9th Motorised Division Pasubio

9th Motorized Division Pasubio
Active 1934–1943
Country Italy Regno d'Italia
Kingdom of Italy
Branch Regio Esercito
Royal Italian Army
Type Infantry
Role Motorised
Size Division
Part of Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia
8th Army
Garrison/HQ Verona
Nickname(s) Pasubio
Engagements World War II
Invasion of Yugoslavia
Eastern Front
Assault on Stalino
Battle of Nikolayevka
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Identification
symbol		 Pasubio Division collar insignia

9th Motorized Division Pasubio was a binary-type (2-regiments) Motorised Infantry[nb 1] Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed as infantry division in 1934, reorganized into Motorized Infantry division in 1939 and mobilized in August 1940. Its 79th Infantry Regiment and 8th Artillery Regiment were made up of men from Verona, while the ranks of the 80th Regiment were filled with men from Mantua. Its 1st Sabauda CCNN Battalion was made up of volunteers from Turin.

Action

The Pasubio Division took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. First it was deployed at San Pietro del Carso dam (near modern Pivka). By 16 April, Pasubio division has overcome border defenses and reached the road to Otocac.[1] Closer to the end of war, it reached Sibenik-Split region where it participated in the mop-up operations until 28 May 1941. After end of military operation in Yugoslavia, Pasubio division has returned to Verona.

Assigned to the Russian expedition corps (or Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia (CSIR)) in the beginning of July, 1941, Pasubio division has left Verona 10 July 1941 and reached Yampil on Dniester river at 6 August 1941. The first contact with Soviet army happened 10 August 1941 near town of Voznesensk on Southern Bug river. The Polyana village was reached by 12 August 1941. From 18 September 1941 until 26 September 1941 the "Pasubio" participated in the Battle of Kiev (1941), capturing and holding bridgehead on eastern side of Dnieper river. In October 1941, the Pasubio division has advanced by route Petrikovka-Dnipropetrovsk-Pavlohgrad-Ulyanivka(Kharkiv Oblast)-Izium. The Pasubio played a significant role in the capture of Donetsk(Stalino) in October 1941, earning the praise of the German First Panzer Group's commander, General Ewald von Kleist.[2] 1 November 1941, the Pasubio division has attacked Horlivka town and captured it after fierce fighting. Village Nikitovka north of Horlivka fell soon thanks to rapid Italian action. The Pasubio division also contributed significantly to the capture of the Shazopetovka? and Bulavyns'ke to the east of Horlivka. By that time, the Soviets forces increased to extent what the Pasubio Division has switched to defense.

In January 1942 the Pasubio division has helped German troops fighting in Izium area, where it fend off a heavy Soviet attack near village of Novaya Orlovka. By July 1942, Pasubio division was fighting near town of Krasnyi Luch. In August, it reached Don River (Russia), where the right flank of Pasubio Division was heavily attacked by Soviet forces 20 August 1942. Attack was repelled in few days, and position warfare was established until 11 December 1942, when Soviets attacked again with large amount of tanks. 16 December 1942 the Pasubio Division has counterattacked and returned to initial position. But by that time general front-line collapse was already underway. Nearby 52nd Motorised Division Torino and 2nd Mountain Infantry Division Sforzesca has failed to maintain their positions, therefore Pasubio Division was forced to retreat to avoid encirclement. After few days of retreat, Pasubio Division was no longer able to maintain front-line, instead covering only roads. 25 December 1942 rearguard of 600 men was surrounded in village of Krasnoyarovka in Rostov Oblast and annihilated by 28 December 1942. Main body of Pasubio division has barricaded in the northern part of Chertkovo village together with shattered remnants of various German units, and repelled several attacks starting from 23 December 1942. Grueling march to first avoid, and then to break the encirclement, has continued. 15 January 1943 the fight to break through the Soviet lines has started. Finally, 2000 men remained of Pasubio division have broken the encirclement 17 January 1943 near town of Belovodsk, Luhansk oblast.

The people from Pasubio division has marched to Donetsk by end of January, 1943 and boarded trains back to Italy. The survivors has returned home in April, 1943 - to be transferred to Province of Caserta for the duties of coastal defense. The garrisons locations were villages Avena, Grazzanise, Sparanise, and town Santa Maria Capua Vetere. The garrisons were mostly captured by the Germans in the aftermath of the Armistice of Cassibile (surrender of Italy to Allies) 8 September 1943.[3][4]

Order of battle

[3] [nb 2]

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ↑ The division never had the required amount of Motor Transport to move all its units at the same time and is referred to as a Semi Motorized Division
  2. ↑ 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 (Regiment of two Battalions). 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.[5]
Citations
  1. ↑ http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rediv9.htm
  2. ↑ "Pasubio earned von Schobert's praise during the battles between the Dniestr and Bug rivers." Operation Barbarossa: The German Invasion of Soviet Russia, Robert Kirchubel, p. 220, Osprey Publishing, 2013
  3. 1 2 Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
  4. ↑ "The Axis". The Canadian Soldier. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
  5. ↑ Paoletti, p 170


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