| 40th Infantry Division Cacciatori d’Africa | |
|---|---|
| Active | 10 June 1940 – 19 May 1941 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Cacciatori d’Africa |
| Engagements |
World War II East African Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | General Giovanni Varda |
The 40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d’Africa" (Hunters of Africa) was an infantry division of the Italian Army (Regio Esercito Italiano) during World War II.
History[]
The Cacciatori d’Africa was active in Addis Ababa in Africa Orientale Italiana (AOI) on 10 June 1940. The Cacciatori d’Africa and 65 Infantry Division "Grenadiers of Savoy" (Granatieri di Savoia), came under overall command of Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta, who was Viceroy and Governor-General of AOI.
The Cacciatori d’Africa first saw action sometime in late March 1941 after the Italian defeat at the Battle of Keren but it too, couldn't turn back the British advance into AOI. The last elements of the Cacciatori d’Africa Division surrendered on 19 May 1941.
Commander[]
General Giovanni Varda
Order of battle[]
- 210. Bisagno Infantry Regiment
- 211. Pescara Infantry Regiment
- 40. Artillery Regiment
- 10. Monte Bello Blackshirt CCNN Battalion
- 40. Mortar Battalion
- 40. Anti Tank Company
- 18. Colonial Engineer Battalion
- 40. Medical services unit
- 40. Supply services unit[nb 1][2]
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.[1]
- Citations
- ↑ Paoletti, p 170
- ↑ "Royal Italian Army". World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations. http://niehorster.orbat.com/019_italy/40_organ/div_inf_40.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
- Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.
The original article can be found at 40th Infantry Division Cacciatori d'Africa and the edit history here.