1st Cavalry Division ''Eugenio di Savoia''

1st Cavalry Division Eugenio di Savoia
1a Cavalry Division Eugenio di Savoia Insignia
Active 1940–1943
Country  Kingdom of Italy
Branch  Royal Italian Army
Type Cavalry
Size Division
Part of XI Corps
Nickname(s) Eugenio di Savoia
Engagements

World War II

Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Federico Ferrari Orsi

The 1st Cavalry Division Eugenio di Savoia was an cavalry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Eugenio di Savoia was mobilized in 1940, as a cavalry division and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia. The division remained in Yugoslavia in the XI Corps (Ljubljana) as an occupying force on the coast of Dalmatia.

After the Italian surrender, the division was disbanded in September 1943.[1]

Action in Yugoslavia

While in Yugoslavia, the 14 Alessandria Regiment is credited with having conducted the last cavalry charge by the Italian Army in World War II. On 17 October 1942 the regiment was encircled by a group of Yugoslav Partisans near Poloj, Croatia. That night the cavalry launched repeated saber charges against the partisans. Despite heavy casualties, the charge succeeded and broke through to safety.[2]

Organization

The division had undergone a level of mechanization. Each division had two cavalry regiments, a highly-mobile infantry (Bersaglieri) regiment, an artillery regiment, and a light tank group. The squadrons of the cavalry regiments were horse-mounted and, other than a motorcycle company, the Bersaglieri were issued with bicycles. The light tank group had a total of 61 tanks. The tanks were typically L3/35s or Fiat L6/40s.[3] The division was commanded by Lieutenant General Federico Ferrari Orsi.[4]

Order of battle

  • 12. Cavalleggeri di Alessandria Cavalry Regiment
  • 14. Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo Cavalry Regiment
  • 11. Bersaglieri Regiment (mot)
  • I San Giusto Armored Battalion
  • 1. Artillery Regiment (mot)
  • 18. CCRR Section
  • 172. CCRR Section
  • 101. Mixed Engineer Company
  • 71. Medical Section
  • 57. Field Hospital
  • 58. Field Hospital
  • 59. Field Hospital
  • 91. Quartermaster section
  • 211. Mixed Motor Transport Group Command
  • 34. Light Transportation Section
  • 53. Light Transportation Section
  • 852. Light Transportation Section
  • 854. Light Transportation Section
  • 1. Transport Unit
  • 5. Road Movement Unit
  • Heavy Fuel Section
  • 5. Road Recovery Unit
  • 18. Field Post Office[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  2. ↑ "Flames of War". Flames of War. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  3. ↑ Mollo, p.87
  4. ↑ "The Generals of WWII". Generals.DK. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-04.

Further reading

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