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36th Infantry Division "Forlì"

April 10, 2023

The 36th Infantry Division "Forlì" (Italian: 36ª Divisione di fanteria "Forlì") was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Forlì was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The division was formed on 31 March 1939 and named for the city of Forlì. The division was based in Saluzzo and most of its troops were drafted in the surrounding Langhe region in southern Piedmont. The division's two infantry regiments were based in Alba (43rd) and Saluzzo (44th), with the division's artillery regiment also based in Saluzzo.[1][2]

36th Infantry Division "Forlì"
36th Infantry Division "Forlì" insignia
Active1939–1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQSaluzzo
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Giulio Perugi
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Forlì Division gorget patches

History

The division's lineage begins with the XIII Brigade established on 24 June 1859 with the 23rd and 24th infantry regiments of the Army of the United Provinces of Central Italy. On 16 September 1859 the brigade received the name "Forlì". On 25 March 1860 the Brigade "Forlì" entered the Royal Sardinian Army three days after the Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the United Provinces of Central Italy. Already before entering the Royal Sardinian Army the brigade's two infantry regiments had been renumbered on 30 December 1859 as 43rd Infantry Regiment and 44th Infantry Regiment.[3]

World War I

The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 10 October 1926 the brigade assumed the name of III Infantry Brigade and received the 37th Infantry Regiment "Ravenna" from the disbanded Brigade "Ravenna". The brigade was the infantry component of the 3rd Territorial Division of Alessandria, which also included the 11th Artillery Regiment.[1][4][5]

In 1930 the division exchanged the 44th Infantry Regiment "Forlì" for the 38th Infantry Regiment "Ravenna" with the 4th Territorial Division of Cuneo. In 1935 the division changed its name to 3rd Infantry Division "Monferrato". On 1 April 1934 the division exchanged the 38th Infantry Regiment "Ravenna" for 30th Infantry Regiment "Pisa" with the 26th Infantry Division "Assietta".[1]

On 31 March 1939 the 36th Infantry Division "Forlì" was activated in Saluzzo and on the same day the 3rd Infantry Division "Monferrato" was renamed as 3rd Infantry Division "Ravenna", becoming thus the heir to the Brigade "Ravenna", while the traditions of the Brigade "Forlì" were passed to the newly activated 36th division. On the same day the Forlì received the 43rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì" from the Ravenna division and the 44th Infantry Regiment "Forlì" from the 4th Territorial Division of Cuneo. On the same day the 36th Artillery Regiment joined the Forlì.[1]

World War II

On 10 June 1940 the Forlì was the part of the Italian 1st Army and took part in the Italian invasion of France.[6] The division was initially deployed on the French border in defensive positions in the Argentera valley and between the Rocca Peroni and Monte Maniglia mountains. On 22 June 1940 the Forlì attacked towards Meyronnes and the road junction of La Condamine-Châtelard, after bypassing French defenders north of mount Tête de Viraysse, it took the forts of Bec du Lièvre and Tête Dure on 23 June. As result, the Forlì advanced rapidly that day and captured Malboisset, before stopping before the village of Larche at the news of the Franco-Italian Armistice.

In early 1941 the Forlì moved to Albania to augment the Italian forces fighting in the Greco-Italian War. On 12 February 1941 it entered the frontline west of Lake Ohrid, in the Librazhd-Kalivaç-Dunicë area and partly along the Shkumbin river. On 20 February the Greek army attacked the Forlì positions, focusing on mount Kosicës and the Kalivaç valley in Korçë municipality. On April 10 1941 the Forlì went on the offensive as part of German-led Battle of Greece. The division attacked from Vloçisht to Gurisht. By 14 April 1941 it moved towards Leminot. When the Greek Army began to retreat due to the Germans' rapid advance in the east, and Forlì was able to reach Ersekë on 17 April 1941, where it stop at the Aoös river. After the Greek surrender the division was ordered to Larissa for occupation duties.

While the Forlì was on occupation duty in Greece the division's regimental depots in Italy raised the 154th Infantry Division "Murge": the depot of the 43rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì" raised the 259th Infantry Regiment "Murge", the depot of the 44th Infantry Regiment "Forlì" raised the 260th Infantry Regiment "Murge", and the depot of the 36th Artillery Regiment "Forlì" raised the 154th Artillery Regiment "Murge".[7]

In August 1942 the Forlì was assigned occupation and coastal defence duties at Larissa, Volos and Lamia. In 1943, the Forlì has relocated further south, covering the Lamia – Amfikleia – Livadeia – Thebes and Attica area. Also, the Forlì was responsible for the control of the Euripus Strait, the island of Euboea and the area surrounding Athens.[1]

On 5-6 March 1943, troops of the Forlì set the town of Servia on fire in retaliation for the defeat and capture of an Italian battalion at the Battle of Fardykambos by the Greek Resistance.[8]

The Forlì surrendered to the German forces in Greece after the Armistice of Cassibile and was dissolved 16 September 1943.

343rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì"

On 1 November 1941 the regimental depot of the 16th Infantry Regiment "Savona" of the 55th Infantry Division "Savona" raised the 343rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì" in Cosenza. The regiment was meant to increase the Forlì's combat strength, but after spending 1942 as a coastal defense unit in Calabria the 343rd regiment was sent on 29th January 1943 to Albania, where it joined the 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo".[9]

Organization

 
Coat of Arms of the 43rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì", 1939
  •   36th Infantry Division "Forlì", in Saluzzo[1][2]
    • 43rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì", in Alba[4]
    • 44th Infantry Regiment "Forlì", in Saluzzo[5]
      • Command Company
      • 3x Fusilier battalions
      • Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns)
      • Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 343rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì" (raised 1 November 1941 in Cosenza, transferred to the 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" on 29 January 1943)[9]
      • Command Company
      • 3x Fusiliers battalions
      • Support Weapons Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
      • Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 36th Artillery Regiment "Forlì", in Saluzzo
    • XXXVI Mortar Battalion (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 36th Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
    • 36th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company
    • 66th Engineer Company
    • 23rd Medical Section
      • 3x Field hospitals
      • 1x Surgical unit
    • 24th Supply Section
    • 36th Transport Section (replaced at the end of 1940 by the 347th Transport Section)
    • 19th Bakers Section
    • 9th Carabinieri Section
    • 12th Carabinieri Section
    • 38th Field Post Office

Attached to the division from June 1940 to 31 November 1941:[2]

Attached to the division from 1 December 1941 until 1942:[2]

  • 112th CC.NN. Legion "Dell’Urbe"
    • CXII CC.NN. (remained attached to the division until September 1943)
    • CXX CC.NN. Battalion
    • 112th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company

Attached to the division during its stay in Attica:[2]

Attached temporarily to the division in 1943:[2]

  • Regiment "Lancieri di Milano"
    • Command Squadron
    • Lancers Squadrons Group
      • 2x Lancer Squadrons
    • Machine Gun Platoon
    • Tank Platoon (L3/33 tankettes)
  • 3rd Artillery Grouping
    • CVII Artillery Group
    • CVIII Artillery Group
  • CCXXXIV Mobile Territorial Battalion (Reserve unit)
  • XLI Army Artillery Group
  • XCI Army Artillery Group

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were:[1][2]

CROWCASS

The names of four men attached to the division can be found in the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects (CROWCASS) set up by the Anglo-American Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in 1945. The names can be found at: Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects from the Kingdom of Italy.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "36ª Divisione di fanteria "Forlì"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 274. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ Voghera, Enrico (1909). Annuario militare del regno d'Italia - Volume I. Rome. p. 414.
  4. ^ a b "43° Reggimento di fanteria "Forlì"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "44° Reggimento di fanteria "Forlì"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. ^ Mulholland, John. "Axis Order of Battle 10 June 1940 – The Italian Invasion of France". Axis History. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  7. ^ "154ª Divisione di fanteria "Murge"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  8. ^ Flountzis, Antonis (1977). Στρατόπεδα Λάρισας-Τρικάλων: Η γέννηση του αντάρτικου στη Θεσσαλία [Larisa-Trikala Camps: The Birth of the Partisan Movement in Thessaly] (in Greek). Athens: Papazisis. pp. 210–211. OCLC 8624538.
  9. ^ a b "343° Reggimento di fanteria "Forlì"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 14 October 2021.


April 10, 2023
36th, infantry, division, forlì, italian, 36ª, divisione, fanteria, forlì, infantry, division, royal, italian, army, during, world, forlì, classified, mountain, infantry, division, which, meant, that, division, artillery, moved, pack, mules, instead, horse, dr. The 36th Infantry Division Forli Italian 36ª Divisione di fanteria Forli was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II The Forli was classified as a mountain infantry division which meant that the division s artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse drawn carriages of line infantry divisions Italy s real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops The division was formed on 31 March 1939 and named for the city of Forli The division was based in Saluzzo and most of its troops were drafted in the surrounding Langhe region in southern Piedmont The division s two infantry regiments were based in Alba 43rd and Saluzzo 44th with the division s artillery regiment also based in Saluzzo 1 2 36th Infantry Division Forli 36th Infantry Division Forli insigniaActive1939 1943CountryKingdom of ItalyBranchRoyal Italian ArmyTypeInfantrySizeDivisionGarrison HQSaluzzoEngagementsWorld War IICommandersNotablecommandersGiulio PerugiInsigniaIdentificationsymbolForli Division gorget patches Contents 1 History 1 1 World War I 1 2 World War II 2 343rd Infantry Regiment Forli 3 Organization 4 Commanding officers 5 CROWCASS 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe division s lineage begins with the XIII Brigade established on 24 June 1859 with the 23rd and 24th infantry regiments of the Army of the United Provinces of Central Italy On 16 September 1859 the brigade received the name Forli On 25 March 1860 the Brigade Forli entered the Royal Sardinian Army three days after the Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the United Provinces of Central Italy Already before entering the Royal Sardinian Army the brigade s two infantry regiments had been renumbered on 30 December 1859 as 43rd Infantry Regiment and 44th Infantry Regiment 3 World War I Edit The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I On 10 October 1926 the brigade assumed the name of III Infantry Brigade and received the 37th Infantry Regiment Ravenna from the disbanded Brigade Ravenna The brigade was the infantry component of the 3rd Territorial Division of Alessandria which also included the 11th Artillery Regiment 1 4 5 In 1930 the division exchanged the 44th Infantry Regiment Forli for the 38th Infantry Regiment Ravenna with the 4th Territorial Division of Cuneo In 1935 the division changed its name to 3rd Infantry Division Monferrato On 1 April 1934 the division exchanged the 38th Infantry Regiment Ravenna for 30th Infantry Regiment Pisa with the 26th Infantry Division Assietta 1 On 31 March 1939 the 36th Infantry Division Forli was activated in Saluzzo and on the same day the 3rd Infantry Division Monferrato was renamed as 3rd Infantry Division Ravenna becoming thus the heir to the Brigade Ravenna while the traditions of the Brigade Forli were passed to the newly activated 36th division On the same day the Forli received the 43rd Infantry Regiment Forli from the Ravenna division and the 44th Infantry Regiment Forli from the 4th Territorial Division of Cuneo On the same day the 36th Artillery Regiment joined the Forli 1 World War II Edit On 10 June 1940 the Forli was the part of the Italian 1st Army and took part in the Italian invasion of France 6 The division was initially deployed on the French border in defensive positions in the Argentera valley and between the Rocca Peroni and Monte Maniglia mountains On 22 June 1940 the Forli attacked towards Meyronnes and the road junction of La Condamine Chatelard after bypassing French defenders north of mount Tete de Viraysse it took the forts of Bec du Lievre and Tete Dure on 23 June As result the Forli advanced rapidly that day and captured Malboisset before stopping before the village of Larche at the news of the Franco Italian Armistice In early 1941 the Forli moved to Albania to augment the Italian forces fighting in the Greco Italian War On 12 February 1941 it entered the frontline west of Lake Ohrid in the Librazhd Kalivac Dunice area and partly along the Shkumbin river On 20 February the Greek army attacked the Forli positions focusing on mount Kosices and the Kalivac valley in Korce municipality On April 10 1941 the Forli went on the offensive as part of German led Battle of Greece The division attacked from Vlocisht to Gurisht By 14 April 1941 it moved towards Leminot When the Greek Army began to retreat due to the Germans rapid advance in the east and Forli was able to reach Erseke on 17 April 1941 where it stop at the Aoos river After the Greek surrender the division was ordered to Larissa for occupation duties While the Forli was on occupation duty in Greece the division s regimental depots in Italy raised the 154th Infantry Division Murge the depot of the 43rd Infantry Regiment Forli raised the 259th Infantry Regiment Murge the depot of the 44th Infantry Regiment Forli raised the 260th Infantry Regiment Murge and the depot of the 36th Artillery Regiment Forli raised the 154th Artillery Regiment Murge 7 In August 1942 the Forli was assigned occupation and coastal defence duties at Larissa Volos and Lamia In 1943 the Forli has relocated further south covering the Lamia Amfikleia Livadeia Thebes and Attica area Also the Forli was responsible for the control of the Euripus Strait the island of Euboea and the area surrounding Athens 1 On 5 6 March 1943 troops of the Forli set the town of Servia on fire in retaliation for the defeat and capture of an Italian battalion at the Battle of Fardykambos by the Greek Resistance 8 The Forli surrendered to the German forces in Greece after the Armistice of Cassibile and was dissolved 16 September 1943 343rd Infantry Regiment Forli EditOn 1 November 1941 the regimental depot of the 16th Infantry Regiment Savona of the 55th Infantry Division Savona raised the 343rd Infantry Regiment Forli in Cosenza The regiment was meant to increase the Forli s combat strength but after spending 1942 as a coastal defense unit in Calabria the 343rd regiment was sent on 29th January 1943 to Albania where it joined the 53rd Infantry Division Arezzo 9 Organization Edit Coat of Arms of the 43rd Infantry Regiment Forli 1939 36th Infantry Division Forli in Saluzzo 1 2 43rd Infantry Regiment Forli in Alba 4 Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company 65 17 infantry support guns Mortar Company 81mm Mod 35 mortars 44th Infantry Regiment Forli in Saluzzo 5 Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company 65 17 infantry support guns Mortar Company 81mm Mod 35 mortars 343rd Infantry Regiment Forli raised 1 November 1941 in Cosenza transferred to the 53rd Infantry Division Arezzo on 29 January 1943 9 Command Company 3x Fusiliers battalions Support Weapons Company 47 32 anti tank guns Mortar Company 81mm Mod 35 mortars 36th Artillery Regiment Forli in Saluzzo Command Unit I Group 100 17 howitzers II Group 75 27 field guns III Group 75 27 field guns 1x Anti aircraft battery 20 65 Mod 35 anti aircraft guns Ammunition and Supply Unit XXXVI Mortar Battalion 81mm Mod 35 mortars 36th Anti tank Company 47 32 anti tank guns 36th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company 66th Engineer Company 23rd Medical Section 3x Field hospitals 1x Surgical unit 24th Supply Section 36th Transport Section replaced at the end of 1940 by the 347th Transport Section 19th Bakers Section 9th Carabinieri Section 12th Carabinieri Section 38th Field Post OfficeAttached to the division from June 1940 to 31 November 1941 2 LXXX CC NN BattalionAttached to the division from 1 December 1941 until 1942 2 112th CC NN Legion Dell Urbe CXII CC NN remained attached to the division until September 1943 CXX CC NN Battalion 112th CC NN Machine Gun CompanyAttached to the division during its stay in Attica 2 3rd Regiment Granatieri di Sardegna e d Albania Command Company 3x Grenadier battalions Support Weapons Company 65 17 infantry support guns Mortar Company 81mm Mod 35 mortars XVII Bersaglieri Battalion 2nd Bersaglieri Regiment XXVI Machine Gun Battalion CDLXXIX Coastal Infantry Battalion CDLXXX Coastal Infantry Battalion II Army Artillery Group XIV Army Artillery Group XXXIII Army Corps Artillery GroupAttached temporarily to the division in 1943 2 Regiment Lancieri di Milano Command Squadron Lancers Squadrons Group 2x Lancer Squadrons Machine Gun Platoon Tank Platoon L3 33 tankettes 3rd Artillery Grouping CVII Artillery Group CVIII Artillery Group CCXXXIV Mobile Territorial Battalion Reserve unit XLI Army Artillery Group XCI Army Artillery GroupCommanding officers EditThe division s commanding officers were 1 2 Generale di Divisione Gabriele Nasci 5 April 1939 22 September 1939 Generale di Divisione Giulio Perugi 22 September 1939 31 September 1940 Generale di Divisione Giunio Ruggiero 1 October 1940 14 November 1942 Generale di Brigata Antonio Franceschini 15 November 1942 3 March 1943 Generale di Brigata Francesco Antonio Arena 4 March 1943 16 September 1943 CROWCASS EditThe names of four men attached to the division can be found in the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects CROWCASS set up by the Anglo American Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in 1945 The names can be found at Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects from the Kingdom of Italy References Edit a b c d e f g 36ª Divisione di fanteria Forli Regio Esercito Retrieved 30 October 2021 a b c d e f g Bollettino dell Archivio dell Ufficio Storico N II 3 e 4 2002 Rome Ministero della Difesa Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Ufficio Storico 2002 p 274 Retrieved 30 October 2021 Voghera Enrico 1909 Annuario militare del regno d Italia Volume I Rome p 414 a b 43 Reggimento di fanteria Forli Regio Esercito Retrieved 22 December 2021 a b 44 Reggimento di fanteria Forli Regio Esercito Retrieved 22 December 2021 Mulholland John Axis Order of Battle 10 June 1940 The Italian Invasion of France Axis History Retrieved 12 April 2009 154ª Divisione di fanteria Murge Regio Esercito Retrieved 22 December 2021 Flountzis Antonis 1977 Stratopeda Larisas Trikalwn H gennhsh toy antartikoy sth 8essalia Larisa Trikala Camps The Birth of the Partisan Movement in Thessaly in Greek Athens Papazisis pp 210 211 OCLC 8624538 a b 343 Reggimento di fanteria Forli Regio Esercito Retrieved 14 October 2021 Paoletti Ciro 2008 A Military History of Italy Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 275 98505 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 36th Infantry Division 22Forli 22 amp oldid 1133684680, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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