The Italian Liberation Corps ( it, Corpo Italiano di Liberazione (CIL)) was an

corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...

of the Italian Co-belligerent Army during the Italian campaign of

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 ...

. 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 Italian government began the formation of units to fight on the allied side against Germany. On 18 April 1944 the Italian Liberation Corps was formed, which after an intense cycle of combat operations was disbanded on 24 September 1944 to form division-sized combat groups.

History

Constitution

On 13 October 1943 Italy declared war on Germany and the Italian government began with the formation of military units to fight on the allied side. The first large unit to be raised was the brigade-sized I Motorized Grouping activated on 27 November 1943 in

San Pietro Vernotico San Pietro Vernotico ( Brindisino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brindisi, Apulia, on the south-east coast of Italy. Its main economic activities are tourism and the growing of olives and grapes. It was the site of a substantial M ...

near

Brindisi Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Histo ...

with units and personnel of the 58th Infantry Division "Legnano" and 18th Infantry Division "Messina". On 18 April 1944 the I Motorized Grouping was expanded to division-size and renamed Italian Liberation Corps. With the arrival of the

184th Paratroopers Division "Nembo" The 184th Paratroopers Division "Nembo" ( it, 184ª Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo") was an airborne division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. After the Armistice of Cassibile the division joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army's It ...

from

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...

on 26 May 1944 did the Italian Liberation Corps reach

-size. In 27 May 1944 the corps was assigned to the Polish

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

and in July 1944 it participated in the

Battle of Ancona The Battle of Ancona was a battle involving forces from Poland serving as part of the British Army against German forces that took place from 16 June–18 July 1944 during the Italian campaign in World War II. The battle was the result of an Alli ...

. On 24 September 1944 the corps was disbanded its units and personnel used to form the combat groups "Folgore" and "Legnano".

Organization

The Italian Liberation Corps organization from 26 May until 24 September 1944 was:

Italian Liberation Corps

* Italian Liberation Corps,

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 ...

Umberto Utili ** 11th Motorized Artillery Regiment (from the

104th Infantry Division "Mantova" The 104th Infantry Division "Mantova" ( it, 104ª Divisione di fanteria "Mantova") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during the Second World War. The Mantova was named for the city of Mantua ( it, Mantova) and classified as an a ...

) *** I Artillery Group (105/28 howitzers) *** II Artillery Group ( 100/22 howitzers) *** III Artillery Group ( 75/18 Mod. 34 howitzers) *** IV Artillery Group (75/18 Mod. 34 howitzers) *** V Anti-tank Group (( 47/32

anti-tank gun An anti-tank gun is a form of artillery designed to destroy tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, normally from a static defensive position. The development of specialized anti-tank munitions and anti-tank guns was prompted by the appearance ...

s) *** Anti-aircraft Battery ( 20/65 Mod. 35

anti-aircraft gun Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

s) ** CLXVI Army Corps Artillery Group ( 149/19 Mod. 37 howitzers) ** LI Mixed Engineer Battalion (formed 13 November 1943) *** 51st Engineers Company *** 51st Telegraph and Radio Operators Company ** Corps Services

184th Paratroopers Division "Nembo"

, Generale di Brigata Giorgio Morigi ** Command Company ** 183rd Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" *** Command Company *** XV Paratroopers Battalion *** XVI Paratroopers Battalion *** Paratroopers Support Weapons Company (47/32 anti-tank guns) ** 184th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" *** Command Company *** XIII Paratroopers Battalion *** XIV Paratroopers Battalion *** Paratroopers Support Weapons Company (47/32 anti-tank guns) ** 184th Artillery Regiment "Nembo" *** Command Battery *** I Paratroopers Artillery Group ( 75/27

field gun A field gun is a field artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march, that when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances ( field artille ...

s) *** II Paratroopers Artillery Group ( 100/22 howitzers) *** III Paratroopers Anti-tank Group ( QF 6-pounder anti-tank guns) *** 184th Paratroopers Anti-aircraft Battery ( 20/65 Mod. 35

s) ** CLXXXIV Paratrooper Sappers Battalion ** 184th Paratrooper Motorcyclists Company ** 184th Mortar Company ( 81mm Mod. 35 mortars) ** 184th Paratrooper Telegraph and Radio Operators Company ** 184th Paratrooper Engineers Company ** 184th Transport Unit ** 184th Medical Section ** 184th Supply Section ** 324th Carabinieri Section ** 146th Field Post Office

I Brigade

* I Brigade, Colonel Ettore Fucci **

3rd Alpini Regiment The 3rd Alpini Regiment ( it, 3° 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 Pinerolo and assi ...

(formed on 25 June 1944) *** Alpini Battalion "Piemonte" *** Alpini Battalion "Monte Granero" (joined 25 June 1944) ** 4th Bersaglieri Regiment (formed 1 February 1944) *** XXI Bersaglieri Battalion *** XXXIII Bersaglieri Battalion *** 1st Bersaglieri Motorcyclists Company ** CLXXXV Paratroopers Battalion "Nembo" (joined the I Motorized Grouping in January 1944) ** IV Alpine Artillery Group ( 75/13 Mod. 15 howitzers) ** Brigade Services

II Brigade

* II Brigade, Colonel Teodoro Moggio ** 68th Infantry Regiment "Legnano" *** I Fusiliers Battalion *** II Fusiliers Battalion ** Navy Regiment "San Marco" (

Royal Italian Navy The ''Regia Marina'' (; ) was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy (''Regno d'Italia'') from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the birth of the Italian Republic (''Repubblica Italiana''), the ''Regia Marina'' changed its name to '' Marina Militare'' (" ...

, joined in early June 1944) *** Battalion "Bafile" (joined April 1944) *** Battalion "Grado" (joined early June 1944) ** IX Assault Unit (joined the I Motorized Grouping on 20 March 1944) *** Squadron "Cavalleggeri Guide" (joined the IX Assault Unit on 27 June 1944) ** V Alpine Artillery Group (75/13 Mod. 15 howitzers) ** Brigade Services

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officer was: * Generale di Brigata Umberto Utili (18 April 1944 - 24 September 1944)

References

{{Large formations of Italy in World War II Army corps of Italy in World War II it:Corpo Italiano di Liberazione