the tradition of the 131st Armored Division Centauro After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the 136th Armored Legionary Division Centauro was disbanded by the invading Germans on 12 September 1943 7 Post War edit On 1 April 1951 the Italian Army raised the Armored Brigade Centauro in Verona which on 1 November 1959 was expanded to Armored Division Centauro Organization editOrganization in Italy edit nbsp 131st Armored Division Centauro 1 5th Bersaglieri Regiment 4 Command Company XIV Auto transported Bersaglieri Battalion XXII Bersaglieri Motorcyclists Battalion reorganized as XXII Bersaglieri Support Weapons Battalion in September 1941 XXIV Auto transported Bersaglieri Battalion joined the regiment in 1940 5th Anti tank Company 47 32 anti tank guns entered the XXII Bersaglieri Support Weapons Battalion in September 1941 5th Bersaglieri Motorcyclists formed in September 1941 31st Tank Infantry Regiment Command Company I Tank Battalion L L3 35 tankettes disbanded in October 1941 II Tank Battalion L L3 35 tankettes disbanded in October 1941 III Tank Battalion L L3 35 tankettes disbanded in September 1941 to form the LI Tank Battalion M IV Tank Battalion L L3 35 tankettes disbanded in September 1941 to form the LI Tank Battalion M IV Tank Battalion M M13 40 tanks arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1941 transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1942 XII Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in October 1941 transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in November 1941 XIII Tank Battalion M M13 40 tanks arrived from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in October 1941 transferred to the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment in summer 1942 XIV Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks joined the regiment in spring 1942 XV Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks joined the regiment in spring 1942 XVII Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks joined the regiment in spring 1942 LI Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks formed in September 1941 transferred to the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment in February 1942 131st Tank Infantry Regiment Assigned to the division from 27 July 1941 to 2 January 1942 Command Company CI Tank Battalion R35 captured French Renault R35 light tanks 8 CII Tank Battalion R35 captured French R35 light tanks 8 CC Tank Battalion S35 captured French SOMUA S35 tanks 8 131st Artillery Regiment Centauro 9 Command Unit I Group 75 27 mod 11 field guns II Group 75 27 mod 11 field guns III Group 75 27 mod 11 field guns 2x Anti aircraft batteries 20 65 mod 35 anti aircraft guns Ammunition and Supply Unit 131st Anti tank Company 47 32 anti tank guns 141st Anti tank Company 47 32 anti tank guns transferred to the 9th Infantry Division Pasubio for the deployment in the Soviet Union 131st Mixed Engineer Company 131st Medical Section 131st Supply Section 131st Transport Section 106th Carabinieri Section 131st Field Post OfficeOrganization in North Africa edit nbsp 131st Armored Division Centauro 1 Armored Reconnaissance Grouping Cavalleggeri di Lodi 10 Command Squadron I Squadrons Group AB 41 armored cars and L6 40 tanks transferred to the L Special Brigade II Squadrons Group 47 32 L40 self propelled guns and 20 65 mod 35 anti aircraft guns 5th Bersaglieri Regiment 4 Command Company XIV Auto transported Bersaglieri Battalion XXII Bersaglieri Support Weapons Battalion XXIV Auto transported Bersaglieri Battalion 5th Bersaglieri Motorcyclists Company 31st Tank Infantry Regiment Command Company XIV Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks XV Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks transferred to the L Special Brigade XVII Tank Battalion M M14 41 tanks 131st Artillery Regiment Centauro 9 Command Battery I Group 75 27 mod 06 howitzers II Group 75 27 mod 06 howitzers III Group 105 28 cannons IV Mixed Group renamed DII Anti aircraft Group transferred in spring 1942 to the 132nd Artillery Regiment Ariete 2x Anti aircraft Anti tank batteries 90 53 anti aircraft guns mounted on Lancia 3Ro trucks 2x Anti aircraft batteries 20 65 mod 35 anti aircraft guns V Self propelled Group 75 18 self propelled guns renamed DLIII Self propelled Group VI Self propelled Group 75 18 self propelled guns renamed DLIV Self propelled Group transferred in August 1942 to the 133rd Artillery Regiment Littorio DLIX Self propelled Group 75 18 self propelled guns joined the regiment in North Africa 132nd Anti tank Regiment joined the division in 1943 Command Company I Anti tank Battalion Ariete 47 32 anti tank guns formed with survivors of the 132nd Armored Division Ariete II Anti tank Battalion Littorio 47 3 anti tank guns formed with survivors of the 133rd Armored Division Littorio III Anti tank Battalion Trieste 47 3 anti tank guns formed with survivors of the 101st Motorized Division Trieste CXXXVI Self propelled Anti tank Battalion 47 32 L40 self propelled guns XXXI Mixed Engineer Battalion 131st Engineer Company 231st Connections Company 131st Medical Section 131st Supply Section 131st Transport Section 106th Carabinieri Section 131st Field Post Office replaced in February 1943 by the 212th Field Post Office Attached to the division during the Tunisian campaign 1 XVIII Carabinieri BattalionCommanding officers editThe division s commanding officers were 1 Generale di Brigata Giovanni Magli 1939 24 December 1940 Colonel Mario Giglioni acting 25 30 December 1940 Generale di Brigata Gioacchino Solinas acting 31 December 1940 3 February 1941 Generale di Brigata Giovanni Magli 4 23 February 1941 Generale di Brigata Gavino Pizzolato 24 February 1941 28 February 1942 Generale di Divisione Giorgio Calvi di Bergolo 1 March 1942 18 April 1943 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Bollettino dell Archivio dell Ufficio Storico N II 3 e 4 2002 Rome Ministero della Difesa Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Ufficio Storico 2002 p 327 Retrieved 23 November 2021 a b 31 Reggimento Carri La Storia Italian Army Archived from the original on 29 July 2019 Retrieved 17 November 2019 131 Reggimento Artiglieria Centauro Italian Army Archived from the original on 3 December 2021 Retrieved 3 December 2021 a b c 5 Reggimento Bersaglieri Regio Esercito Retrieved 3 December 2021 a b 1 Reggimento Bersaglieri Regio Esercito Retrieved 3 December 2021 Murphy in America WWII Magazine Archived from the original on January 31 2009 Retrieved 2009 05 04 Bollettino dell Archivio dell Ufficio Storico N II 3 e 4 2002 Rome Ministero della Difesa Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Ufficio Storico 2002 p 338 Retrieved 2 November 2021 a b c F dell Uomo R Puletti 1998 L Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 Vol Primo Tomo I Rome SME Ufficio Storico p 551 a b F dell Uomo R Puletti 1998 L Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 Vol Primo Tomo II Rome SME Ufficio Storico p 173 Reggimento Cavalleggeri di Lodi 15 Regio Esercito Retrieved 22 December 2021 Bibliography editPaoletti Ciro 2008 A Military History of Italy Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 275 98505 9 George F Nafziger Italian Order of Battle An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II 3 vol John Joseph Timothy Sweet Iron Arm The Mechanization of Mussolini s Army 1920 1940External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 131ª Armoured Division Centauro Parade of the 131st Armored Division Centauro 1942 Italian newsreel on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 131st Armored Division 22Centauro 22 amp oldid 1194896549, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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