30th Infantry Division Sabauda

Action

Second Italo-Ethiopian War

The territorial division Cagliary was mobilized 1 October, 1934, renamed Sabauda (30a) after a newly built town of Sabaudia and sent to Eritrea, arriving in Massawa 21 June, 1935. During its absence on Sardinia until 9 February, 1937, it was replaced in Sassari and Cagliari by Sassary II infantry division (130a) and Sassari II infantry brigade (130).^[1] Initially the Sabauda division was tasked with the defence of the Asmara-Dek’emhāre area. At the beginning of the war 3 October, 1935, it hold a defensive line near Barachit. After overcoming an initial Ethiopian resistance at Fik’ada (Focada) it advanced rapidly, but come to nearly stop from 7 October, 1935. In November, 1935, it seized the Negash, Agula and Bolbala towns. It held positions on heights overlooking Tekezé River during the Ethiopian Christmas Offensive. The division have started to advance from 6 January, 1936, but stayed in Enderta Province in February, 1936. The Sabauda division had a minor fight at Battle of Amba Aradam 13-27 February, 1936. By 3 April, 1936, the division arrived to Amba Alagi, where it won a decisive encounter. It then pursued Ethiopunas to Agumserta and finally to Lake Ashenge. With way to Addis Ababa forced opened, the division surged forward, reaching Shewa Kifle Hāger village in capital's outskirts 26 April 1936, and capturing Addis Ababa proper 5 May, 1936. The division has stayed in capital area until December, 1936, when it was recalled to Italy.

Second World War

30th Division Sabauda was reorganized as a binary division 15 April, 1939. Initially it was deployed between Cagliari and Iglesias, Sardinia, with headquarters in Cagliari. In June, 1940, divisional position was reduced to around Sulcis. The Sabauda division stayed there until Armistice of Cassibile was announced 8 September, 1943. 10 September, 1943 it repositioned to repel a German forces at Villacidro-Samassi-Selegas-Suelli, facing north. After Wehrmacht forces evacuation to Corsica, the division was called to Sicily 10 November, 1943. It initially arrived to Enna-Caltanissetta region and stayed until relocated to Messina-Catania-Syracuse area in September, 1944. 1 October, 1944, the division was demobilized to security division status. During it stay in Sicily, it performed various duties ranging from airfield and coastal defence to demining.

Order of Battle Oct. 1935

30th Division "Sabauda" - Gen. Italo Gariboldi

• 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment
• 46th Infantry Regiment "Reggio"
• 60th Infantry Regiment "Calabria"
• 16th Artillery Regiment
• 530th MMG Bn
• 30th Replacements Bn
• 30th Engineers Coy

Notes:

• Each Army Division in the Ethiopian Campaign had a Pack-Mules unit of 3000 mules and three Regimental Trucks units (20 light trucks each).
• 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was detached during the campaign to form the core of the Celere Column A.O..

Order of Battle June 1940

30th Division "Sabauda"

• 45th Infantry Regiment
• 46th Infantry Regiment
• 30th Mortar Battalion
• 30th Antitank Company
• 16th Artillery Regiment
• 30th Engineer Battalion
• 30th Medical Services
• 30th Supply Services^{[nb 1]}

Notes

Footnotes

1. 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.^[2]

Citations

1. http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rediv30.htm
2. Paoletti, p 170

• Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.

External links

• Regio Esercito: 30a Divisione di fanteria "Sabauda"