Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna
Encyclopedia
The 25 Semi-Motorised Division Bologna (Italian: 25 Divisione Autotrasportabile "Bologna") was an Semi-Motorised Infantry
division of the Italian Army
during World War II
. It was stationed in Tripolitania
and was sent to Libya
for the Italian invasion of Egypt
. It fought in North Africa until it was destroyed in the Second Battle of El Alamein
.
Garrisoned in Naples
, it was made up almost entirely of Neapolitans
.
. That morning, the division was attacked by British forces (2nd/King’s Own, 2nd/Black Watch, 2nd/Queen’s and 4th RTR with Matilda tanks) and the attackers overran part of the Bologna, but the attacks were largely defeated by the division with the help of German 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. In summing up the experience of the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch in the attack, the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War wrote that "The superlative élan of the Black Watch in the attack had been equalled by the remarkable persistence of the defence in the face of formidable tank-and-infantry pressure." On 23 November, the Bologna Division again withstood a determined attack from Tobruk aimed at penetrating into the area of Sidi Rezegh, and bought sufficient time to allow the Pavia Division to mount a counter-attack and defeat the British assault, as a German narrative recorded:
The Bologna's front now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25, the division was assaulted by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German Böttcher Group had inflicted severe losses on the British tanks. The British advance was halted by the timely arrival of reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the Trieste Division.
The Bologna's defenders were gradually pushed back to the "Leopard strongpoint", covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among British commanders.
Despite the German 90th Light Division pulling out of the Tobruk sector on 4 December, the Bologna Division held out until the night of 8-9 December when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support.
However, it was to take a further assault led by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK), supported by tanks and artillery, before the siege of Tobruk was finally lifted on the morning of December 10.
In the centre of the British front a good Italian division, the Bologna, delivered a strong attack on the Ruweisat Ridge, and a considerable counter-attack was required to expel it from the footing it gained.
In the first attack on Ruweisat Ridge, during the Second Battle of Alamein, the Bologna Division supported by two battalions of the German Ramcke Parachute Brigade achieved some success, taking 40 prisoners.
Private Sid Martindale, 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, wrote about 25th Bologna Infantry Division, which had taken the full weight of the British armoured attack:Bologna and the remainder of Trento Division tried to fight their way out of Alamein and marched in the desert without water, food, or transport before surrendering exhausted and dying from dehydration. It was reported that Colonel Dall'Olio, commanding Bologna, surrendered saying, "We have ceased firing not because we haven't the desire but because we have spent every round." In a symbolic act of final defiance no one in Bologna Division raised their hands. Harry Zinder of Time magazine noted that the Italians fought better than had been expected, and commented that for the Italians:
Motorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
division 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...
. It was stationed in Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
and 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....
for 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...
. It fought in North Africa until it was destroyed in the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
.
Garrisoned in 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...
, it was made up almost entirely of Neapolitans
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...
.
Order of battle
- 39 BolognaBolognaBologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
Infantry Regiment - 40 Bologna Infantry Regiment
- 205 Artillery Regiment
- 4 Anti-Aircraft Battery
- 437 Anti-Aircraft Battery
- 25 Engineer Battalion
- 7 CarabinieriCarabinieriThe Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
Company - 135 Motorized Transport Company
- 96 Field Hospital
- 528 Field Hospital
- 66 Surgical Unit
- 308 Field Ambulance
Siege of Tobruk
The sector manned by the Bologna Division on the Tobruk perimeter consisted of several strongpoints manned by infantry and artillery units, all surrounded by minefields. On 21 November 1941, the Bologna repulsed a British attempt to approach their positions as part of Operation CrusaderOperation 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....
. That morning, the division was attacked by British forces (2nd/King’s Own, 2nd/Black Watch, 2nd/Queen’s and 4th RTR with Matilda tanks) and the attackers overran part of the Bologna, but the attacks were largely defeated by the division with the help of German 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. In summing up the experience of the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch in the attack, the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War wrote that "The superlative élan of the Black Watch in the attack had been equalled by the remarkable persistence of the defence in the face of formidable tank-and-infantry pressure." On 23 November, the Bologna Division again withstood a determined attack from Tobruk aimed at penetrating into the area of Sidi Rezegh, and bought sufficient time to allow the Pavia Division to mount a counter-attack and defeat the British assault, as a German narrative recorded:
The Bologna's front now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25, the division was assaulted by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German Böttcher Group had inflicted severe losses on the British tanks. The British advance was halted by the timely arrival of reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the Trieste Division.
The Bologna's defenders were gradually pushed back to the "Leopard strongpoint", covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among British commanders.
Despite the German 90th Light Division pulling out of the Tobruk sector on 4 December, the Bologna Division held out until the night of 8-9 December when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support.
However, it was to take a further assault led by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK), supported by tanks and artillery, before the siege of Tobruk was finally lifted on the morning of December 10.
The Alamein Battles
In July 1942, the Bologna Division was summoned from Gazala to reinforce the Alamein front, marching 400 miles, being reviewed by Mussolini on the way. On the night of 25-26 August, the Bologna came under heavy artillery attack and the New Zealand 28th Battalion, under the cover of darkness, breached part of the perimeter, but lost 25 killed, wounded and captured in the action. The attacking Maoris later reported that there were 100 Italian, dead, wounded and captured during the attack. During the Battle of Alam el Halfa, the Bologna and German 433rd Infantry Regiment attacked several Indian, South African and New Zealand units on Ruweisat Ridge, and managed to capture Point 211, but the attackers was later driven back by counterattack.Cyril Falls, a noted military historian, later wrote an article about the Italo-German counterattack:In the centre of the British front a good Italian division, the Bologna, delivered a strong attack on the Ruweisat Ridge, and a considerable counter-attack was required to expel it from the footing it gained.
In the first attack on Ruweisat Ridge, during the Second Battle of Alamein, the Bologna Division supported by two battalions of the German Ramcke Parachute Brigade achieved some success, taking 40 prisoners.
Private Sid Martindale, 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, wrote about 25th Bologna Infantry Division, which had taken the full weight of the British armoured attack:Bologna and the remainder of Trento Division tried to fight their way out of Alamein and marched in the desert without water, food, or transport before surrendering exhausted and dying from dehydration. It was reported that Colonel Dall'Olio, commanding Bologna, surrendered saying, "We have ceased firing not because we haven't the desire but because we have spent every round." In a symbolic act of final defiance no one in Bologna Division raised their hands. Harry Zinder of Time magazine noted that the Italians fought better than had been expected, and commented that for the Italians: