41 Infantry Division Firenze
Encyclopedia
The 41 Infantry Division Firenze was a Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Firenze Division took part in the Italian invasion of France
and later the Greco-Italian War
as part of the Army Group Reserve. It also took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia
. It remained in Yugoslavia as an occupation force in Montenegro
until July 1941. It was then transferred to Albania
where it remained until the Italian surrender to the Allies
in September 1943. Following the surrender a number of men from the division joined the Yugoslav Partisans and the Albanian Partisans
. The 92. CCNN Legion continued to serve with the German forces.
The division was made up of Tuscans
, and especially Florentines
(a rare case of Italian Infantry Division whose name coincides with the ethnicity or place of residence of its members).
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 Firenze Division 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...
and later 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...
as part of the Army Group Reserve. It also took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
. It remained in Yugoslavia as an occupation force in 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...
until July 1941. It was then transferred to 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...
where it remained until 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. Following the surrender a number of men from the division joined the Yugoslav Partisans and the Albanian Partisans
Military history of Albania during World War II
The Albanian Resistance of World War II was a movement of largely Communist persuasion directed against the occupying Italian and then German forces in Albania, which led to the successful liberation of the country in 1944....
. The 92. CCNN Legion continued to serve with the German forces.
The division was made up of Tuscans
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, and especially Florentines
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
(a rare case of Italian Infantry Division whose name coincides with the ethnicity or place of residence of its members).
Order of battle
- 127. FirenzeFirenzeFirenze is the Italian name for the city of Florence.Firenze may also refer to:* Andrea da Firenze, an Italian composer* Lorenzo da Firenze, an Italian composer and music teacher of the trecento...
Infantry Regiment - 128. Firenzi Infantry Regiment
- 41. Artillery Regiment
- 92. CCNN Legion (Blackshirts)
- 41. Mortar Battalion
- 241. Anti-Tank Company
- 41. Signal Company
- 53. Pioneer Company
- 37. Medical Section
- 36. Supply Section
- 12. Field Bakery
- 194. Motor Transport Section