22 Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi
Encyclopedia
The 22 Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi was a Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Cacciatori delle Alpi was mobilized for war in June 1939, and as part of the Italian 1st Army took part in the Italian invasion of France
. It then took part in the Greco-Italian War
in the Italian 11th Army. It was later moved to the Balkans
stationed in Albania
, Montenegro
, Dalmatia
and finally Slovenia
where after the Italian surrender to the Allies
in September 1943, the Division surrendered to the German and Croatian forces.
operation in Croatia
with the objective of destroying partisan and Chetnik forces.
between 5 – 12 May 1942. This operation was a follow on from Operation Trio with the objective of destroying the forces in East Bosnia that had been forced into the Foča area by Operation Trio.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Italian Army
Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Cacciatori delle Alpi was mobilized for war in June 1939, and as part of the Italian 1st Army took part in the Italian invasion of France
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
. It then took part in the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in the Italian 11th Army. It was later moved to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
stationed in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
and finally Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
where after the Italian surrender to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
in September 1943, the Division surrendered to the German and Croatian forces.
Operation Trio
The Division took part in Operation Trio between the 8 April – 14 June 1942, which was an anti partisanPartisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
operation in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
with the objective of destroying partisan and Chetnik forces.
Operation Foca
The Division was also involved in Operation FočaThird anti-partisan offensive
The Third anti-Partisan Offensive or Third Enemy Offensive was a battle during World War II between the Yugoslav Partisans on one side, German, Italian, and Independent State of Croatia forces on the second and Chetnik forces on the third side...
between 5 – 12 May 1942. This operation was a follow on from Operation Trio with the objective of destroying the forces in East Bosnia that had been forced into the Foča area by Operation Trio.
Order of battle
- 51. Alpi Infantry Regiment
- 52. Alpi Infantry Regiment
- 1. Cacciatori Delle Alpi Artillery Regiment
- 105. CCNN Legion (Blackshirts)
- 22. Mortar Battalion
- 22. Anti-Tank Company
- 22. Signal Company
- 22. Pioneer Company
- 25. Medical Section
- 26. Supply Section
- 20. Field Bakery