212th Coastal Division (Italy)

212th Coastal Division
Map of Italy showing location of Calabria.
Active	1940–1946
Country	Italy
Branch	Infantry
Type	Coastal Division
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Calabria, Italy
Engagements	World War II

The 212th Coastal Division was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was located in the Calabria coastal region of Italy. Coastal divisions, were second line divisions, usually formed from men in there forties and fifties intended to perform labouring and second lined duties. Recruited locally they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement. Their equipment was also second rate. The Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini had hoped to obtain large quantities of arms and equipment from the disbanded Vichy French army, but this had often been sabotaged of arrived with no ammunition.^[1]

Order of battle

• 103rd Coastal Infantry Regiment
• 115th Coastal Infantry Regiment
• 144th Coastal Infantry Regiment
• 45th Coastal Artillery Regiment^[1]

References

1. Jowett p. 6

• Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.