The 1st Army ( it, 1ª Armata) was an
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 ...
field army
A field army (or numbered army or simply army) is a military formation in many armed forces, composed of two or more corps and may be subordinate to an army group. Likewise, air armies are equivalent formation within some air forces, and with ...
, in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, facing
Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
and
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
forces, and in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, fighting on the North African front.
World War I
During World War I, the 1st Army bore the responsibility of a long front from
Stelvio Pass
''Giogo dello Stèlvio''german: Stilfser Joch
, photo = The_Stelvio_pass.jpg
, photo_caption = Some of the 48 hairpin turns near the top of the eastern ramp of the Stelvio Pass
, photo_alt =
, map = Alps
, map_caption = Location of Stelvio Pass in ...
on the Swiss-Austrian Italian tri-border to the
Asiago
Asiago (; Venetian: ''Axiago'', Cimbrian: ''Slege'', German: ''Schlägen'' ) is a minor township (population roughly 6,500) in the surrounding plateau region (the ''Altopiano di Asiago'' or '' Altopiano dei Sette Comuni'', Asiago plateau) in ...
plateau. It successfully resisted the Austro-Hungarian
Strafexpedition. Its sector was later reduced, limiting its role to the defense of the
Trentino
Trentino ( lld, Trentin), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento, is an autonomous province of Italy, in the country's far north. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, an autonomous region ...
borders and the
Verona
Verona ( , ; vec, Verona or ) is a city on the Adige River in Veneto, Northern Italy, Italy, with 258,031 inhabitants. It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the largest city Comune, municipality in the region and the ...
area.
Its commanders were:
* (May 1915 - May 1916)
*
Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi
Marshal Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi, OSSA, OSML, OMS, OCI (18 May 1856 – 15 January 1941) was an Italian noble, general and politician, mostly known for commanding the Italian 1st Army during World War I.
Early life
Born in Borgo San Lo ...
(May 1916 - December 1919)
Formation & Operations in 1915
The 1st Army originated with the Army of Milan which became, in October 1914, the 1st Army. In addition to various army corps (up to five), it had available to it large units not included in the army corps: infantry and cavalry divisions and groups of Alpine troops. Even the ''truppe altipiani'' command was subsequently placed within this Army. The 1st Army during the conflict participated in conquests, various setbacks and reconquests (primarily the so-called White War) until the final battle of Vittorio Veneto.
![Roberto Brusati](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Roberto_Brusati.jpg)
As the 1st World War extended to Italy, this Army was placed under the command of Lieutenant General Roberto Brusati and consisted of the III Army Corps (Corpo d'Armata) of Milan under the command of Lieutenant General Vittorio Camerana and the V Army Corps of Verona under the command of Lieutenant General Florenzo Aliprandi.
Each Army Corps consisted of three infantry divisions, including field artillery and sapper units. In addition, there was a corps troop consisting of bersaglieri, alpini, cavalry, artillery and other specialists and an army troop consisting of infantry, cavalry, artillery and specialists.
The 1st Army, which now had its headquarters in Verona, was deployed from the Stelvio Pass to the Rolle Pass/Cismon or about 200 kilometers along the war front, with the III Army Corps responsible from the Swiss border to the Lake Garda area and the V Army Corps from Garda to Rolle/Cismon, where the
4th Army began its sector. This was designated the Trentino Front. According to the plans of the supreme commander of the army, the 1st Army was to maintain a strategically defensive posture, not only during the period of the war build-up, but also through the time in which the (adjacent) 4th Army under General Luigi Nava would operate from Cadore to attempt to open a route towards the Tyrol.
The 1st Army, however, was to carry out limited offensives to ensure the security of the Italian border, and occupy any enemy territory, wherever this was possible and convenient. In Cadorna's plan, the 1st Army would defend against any Austrian offensive from Trentino thus protecting (along with the 4th Army) the rear of the bulk of the Italian army which was engaged on the Isonzo Front.
With the task of having to stay on the defensive, Brusati was frustrated by (in his opinion) Cadorna's inability to understand that the Austro-Hungarians had retreated on a defensive line well beyond the official border. Thus, Brusati’s 1st Army carried out offensive operations enthusiastically. Already on 25 May 1915, the day after Italy entered the war, these Italian troops, taking advantage of the fact that the Austro-Hungarian troops were deployed far from the border, conquered terrain of considerable strategic value, such as Monte Altissimo, Coni Zunga and parts of the Val d’Adige and Vallarsa, near Lake Garda.
However, starting from August, after the failure of new attacks against the Austro-Hungarian permanent fortifications (on the Vézzena Plateau) that guarded the head of the Val d'Astico (east of the previous successes), General Cadorna directed the 1st Army Command back to the defensive mode. Nevertheless, Brusati did not give up on further operations aimed at consolidating the front, sometimes deploying his troops in an offensive stance. This alignment led to neglecting the defensive preparations with the bulk of the forces available remaining concentrated on the advanced positions, rather than on the rear positions, more suitable for defensive operations.
Operations in 1916
In March 1916, the information services of the Army had the 1st news of a concentration of Austrian forces in the Trentino sector. These were to be the preparations for the so-called
Strafexpedition, planned by the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Royal Austro-Hungarian Army, Field Marshal
Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf
Franz Xaver Josef Conrad von Hötzendorf (after 1919 Franz Conrad; 11 November 1852 – 25 August 1925), sometimes anglicised as Hoetzendorf, was an Austrian general who played a central role in World War I. He served as ''K.u.k. Feldmarschall' ...
. This offensive had the intent to defeat the Italian army, unleashing an offensive through the lines of the 1st Army to take the entire Italian Isonzo deployment from the rear. In view of a probable enemy offensive, at his request, Cadorna granted Brusati five further divisions. However, Cadorna remained persuaded that nothing would happen in that sector.
Still Brusati’s troops were strung-out after their offensive advances and the state of the defenses was ill-prepared. In disagreement with Cadorna, Brusati deployed the defense at the end of the advanced positions counting on the solidity of the strengthening work carried out until then. In addition, on 1 April, the Army again went on the offensive, launching assaults which achieved some partial successes, but at the cost of the defense.
In the second half of April General Cadorna visited the lines of the 1st Army and on that occasion he even refused to meet Brusati because, according to some, he already had plans to dismiss him. On 8 May Brusati was relieved from command by Cadorna and replaced by General Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi, eight days before the Austro-Hungarian counter-offensive began.
![Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Guglielmo_Pecori_Giraldi.jpg)
Ultimately the 1st Army along with elements of the newly created Fifth Army prevailed in this major Austro-Hungarian action, helped by the Russian
Brusilov Offensive in Galacia which required von Hötzendorf to move troops away from the Italian offensive and to the Eastern Front.
In August 1916, the 1st Army was reorganized and growing, along with the Regio Esercito overall as more draftees reached the war zone. The 1st Army now had six Corps, covering the same frontlines in the Trentino. The III Corps (5th, 6th and 37th Divisions) remained under Gen. Camerana. The V Corps (44th, 47th and 32 Divisions) was added under Lt. General Bertotti; along with the X Corps (9th and 20th Divisions) under Lt. Gen. Grandi; a new ''Truppe Altipiani'' commanded by Lt. General Mambretti and consisting of the XII Corps (30th, 29th and 25th Divisions) under Lt. Gen. Zoppi and the XX Corps (13th, 28th and an Alpini Unit) under Lt. General Montuori; and the XVIII Corps (15th Division and 2nd Cavalry) under Lt. Gen. Etna. There was a Corps Troop at Verona consisting of infantry battalions, artillery, bomb units, cavalry and engineer units.
For the balance of 1916, this Army engaged in fights and other actions in what became known as the
White War
The White War ( it, Guerra Bianca, german: Gebirgskrieg, hu, Fehér Háború) is the name given to the fighting in the high-altitude Alpine sector of the Italian front during the First World War, principally in the Dolomites, the Ortles-Cev ...
. There were attacks on Monte Pasubio (in September and October), Monte Cimone (in September), in Val Sugana (in August and September) and numerous small actions in Val Sugana, Val Posina and Altipiano d’Asiago. Many soldiers also lost their lives in
avalanches
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain.
Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and earth ...
.
In November 1916 the 1st Army with Cardorna’s consent, had planned "Action K" (Code Name) a small counteroffensive targeting Monte Ortigara using General Mambretti’s ''Truppe Altipiani'' as well as the XVIII Corps. This action had tp be cancelled due to heavy snows. The Italian Command would later reprise and augment the
plan for June 1917. On 1 December 1916 Mambretti was now placed in charge of a new
Sixth Army (Italy) The 6th Army was a field army of the Royal Italian Army which was formed in World War I and World War II.
World War I
The Sixth Army was first formed on 1 December 1916 under command of Ettore Mambretti. This Army was created primarily from the F ...
taking his XX Corps as well as the XVIII Corps. Added to these troops were two newly constituted Corps, the XXII and XXVI.
Operations in 1917
As part of a re-organization (after Caporetto) several new Corps were created and assigned (1916-1917) to the 1st Army including the XXIX, V, XXVI, and XXII Corps. At this time the Trentino Front was defended by the III Corps (5th and 6th Divisions and the Brigata Valtellina) from Stevio to Garda; the XXIX Corps (37th and 27th Divisions), V Corps (55th and 69 Divisions), X Corps (32nd and 9th Divisions), three Corps of ''Truppe Altipiani'' (XXVI – 12th and 11th Divisions, XXII – 57th and 2nd Divisions and XX – 29th and 52 Divisions) from Garda to Sugana.
The 1st Army did not take part in any major defensive or counteroffensive battles in 1917. The 1st Army did, however, defend the Asiago Plateau during the
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Kobarid or the Battle of Karfreit) was a battle on the Italian front of World War I.
The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central ...
which helped the retreating Italian troops to set up a strong defensive line at the Piave River in November.
However, the White War continued in 1917 for the 1st Army through a series of small actions (between June and October) in the high isolated valleys of the Trentino mountains. The following minor actions were reported):
*
Corno di Cavento
The Corno di Cavento is a mountain in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. It is located in the Province of Trento, between Val Rendena and Val di Fumo.
Its summit was conquered for the first time by a young Bohemian climber, Julius von Payer, along w ...
(Adamello) with the 5th Division, Casina Garioni / Casina Pascon with the X Corps,
* Mascio with the III Corps, Vallagarina at Mori and Mt. Giovo with the XXIX Corps,
* Val di Ledro (III Corps), Val Posina (V Corps),
* Massico dell’Ortler (Arditi),
* Val Concei and Dosso Prighen (III Corps),
* Val Giudicare (III Corps),
* Mt. Altissimo (XXIX Corps) and
* Val Camonica (III Corps).
Operations in 1918
Although the 1st Army was part of the re-organization of the Italian Army after Caporetto, the modifications were originally quite minor. In January 1918, the Order of Battle was essentially the same as the October changes except for the addition of the XXV Corps to the ''Truppe Altipiani'' under Gen. Zoppi. However, in March, the III Corps and a new Corps, the XIV were transferred to the newly created 7th Army which became responsible for the Stelvio-Garda Sector. Furthermore the ''Truppe Altipiani'' were dispersed to other Italian Armies, including the newly re-constituted 6th Army (which also included the
British and French Expeditionary Forces which came to Italy after Caporetto) which took over responsibility for the defenses at Asiago and the re-organized 4th Army which also took over responsibility for the mountain defenses at Mt. Grappa in their western zone.
The 1st Army saw limited action in the mountains between January and May. There were continuous patrols which occasionally led to small firefights and artillery shelling (including aerial bombardments). This Army saw minor action in Mt. Cornone (Altopiano di Asiago), Tre Monti and the Val Lagarina subsector (Conca dei Laghi and Castello Mori), and the Vallarsa (Mt. Corno).
During the Austrian Offensive in June 1918 (Second Battle of the Piave), the 1st Army (and the 7th Army) was responsible for the defense at the Trentino Front. There were no major offensives or Italian counteroffensives launched in this zone, although the Austro-Hungarians applied some offensive pressure in support of its Operation Radetzky. On 15 June, the Italian Division 6 consisting of the
Czechoslovakian Legion in Italy was assigned to the 1st Army. However, after this battle, operations began to pick up beginning in August with the following small battles:
* Battle of Dosso Alto di Zurez - (Hill 703) – On 3 August, north of Monte Altissimo, the XXIX Corps (Arditi) retook this position which the Austrians had held since 15 June.
* Battle of Monte Majo in Val Posina (left of Mt. Pasubio) – On 30 August, the V Corps (Bersaglieri and Arditi) captured Hill 1500 opposite Il Dente di Cane.
* Nord Sano – On 11 September, Arditi with support from a Czech Regiment took an Austrian post near Mori and captured 12 prisoners.
* Dosso Alto and Sasso Sega – On 21 September, Czech Legion fought off an attempt by the Austrians to re-capture this position.
* Cima Tre Pezzi – On 24 September, bersaglieri and Czechs (from X Corps Sector) took a position here, assisted by artillery fire from the British Division of the adjacent Sixth Army.
* Vallone di Belassi – Alpini (X Corps) in a counterattack on 25 September captured Austrian positions in Collegio across from Valle Scarabozza.
* Pasubio – Col Santo – On 26 September, Bersaglieri (V Corps) fought off an Austrian attempt to attack Monte Corno.
The Final Battle
As the final battle (Vittorio Veneto) began at the end of October, the 1st Army (along with the 7th) was to maintain a strictly defensive position. However, as the battle progressed and the Austro-Hungarian Army at 1st retreated, then collapsed into a disorganized retreat, the 1st Army began an offensive thrust towards Rovereto and the city of Trento.
On 2 November, while the situation of the Austro-Hungarian army became increasingly pessimistic, the Italian Supreme Command also set in motion the troops of the 1st Army of Giraldi. Since the previous night the Xth Army Corps had attacked in Val d'Astico encountering little resistance; consequently Giraldi decided to speed up the operations and his troops immediately advanced in the Tonezza plateau and in the Luserna plateau. The march of the 32nd Division in Vallagarina began in the early afternoon; a unit of Arditi, under the command of Major Gastone Gambara, and three Alpine battalions advanced into the valley and occupied Rovereto.
The advance of the Italian army now became general. On the left bank of the Adige, the Piceno and Liguria brigades marched in Vallarsa and on the Pasubio, in Val Posina. In the Adige valley the disintegration and collapse of the Austro-Hungarians became catastrophic; materials and vehicles were abandoned, the trains heading north were stormed by the soldiers, as panic and lack of discipline spread.
![Trento 3 novembre 1918](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Trento_3_novembre_1918.jpg)
On the afternoon of 3 November, the troops of the 1st Army reached Trento: the 1st units to enter the city were the cavalry regiment "Alessandria", the XXIVth Arditi, the Alpini of the IVth group; the infantry of the Pistoia brigade arrived later. The final advance had not met with any real opposition: the Italian soldiers received an enthusiastic welcome from the population. That evening a unit of the "Padua" cavalry regiment of the 4th Army of General Giardino also arrived in Trento; and on the following afternoon Giraldi himself, commander of the 1st Army, entered Trento, when the
Armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the La ...
took effect.
After the Armistice, the 1st Army became responsible for the occupation to all of Trentino, South Tyrol (both of which became part of Italy) and Austrian Tyrol. On 20 September 1919 the 1st Army Command became the Trento area Command, one of the new designated army commands of the Royal Army.
World War II
At the beginning of World War II, the Italian 1st Army was one of three armies that made up Army Group West commanded by Prince General
Umberto di Savoia. Together with the
Italian Fourth Army and the
Italian Seventh Army (kept in reserve), the 1st Army attacked French forces during the
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France (10–25 June 1940), also called the Battle of the Alps, was the first major Italian engagement of World War II and the last major engagement of the Battle of France.
The Italian entry into the war widened its sc ...
. At this time, the 1st Army was commanded by General
Pietro Pintor
Pietro Pintor (20 May 1880 – 7 December 1940) was an Italian general during World War II. Pintor was the uncle of the antifascist journalist Giaime Pintor.
During the Italian invasion of France (11–25 June), he commanded the First Army, whi ...
and included three army corps: the 2nd Corps commanded by General
Francesco Bettini, the 3rd Corps - General
Mario Arisio
Mario Arisio (Turin, 5 July 1885 – Rome, 7 July 1950) was an Italian general who served in the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and World War II.
Biography
Arisio was born in Turin on July 5, 1885, and attend ...
, and the 15th Corps commanded by General
Gastone Gambara
Gastone Gambara (10 November 1890 – 27 February 1962) was an Italian General who participated in World War I and World War II. He excelled during the Italian intervention in favor of the nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. During World War I ...
. (See order of battle, below.)
By 1942, after the defeat of
Panzer Army Africa
As the number of German troops committed to the North African Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps, the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the enlarged ''Afrika Korps'', with I ...
(''Panzerarmee Afrika'') at the
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian Railway station, railway halt of El Alamein. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa ...
and after the
Operation Torch
Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...
landings,
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Erwin Rommel
Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel () (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German field marshal during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox (, ), he served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of Nazi Germany, as well as servi ...
was forced to make one of the longest retreats in history. He withdrew from the "Western Desert" of
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
and
Libya
Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...
and established a defence on the French-built
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by France in southern Tunisia in the late 1930s. The line was intended to protect Tunisia against an Italian invasion from its colony in Libya. The line occupied a point where the routes into T ...
in southern
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
. After occupying the Mareth Line, Rommel took command of the newly created
Army Group Africa
As the number of German troops committed to the North African Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps, the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the enlarged ''Afrika Korps'', with I ...
and turned over the "German-Italian Panzer Army" (formerly "Panzer Army Africa") to
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Giovanni Messe
Giovanni Messe (10 December 1883 – 18 December 1968) was an Italian field marshal and politician. In the Second World War, he was captured in Tunisia, but made chief of staff of the Italian Co-belligerent Army after the armistice of Septemb ...
. The army was once again renamed and on 23 February 1943, Messe took command of the "Italian 1st Army."
As part of
Army Group Africa
As the number of German troops committed to the North African Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps, the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the enlarged ''Afrika Korps'', with I ...
commanded by
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Rommel
Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel () (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German field marshal during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox (, ), he served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of Nazi Germany, as well as servi ...
, the 1st Army attacked
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Bernard Montgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and t ...
's
Eighth Army at Operation Capri (the
Battle of Medenine
The Battle of Medenine (german: Unternehmen Capri ''Operation Capri was an Axis spoiling attack at Medenine in Tunisia on 6 March 1943. The operation was intended to delay an attack by the British Eighth Army on the Mareth Line. The British ha ...
, just east of the
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by France in southern Tunisia in the late 1930s. The line was intended to protect Tunisia against an Italian invasion from its colony in Libya. The line occupied a point where the routes into T ...
. The 1st Army suffered a crushing defeat and the attempt by Rommel and Arnim to break through in Tunisia failed. By the end of May,
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
troops had captured all of
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
, and the 1st Army was the last of the 270,000
Axis troops taken prisoner.
Order of Battle at 10 June 1940
Order of Battle at 10 June 1940
2nd Corps
Commanded by General
Francesco Bettini
*
4th Infantry Division "Livorno" (Gen.
Benvenuto Gioda
Benvenuto Gioda (Turin, 16 February 1886 – Bolzano, 25 February 1943) was an Italian general during World War II.
Biography
He was born in Turin on February 16, 1886, the son of Carlo Gioda and Carolina Sanchioli. After enlisting in the Royal ...
)
*
33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" (Gen.
Francesco Sartoris)
*
36th Infantry Division "Forlì" (Gen.
Giulio Perugi)
*
4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" (Gen. Alberto Ferrero)
Corps Reserves:
* 3rd Guardia alla Frontiera (Frontier Guards) Sector
* 2nd Corps Artillery Group
* 2nd Engineer Group
* 7th Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
* 14th Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
* 22nd Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
* Alpini Battalion "Val Stura"
* Alpini Battalion "Val Maira"
* 6th Machine Gun Battalion
* 102nd Machine Gun Battalion
* 109th Positional Machine Gun Battalion
* 114th Positional Machine Gun Battalion
* 5th "Artieri" (Construction Engineers) Battalion
* 2nd Tank Company
* 84th Telegraph Company
* 152nd Workers Company
* 1st Chemical Company
* 72nd Searchlights Section
* 6th Mobile Pigeon-Messengers Unit
3rd Corps
Commanded by General
Mario Arisio
Mario Arisio (Turin, 5 July 1885 – Rome, 7 July 1950) was an Italian general who served in the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and World War II.
Biography
Arisio was born in Turin on July 5, 1885, and attend ...
*
3rd Infantry Division "Ravenna" (Gen.
Edoardo Nebbia)
*
6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" (Gen.
Carlo Melotti)
Corps Reserves:
* 2nd Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
* 3rd Corps Artillery Group
* 3rd Engineer Group
* 16th Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
* Alpini Battalion "Val Venosta"
* 3rd MMG. Btl.
* 103rd MMG. Btl.
* 112th Positional MMG. Btl.
* 10th "Artieri" (Construction Eng) Btl.
* 7th Telegraph Coy.
* 72nd Telegraph Coy.
* 3rd Blackshirts Btl.
* 4th Blackshirts Btl.
* 8th Mobile Pigeon-Messengers Unit
15th Corps
Commanded by General
Gastone Gambara
Gastone Gambara (10 November 1890 – 27 February 1962) was an Italian General who participated in World War I and World War II. He excelled during the Italian intervention in favor of the nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. During World War I ...
*
5th Infantry Division "Cosseria" (Gen.
Alberto Vassari)
*
37th Infantry Division "Modena" (Gen.
Alessandro Gloria)
*
44th Infantry Division "Cremona"
The 44th Infantry Division "Cremona" ( it, 44ª Divisione di fanteria "Cremona") was an infantry Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Cremona was formed on 15 September 1939 by splitting the 20th Infant ...
(Gen.
Umberto Mondino)
* Alpini Group (4 x Alpini Btl.s - 2 x Alpini Art. Btl.s - 1 x Blackshirts Btl.)
Corps Reserves:
* 1st Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
* 5th Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
* 15th Corps Art.Grp.
* 11th Guardia alla Frontiera Art.Grp.
* 24th Guardia alla Frontiera Art.Grp.
* 15th MMG. Btl.
* 108th Positional MMG. Btl.
* 111th Positional MMG. Btl.
* 9th "Artieri" (Construction Eng) Btl.
* 71st Telegraph Coy.
* 76th Telegraph Coy.
* 100th Radio Coy.
* 33rd Blackshirts Btl.
* 34th Blackshirts Btl.
Army Reserves
* 4th AA Art. Rgt
* 2nd Army Art.Grp.
* 4th Army Art.Grp.
* 7th Army Art.Grp.
* 8th Army Art.Grp.
* 1st Signal Btl.
* 2nd Cableways Btl.
* 2nd Miners (Mountain Eng) Btl.
* 5th Miners Btl.
* 69th Air Force Sqn. (recon)
*
7th Infantry Division "Lupi di Toscana" (Gen.
Ottavio Priore)
*
16th Infantry Division "Pistoia" (Gen.
Mario Priore
is a character (arts), character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in ...
)
*
22nd Infantry Division "Cacciatori delle Alpi"
The 22nd Infantry Division "Cacciatori delle Alpi" ( it, 22ª Divisione di fanteria "Cacciatori delle Alpi" English: Hunters of the Alps) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division was based in Perugia an ...
(Gen.
Dante Lorenzelli
Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian people, Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', origin ...
)
*
5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" (Gen.
Amedeo de Cia)
* "Celere" (fast - motor) Grp.
* 1st Bersaglieri Rgt
* 3rd Tank Rgt
* "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" Cav. Rgt
Order of Battle at April 1943
Order of Battle, as of April 1943.
[''The Army at War:Tunisia'' ]HMSO
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the body responsible for the operation of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. The OPSI is part of the National Archives of the Un ...
1944 p.43
*
21st Panzer Division
*
15th Panzer Division
*
90th Light Division
*
164th Light Division
*
16th Motorized Division "Pistoia"
*
101st Motorized Division "Trieste"
*
131st Armored Division "Centauro"
*
136th Armored Division "Giovani Fascisti"
*
L Special Brigade
Commanders
* General
Pietro Pintor
Pietro Pintor (20 May 1880 – 7 December 1940) was an Italian general during World War II. Pintor was the uncle of the antifascist journalist Giaime Pintor.
During the Italian invasion of France (11–25 June), he commanded the First Army, whi ...
- 10 June 1940 – 24 June 1940
* General
Giovanni Messe
Giovanni Messe (10 December 1883 – 18 December 1968) was an Italian field marshal and politician. In the Second World War, he was captured in Tunisia, but made chief of staff of the Italian Co-belligerent Army after the armistice of Septemb ...
- 23 February 1943 – 13 May 1943
References
{{Large formations of Italy in World War II
Field armies of Italy in World War I
Field armies of Italy in World War II