55 Infantry Division Savona
Encyclopedia
The 55 Truck-Moveable Division Savona was a North African type Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Savona Division was sent to Libya
in September 1939. Its men hailed from Naples
, Salerno
and their surroundings
. The division was not involved in the Italian invasion of Egypt
as it was deployed facing French Tunisia
. According to Inside the Afrika Korps: The Crusader Battles, 1941-1942 (Rainer Kriebel & Bruce Gudmundsson), the Savona Division took charge of the fortified towns of Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya at the beginning of September 1941. During November 22 and 23 in the initial fighting of Operation Crusader
, the frontier garrisons of Omar Nuovo and Libyan Omar fell to determined infantry attacks of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by British tanks from the 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiments, and the New Zealanders captured Fort Capuzzo and cut off the Bardia garrison’s water supply. Both sides fought well. According to The Bologna Division: 19 November – 10 December, 1941, a British war correspondent is reported to have written:
“It was a most gallant affair, carried out with compete disregard to casualties. The Italians did not give in until our troops were amongst them with bayonets. A minimum of 1,500 prisoners were taken, some of whom were Germans, but the majority of whom belonged to the Italian Savona Division.”
On December 4, as the Afika Korps prepared to retreat to the Gazala Line, the Savona was given instructions to cover the Axis withdrawal as much as possible by containing Commonwealth forces in the Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya area
The Savona Division did not surrender until 17 January 17 1942 and wasn't reformed. Of the divisional commander, Rommel is reported to have concluded, “Superb leadership was shown by the Italian General de Giorgis, who commanded this German-Italian force in its two months’ struggle.”
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 Savona Division was sent to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in September 1939. Its men hailed from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
and their surroundings
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
. The division was not involved in the Italian invasion of Egypt
Italian invasion of Egypt
The Italian Invasion of Egypt was an Italian offensive action against British, Commonwealth and Free French forces during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Initially, the goal of the offensive was to seize the Suez Canal. To accomplish this, Italian forces from Libya would have...
as it was deployed facing French Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. According to Inside the Afrika Korps: The Crusader Battles, 1941-1942 (Rainer Kriebel & Bruce Gudmundsson), the Savona Division took charge of the fortified towns of Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya at the beginning of September 1941. During November 22 and 23 in the initial fighting of Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
, the frontier garrisons of Omar Nuovo and Libyan Omar fell to determined infantry attacks of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by British tanks from the 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiments, and the New Zealanders captured Fort Capuzzo and cut off the Bardia garrison’s water supply. Both sides fought well. According to The Bologna Division: 19 November – 10 December, 1941, a British war correspondent is reported to have written:
“It was a most gallant affair, carried out with compete disregard to casualties. The Italians did not give in until our troops were amongst them with bayonets. A minimum of 1,500 prisoners were taken, some of whom were Germans, but the majority of whom belonged to the Italian Savona Division.”
On December 4, as the Afika Korps prepared to retreat to the Gazala Line, the Savona was given instructions to cover the Axis withdrawal as much as possible by containing Commonwealth forces in the Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya area
The Savona Division did not surrender until 17 January 17 1942 and wasn't reformed. Of the divisional commander, Rommel is reported to have concluded, “Superb leadership was shown by the Italian General de Giorgis, who commanded this German-Italian force in its two months’ struggle.”
Commander
Generale di Divisione Fedele di GiorgisOrder of battle
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