2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"

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2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"
2a Divisione Celere Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro.png
2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro" insignia
Active1930-1943
CountryItaly
BranchRoyal Italian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQFerrara
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol		World War II - Mostrina - "Lancieri di Firenze".png World War II - Mostrina - "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II".png World War II - Mostrina - Bersaglieri.png World War II - Mostrina - Gruppi carri veloci di divisione celere.png World War II - Mostrina Artiglieria.png World War II - Mostrina Genio.png
Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro Division gorget patches

The 2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro" (Italian: 2ª Divisione celere "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro") was a Cavalry or "Celere" (Fast) division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division was mobilised in 1940, it did not take part in the Italian invasion of France, but did serve in the Invasion of Yugoslavia and remained in Yugoslavia as part of the occupying forces.[1] In March 1942 the division's 6th Bersaglieri Regiment was sent to the Soviet Union attached to the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta".[2] In May 1942 the division started converting to an armored division, however, the conversion was cancelled and it returned to the Cavalry format. In December 1942, the division moved to France as part of the Italian occupying forces where it was based in Toulon. The division remained in France until the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 and was then disbanded by the invading Germans.

History[]

The division was formed on 17 April 1930 as 2nd Fast Division in the city of Bologna. Although not officially sanctioned the division is considered to be the heir of the 2nd Cavalry Division of Veneto, which fought in World War I and consisted of the III and IV cavalry brigades. On 15 June 1930 the II Cavalry Brigade, with the regiments Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th), Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th), and Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" (19th) entered the division. The following year the 2nd Light Artillery Regiment was raised and assigned to the division.[3]

On 1 January 1934 the division and brigade received the name "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro". On the same date the brigade was reorganized and consisted now of the cavalry regiments Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th), Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th), and "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II" (10th), the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment and II Light Tank Group "San Marco". In November of the same year the "Lancieri di Novara" left the division for the newly raised 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta". On 1 February 1938 the II Cavalry Brigade "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro" was dissolved and its units came under direct command of the division.[3]

World War II[]

In March 1941 the division had to transfer its 2nd Fast Artillery Regiment with the II and III motorized groups to Libya, where they were used to reform the 17th Infantry Division "Pavia"'s 26th Artillery Regiment, which had been destroyed by British forces during the Battle of Beda Fomm on 6-7 February 1941. The division participated in the Invasion of Yugoslavia and returned to its garrison in Bologna in July 1941. On 23 June the division lost its last artillery group, which was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" to form an artillery regiment for the latter division's upcoming deployment to the Eastern front. On 20 January 1942 the division also had to cede the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment to the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta", which had been bled dry in the Soviet Union. As replacement the division received the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment.[3][4]

134th Armored Division "Freccia"[]

On 10 March 1942 the Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th) left the division and was sent to Albania. As replacement the division received the Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" (2nd). On 1 May 1942 the division was renamed as 134th Armored Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro". The division consisted of the Armored Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II" (10th), 134th Armored Artillery Regiment and the XXXV Mixed Engineer Battalion.[3] On 19 June 1942 the Regiment Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) joined the division as its armored reconnaissance regiment. However already on 1 August the division returned to its old designation and lost the regiments "Lancieri di Montebello" and "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II" to the 135th Armored Division "Ariete II". As replacements the division received the cavalry regiments Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st), Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" (2nd), and Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th). The division returned to Yugoslavia in October 1942.[3][4]

Case Anton[]

On 13 November 1942 the division moved to Southern France, which had been occupied by German forces three days earlier. The division initially garrisoned Nice, before assuming coastal defense duties between Antibes and Saint Tropez. In December the division moved further East and replaced the 58th Infantry Division "Legnano" along the coast from Antibes to Menton.[3]

On 4 September 1943 the division was recalled to Italy in preparation for the Armistice of Cassibile and the expected German reaction. After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the division blocked German attempts to enter Turin on 9 September, and the next day moved towards the Val Maira and Val Varaita valleys in an attempt to keep the retreat route for the Italian units in Southern France open. With no orders from the King or government the division dissolved on 18 September in the area of Cuneo.[3]

Organization[]

The division had undergone a level of mechanization and fielded two cavalry regiments, a Bersaglieri regiment, a motorized 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 L3/35s and L6/40 tanks.[5]

Commanding officers[]

The division's commanding officers were:[3][4]

  • Generale di Divisione
  • Generale di Divisione
  • Generale di Divisione Claudio Trezzani
  • Generale di Brigata Gervasio Bitossi
  • Generale di Divisione Lorenzo Dalmazzo (1 September 1938 - 16 August 1939)
  • Generale di Brigata (17 August 1939 - 9 June 1940)
  • Generale di Divisione Gavino Pizzolato (10 June 1940 - 17 February 1941)
  • Generale di Brigata (18 February 1941 - 17 July 1942)
  • Generale di Brigata (acting, 18 July - 4 August 1942)
  • Generale di Brigata (5 August 1942 - 17 July 1943)
  • Generale di Brigata Giuseppe Andreoli (18 July 1943 - 18 September 1943)

References[]

  1. ^ Jim Heddlesten. "Invasion of Yugoslavia (6 April, 1941)". Italy at War. Archived from the original on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  2. ^ Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army (3rd Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta)". Axis History. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "2ª Divisione Celere "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  4. ^ 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. 197. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  5. ^ Mollo, p.87
  6. ^ "Reggimento "Lancieri di Firenze" 9°". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Reggimento "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" 2°". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Reggimento "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II" 10°". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  9. ^ "1° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  10. ^ "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 22 December 2021.

Further reading[]


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