The 223rd Coastal Division ( it, 223ª Divisione Costiera) was an
infantry division of the
Royal Italian Army
The Royal Italian Army ( it, Regio Esercito, , Royal Army) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy, established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manfre ...
during
World War II.
Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate
materiel. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.
[Jowett p 6]
History
In November 1942
Axis forces invaded Southern France and divided it into a German and an
Italian occupation zone. For the
coastal defense of its zone Italy raised on 1 January 1943 the 223rd Coastal Division in Bologna and the
224th Coastal Division in
Florence. Both divisions were formed with replacements and reserve units of the army's regular
Alpini
The Alpini are the Italian Army's specialist mountain infantry. Part of the army's infantry corps, the speciality distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Currently the active Alpini units are organized in two operatio ...
regiments.
[
The 223rd Coastal Division was based in La Colle-sur-Loup and assigned to I Army Corps. After the announcement of the ]Armistice of Cassibile
The Armistice of Cassibile was an armistice signed on 3 September 1943 and made public on 8 September between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies during World War II.
It was signed by Major General Walter Bedell Smith for the Allies and Brig ...
on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.
Organization
* 223rd Coastal Division, in La Colle-sur-Loup5th Alpini Regiment
The 5th Alpini Regiment ( it, 5° Reggimento Alpini) is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The regiment is based in Sterzing and assi ...
)
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Stelvio" (formed from the XXXV Replacements Battalion/ 5th Alpini Regiment
The 5th Alpini Regiment ( it, 5° Reggimento Alpini) is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The regiment is based in Sterzing and assi ...
)
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Pavione" (formed from the XXXVI Replacements Battalion/ 7th Alpini Regiment)
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Arvenis" (formed from the XXXVIII Replacements Battalion/ 8th Alpini Regiment
The 8th Alpini Regiment ( it, 8° Reggimento Alpini) is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. As of 2022 the regiment is assigned to ...
)
*** DXII Mobile Territorial Alpini Battalion
** 167th Coastal Alpini Regiment
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Levanna" (formed from the XXIII Replacements Battalion/ 4th Alpini Regiment
The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment ( it, 4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti) is a Ranger-type special forces regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. The regiment is one of three regiments of the Army Special Forces Comm ...
)
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Suello" (formed from the XXIV Replacements Battalion/ 6th Alpini Regiment
The 6th Alpini Regiment ( it, 6° Reggimento Alpini) is a training regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The regiment is based in Bruneck ...
)
*** Alpini Battalion "Monte Berico" (formed from the XXXIX Replacements Battalion/ 9th Alpini Regiment
The 9th Alpini Regiment ( it, 9° Reggimento Alpini) is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Based in the city of L'Aquila in Abruzzo t ...
)
** 7x Coastal artillery groups
** 223rd Mixed Engineer Company
** 223rd Carabinieri Section
** 144th Field Post Office
** Division Services
Commanding officers
The division's commanding officer was:Generale di Divisione
Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an Division (military), army division. The rank originates from the General officer#French (Revolutionary) system, French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The ...
Amedeo De Cia Amedeo is an Italian given name meaning "lover of God", "loves God", or more correctly "for the love of God" and cognate to the Latin name Amadeus and the Spanish and Portuguese Amadeo.
People with this name include:
* A number of rulers and nob ...
(1 January 1943 - 9 September 1943)
References
*
*
{{Italian Divisions World War II
Coastal divisions of Italy
Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II