The 204th Coastal Division (Italian: 204ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantrydivision of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.[1] Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.[2]
The division was activated on 15 January 1942 in Sassari by reorganizing the IV Coastal Sector Command.[3] The division was initially assigned to XIII Army Corps, which was responsible for the defense of the island of Sardinia. On 15 July 1943 the division was assigned to the reactivated XXX Army Corps, which took over the responsibility for the defense of the northern half of Sardinia.[1] The division was based in Porto Torres and responsible for the coastal defense of the north-western and northern coast of Sardinia from, but excluding, Torre Foghe to Capo Coda Cavallo. The division's area of responsibility included the Gulf of Asinara and Gulf of Alghero, and the Maddalena archipelago with its large Royal Italian Navy base.[4] On 1 August 1942 the IV Coastal Brigade was reactivated and took over the responsibility for the defense of the Maddalena archipelago and the north-eastern coast of Sardinia between Punta Li Francesi and Capo Coda Cavallo.[5]
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division, together with all other divisions on Sardinia, refused German demands to surrender. Realizing the futility of attempting to gain control of Sardinia the German forces on the island retreated to Corsica.[4]
The division joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army and was renamed 204th Division. In August 1944 the division's command was shipped to the mainland where it was used to reform other commands.[6]
^ abcdBollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 360. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^Circolare n. 22960 del 24/12/1941 dello S.M.R.E. Uff. Ordinamento - 2a Sezione. "Cronistoria dei reparti costieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 12 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ abcd"204a Divisione Costiera". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
^Circolare n. 39650 del 07/07/1942 dello S.M.R.E. Uff. Ordinamento - 3a Sezione. "Cronistoria dei reparti costieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 8 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Le unità ausiliarie dell'Esercito Italiano nella guerra di liberazione". Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 1977. p. 283. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN978-0-275-98505-9.
Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN978-1-85532-864-8.
January 01, 1970
204th, coastal, division, italy, 204th, coastal, division, italian, 204ª, divisione, costiera, infantry, division, royal, italian, army, during, world, royal, italian, army, coastal, divisions, were, second, line, divisions, formed, with, reservists, equipped,. The 204th Coastal Division Italian 204ª Divisione Costiera was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II 1 Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel Recruited locally they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement 2 204th Coastal DivisionActive1941 1944Country Kingdom of ItalyBranch Royal Italian ArmySizeDivisionGarrison HQPorto TorresEngagementsWorld War IIInsigniaIdentificationsymbol204th Coastal Division gorget patches Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Commanding officers 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp nbsp Sassari nbsp Cagliari nbsp 203rd Div nbsp 204th Div nbsp 205th Div nbsp XXXIII Bde nbsp IV Bde nbsp Capo Monte Santu nbsp Capo Pula nbsp Punta Usai nbsp Torre Foghe nbsp Punta Li Francesi nbsp Capo Coda Cavalloclass notpageimage Coastal units in Sardinia The division was activated on 15 January 1942 in Sassari by reorganizing the IV Coastal Sector Command 3 The division was initially assigned to XIII Army Corps which was responsible for the defense of the island of Sardinia On 15 July 1943 the division was assigned to the reactivated XXX Army Corps which took over the responsibility for the defense of the northern half of Sardinia 1 The division was based in Porto Torres and responsible for the coastal defense of the north western and northern coast of Sardinia from but excluding Torre Foghe to Capo Coda Cavallo The division s area of responsibility included the Gulf of Asinara and Gulf of Alghero and the Maddalena archipelago with its large Royal Italian Navy base 4 On 1 August 1942 the IV Coastal Brigade was reactivated and took over the responsibility for the defense of the Maddalena archipelago and the north eastern coast of Sardinia between Punta Li Francesi and Capo Coda Cavallo 5 The 204th Coastal Division together with the 203rd Coastal Division 205th Coastal Division IV Coastal Brigade and XXXIII Coastal Brigade formed a first static defense line against allied landings on the island Further inland the 30th Infantry Division Sabauda 31st Infantry Division Calabria 47th Infantry Division Bari and 184th Paratroopers Division Nembo were the mobile forces of the Armed Forces Command Sardinia 4 After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division together with all other divisions on Sardinia refused German demands to surrender Realizing the futility of attempting to gain control of Sardinia the German forces on the island retreated to Corsica 4 The division joined the Italian Co belligerent Army and was renamed 204th Division In August 1944 the division s command was shipped to the mainland where it was used to reform other commands 6 Organization edit204th Coastal Division in Porto Torres 4 1 130th Coastal Regiment CCC Coastal Battalion CCCXCVIII Coastal Battalion CCCXCIX Coastal Battalion CMIV Coastal Battalion 149th Coastal Regiment CCCXCIV Coastal Battalion CCCXCVII Coastal Battalion CDI Coastal Battalion CDXCIX Coastal Battalion 46th Coastal Artillery Regiment XII Coastal Artillery Group XIII Coastal Artillery Group LXXXII Coastal Artillery Group LXXXIV Coastal Artillery Group CCXI Coastal Artillery Group CII Machine Gun Battalion 161st Machine Gun Company 162nd Machine Gun Company 204th Mixed Engineer Company 204th Carabinieri Section 215th Field Post Office Division ServicesCommanding officers editThe division s commanding officer was 1 Generale di Divisione Manlio Mora 15 January 1942 1944 References edit a b c d Bollettino dell Archivio dell Ufficio Storico N II 3 e 4 2002 Rome Ministero della Difesa Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Ufficio Storico 2002 p 360 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Jowett p 6 Circolare n 22960 del 24 12 1941 dello S M R E Uff Ordinamento 2a Sezione Cronistoria dei reparti costieri Regio Esercito Retrieved 12 November 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b c d 204a Divisione Costiera Regio Esercito Retrieved 16 October 2021 Circolare n 39650 del 07 07 1942 dello S M R E Uff Ordinamento 3a Sezione Cronistoria dei reparti costieri Regio Esercito Retrieved 8 November 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Le unita ausiliarie dell Esercito Italiano nella guerra di liberazione Rome Ministero della Difesa Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Ufficio Storico 1977 p 283 Retrieved 9 November 2021 Paoletti Ciro 2008 A Military History of Italy Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 275 98505 9 Jowett Philip S 2000 The Italian Army 1940 45 1 Europe 1940 1943 Osprey Oxford New York ISBN 978 1 85532 864 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 204th Coastal Division Italy amp oldid 1155317759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
