The XIV Corps ( it, XIV Corpo d'Armata) was a corps 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
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 ...
that participated in the
invasion of Yugoslavia
The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...
.
History
In World War I a XIV Corps was formed in Naples in 1915 and dissolved on 5 September 1919.
It was reconstituted in Treviso on 1 January 1939 and received the "Marche" and "Puglie" infantry divisions under its own authority.
On 10 June 1940, the XIV Corps was deployed in eastern Veneto with headquarters in Treviso; it was composed of the "Marche" and "Puglie" Divisions and didn't take part in any war operations.
In February 1941, the Corps received the order to move to Albania and it participated in the
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...
. It conquered and occupied Kosovo and parts of Yugoslav Macedonia.
In July 1941, following the deterioration of the situation in
Montenegro
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due to the presence of strong guerrilla formations, the Army Corps was transferred to this region as an occupation force. To carry out this new task, it was considerably strengthened and included the "Messina", "Venice", "Taro", "Pusteria" and "Cacciatori delle Alpi" divisions as well as the I and II Valle Alpini Group. From 1 December it assumed the name of ''Command Troops Montenegro (XIV)''.
For the rest of the war, XIV Corps, still subjected to intense partisan activity, remained in the
Italian governorate of Montenegro
The Italian governorate of Montenegro ( it, Governatorato del Montenegro) existed from October 1941 to September 1943 as an occupied territory under military government of Fascist Italy during World War II. Although the Italians had intended t ...
, organized the coastal defense of southern Yugoslavia and carried out frequent anti-guerrilla operations. On 28 September 1943, the Corps was disarmed by the Germans and dissolved.
Regio Esercito
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Commanders
COMANDO XIV CORPO D'ARMATA (1940-41)
* Army Corps General Giovanni Vecchi Giovanni Vecchi was a general in the Royal Italian Army who commanded the XIV Corps during the World War II Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941.
Biography
Vecchi fought in the Italian-Turkish War and in World War I.
Between 1 July 1937 and ...
(10 June 1940 - 12 July 1941)
* Army Corps General Luigi Mentasti Luigi Mentasti (2 May 1883 – 26 August 1958) was a general in the Royal Italian Army who commanded the XIV Corps during the Italian occupation of Montenegro.
Biography
Mentasti fought in the Italian-Turkish War and in World War I.
Between 21 ...
(12 July - 30 November 1941)
COMANDO TRUPPE MONTENEGRO (XIV CORPO D'ARMATA) (1941-43)
* Army Corps General Luigi Mentasti (1 December 1941 - 1 May 1943)
* Army Corps General Curio Barbasetti di Prun
Curio Barbasetti, Count of Prun ( Orsara di Puglia, 12 March 1885 – 4 December 1953) was an Italian general during World War II, Chief of Staff of the Italian High Command in North Africa in 1942-1943 and Governor of Montenegro from July t ...
(1 May - 13 July 1943) ?
* Army Corps General Ercole Roncaglia
Ercole Roncaglia (Modena, 5 March 1886 – 1965) was an Italian general during World War II.
Biography
Roncaglia was born in Modena on 5 March 1886, into a noble family. After enlisting in the Royal Italian Army he became an artillery office ...
(July 1943 - September 1943)
* Division General Antonio Franceschini (interim)
Notes
References
*
{{Large formations of Italy in World War II
Army corps of Italy in World War II