LI Special Brigade (Italy)

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LI Special Brigade
Active1 February 1942 - 9 September 1943
CountryItaly Kingdom of Italy
BranchItaly Royal Italian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Garrison/HQ, Crete
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Luigi Chatrian
Insignia
Identification
symbol		Mostrina - 265°, 266° "Lecce".png Mostrina - 41°, 42°, 341° "Modena".png World War II - Mostrina Genio.png World War II - Mostrina - Sanità.png World War II - Mostrina - Sussistenza.png
LI Special Brigade gorget patches

The LI Special Brigade (Italian: LI Brigata Speciale) was an infantry brigade of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed on 1 February 1942 in Bari and arrived on 1 March 1942 on the island of Crete.[1] The brigade was assigned to the 51st Infantry Division "Siena", which commanded the Italian contingent of the German-Italian Fortress Crete Command during the Axis occupation of Greece.[2]

The brigade had its headquarter in and was responsible for the coastal defense of the easternmost part of Crete along the coast between Ierapetra, Kalo Chorio, Sitia, and Palaikastro.[1] After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the brigade surrendered to the Germans.[1]

Organization[]

  • LI Special Brigade[2]
    • 265th Infantry Regiment "Lecce"[3]
      • Command Company
      • 3x Fusiliers battalions (III Battalion transferred to the 309th Infantry Regiment "Regina", 50th Infantry Division "Regina" on 15 May 1942)
    • 341st Infantry Regiment "Modena" (from the 37th Infantry Division "Modena", joined the brigade on 15 May 1942)[4]
    • XIV Guardia di Finanza Battalion
    • XI Machine Gun Battalion
    • XI Mortar Battalion (81mm Mod. 35 mortars; detached from the 11th Infantry Division "Brennero"
    • IV Coastal Artillery Group
    • VIII Coastal Artillery Group
    • XXXVIII Coastal Artillery Group
    • LVII Coastal Artillery Group
    • CXI Coastal Artillery Group
    • XXIX Engineer Battalion
    • XLII Engineer Workers Battalion
    • 51st Tank Company (L6/40 tanks)
    • 251st Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns; detached to the 51st Infantry Division "Siena" from 1 December 1942)
    • 252nd Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
    • 199th Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns; detached to the 51st Infantry Division "Siena" from 1 December 1942)
    • 268th Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
    • 269th Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
    • 160th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company

Commanding officers[]

The division's commanding officer was:[1]

  • Generale di Brigata Luigi Chatrian (1 February 1942 - 21 March 1943)
  • Generale di Brigata (22 March 1943 - 9 September 1943)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "L'Esercito e i suoi corpi - Volume Terzo - Tomo I". Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 1979. p. 468. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Iuso, Pasquale (1994). La resistenza dei militari Italiani all'estero - Isole dell'Egeo. Rome: Rivista Militare. p. 60. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  3. ^ "265° Reggimento di fanteria "Lecce"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  4. ^ "341° Reggimento di fanteria "Modena"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
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