50th Infantry Division Regina
| 50th Infantry Division Regina | |
|---|---|
 50th Infantry Division Regina Insignia | |
| Active | 1939–1943 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Regina |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | General Alessandro Piazzoni |
The 50th Infantry Division Regina was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Regina Division was a regular division of the Italian Army. It was formed on 1 March 1939 in the Italian Islands of the Aegean and formally dissolved in the same place 11 September 1943, although some sub-units continued to fight until 16 November 1943.
Actions
The division was originally deployed on the islands of Rhodes, Leros, Kos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Stampalia, Patmos, with small detachments on other islands.[1] In 1940 Regina was reinforced by 201st CCNN legion and 312nd tank battalion. On 20 November 1940, two companies from 1st battalion, 10th infantry regiment expelled Greek sailors who had captured Agathonisi island the previous day. In response to the British Operation Abstention, 4th battalion, 10th infantry regiment recaptured the island of Kastelorizo on 28 February 1941. In the aftermath of the Battle of Greece in early May 1941, the 10th regiment of Regina division, stationed on Kos, proceeded to capture the Greek islands of Amorgos, Anafi, Ios, Naxos, Paros, Andros, Tinos, Kythnos, Kea, Serifos, Skyros, Mykonos, Samos, Ikaria. The capture proceeded without any resistance on the Greek side.
On 27 May 1941, a tactical group was detached from Regina (mostly troops from Rhodes), comprising 1st battalion, 9th infantry regiment; 2nd battalion, 10th infantry regiment; 3rd company of the 312th tank battalion, a support artillery battery and an anti-tank company armed with 65/17 light field guns from 9th infantry regiment.[2] This tactical group landed on Crete near Sitia on 28 May 1941 and proceeded to rendezvous with German forces at Ierapetra on 1 June 1941, fighting in minor clashes along the way.
On 15 May 1942, the Regina was reinforced in Rhodes by the newly formed 309th infantry regiment.[3] 24 October 1942 the 331th infantry regiment (from 11th Infantry Division Brennero) was also transferred to Rhodes.[4]
Aftermath of Armistice of Cassibile
On 8 September 1943, the garrison of Kastelorizo surrendered to the British in the early moves of the Dodecanese Campaign. Some sub-units of the CCNN legions on Rhodes joined Germans after the Fall of Rhodes after brief fighting on 9–11 September 1943. The remaining units the of Italian garrison on Rhodes surrendered to Germans.
The two infantry platoons and an artillery section from Regina division together with British 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry and some RAF personnel fought against the Germans in the Battle of Kos on 1–4 October 1943.[5] Most of 3500 men of 10th regiment of Regina surrendered to the Germans without fighting.[6] The Germans captured 1388 British and 3145 Italian prisoners.[7] On 3 October, German troops executed the captured Italian commander of the island, Colonel Felice Leggio, and 101 of his officers. This was done in accordance with Adolf Hitler's order of 11 September to execute captured Italian officers.[8]
3rd Battalion, 10th Regiment, with an artillery battery and a tank company, together with British forces, defended Leros during the 12–16 November 1943 Battle of Leros. Finally, the Italian garrison of Samos surrendered to German forces on 22 November 1943, after prolonged aerial bombardment.
Orders of battle
Order of battle (1940)
- 9. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 2. Infantry battalion
- 3. Infantry battalion
- 4. Infantry battalion
- 1a Mortar company
- 2a Mortar company
- Support artillery battery
- 10. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 2. Infantry battalion
- 3. Infantry battalion
- 4. Infantry battalion
- 1a Mortar company
- 2a Mortar company
- Support artillery battery
- 24. CCNN Legion
- 201. CCNN Legion
- 201. CCNN Battalion
- 301. CCNN Battalion
- 201a CCNN machine gun company
- 1a CCNN assault mortar company
- 2a CCNN assault mortar company
- 50. Aritllery regiment "Regina"
- 1. Artillery group
- 2. Artillery group
- 3. Artillery group
- 36. Coastal defence artillery group
- 50. Mortar Battalion (da 81)
- 50. Machine gun company
- 50. Anti-tank company (47/32)
- 23a Anti-tank company (47/32)
- 91. Pioneer Company
- 250. Pioneer Company (repair workshop)
- 46. Mixed telegraph/radio signal company
- Chemical warfare company
- Army corps detachments to division
- Carabinieri group "Aegean"
- Defence sector "Dodecanese" HQ
- Machine gun companies (total 18 companies dispersed on various islands)
- 312 Mixed tank battalion
- 35 Coastal defence artillery group
- 56. Anti-aircraft artillery group
- Various engineer detachments[nb 1][2]
Order of battle (early 1943)
- 9. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 2. Infantry battalion
- 3. Infantry battalion
- 4. Infantry battalion
- 1a Mortar company
- 2a Mortar company
- Support artillery battery
- 10. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 2. Infantry battalion
- 3. Infantry battalion
- 4. Infantry battalion
- 1a Mortar company
- 2a Mortar company
- Support artillery battery
- 309. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 331. Infantry regiment "Brennero"
- 201. CCNN Legion
- 201. CCNN Battalion
- 301. CCNN Battalion
- 50. Aritllery regiment "Regina"
- 1. Artillery group
- 2. Artillery group
- 3. Artillery group
- 50. Mortar Battalion (da 81)
- 50. Chemical warfare battalion
- Tactical fast reaction unit
- Machine gun companies (total 16-18 companies dispersed on various islands)
- Mortar company (Brixia Model 35 45mm)
- Mortar company (5 cm Granatwerfer 36)
- 312 Tank battalion (1 company detached)
- Various engineer detachments
Order of battle (late 1943)
- 9. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 1a Infantry company
- 2a Infantry company
- 3a Infantry company
- 4a Infantry company
- Special forces company
- 2. Infantry battalion
- 9a Machine gun company
- 3. Infantry battalion
- 1a Mortar company
- 2a Mortar company
- 1. Platoon (infantry?)
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 10. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- Support artillery battery
- 17a Fusilier company
- 10. Machine gun company
- 50. Aritllery regiment "Regina"
- 5. Artillery group
- 36. Artillery group
- 309. Infantry regiment "Regina"
- 201. CCNN Legion
- 252a Anti-aircraft artillery company
- 36. Coastal defence artillery group
- 81. Artillery group
- 31. Artillery group
- 136° Battery from 29th Artillery group
- 295a Machine gun battery
- 6a Machine gun company
- 31. Infantry regiment "Siena"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 2 batteries of 75mm cannon
- battery of Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 cannon
- 3a Coastal machine gun company
- 331. Infantry regiment "Brennero"
- 1. Infantry battalion
- 24. Artillery regiment (originating from 11th Infantry Division Brennero)
- 2 Artillery groups (unknown composition)
Notes
- Footnotes
- ↑ An Italian Infantry Division normally consisted of two Infantry Regiments (three Battalions each), an Artillery Regiment, a Mortar Battalion (two companies), an Anti Tank Company, a Blackshirt Legion of two Battalions was sometimes attached. Each Division had only about 7,000 men, The Infantry and Artillery Regiments contained 1,650 men, the Blackshirt Legion 1,200, each company 150 men.[9]
- Citations
- ↑ http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rediv50.htm
- 1 2 Marcus Wendal. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ↑ http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rgt/rgt309.htm
- ↑ http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rgt/rgt331.htm
- ↑ Anthony Rogers (2007), pp. 78-84.
- ↑ Leros, Churchill's folly
- ↑ Chronik des Seekrieges 1939-1945, Württembergische Landesbibliothek, entry on October 1943
- ↑ "Massacres and Atrocities of WWII". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ↑ Paoletti, p 170