1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"

The '''1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"''' (CC.NN. standing for Camicie Nere, Blackshirts) was an Italian militia division (similar to SS in Nazi-Germany), formed to participate in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War against Ethiopia in the mid-1930s.

During the Second World War it was encircled at Bardia and surrendered to British forces in January 1941. It was named 23 Marzo (Italian, 23 March) in honor of the founding of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento on 23 March 1919.

Order of Battle (1935–36)

 * 135th Blackshirts Legion "Indomita"
 * 135th Blackshirts Battalion "Indomito"
 * 88th Blackshirts Battalion "Cappellini"
 * 135th MMG Company
 * 135th pack-artillery battery
 * 192nd Blackshirts Legion "Francesco Ferrucci"
 * 190th Blackshirts Battalion "Pisa"
 * 192nd Blackshirts Battalion "Francesco Ferrucci"
 * 192nd MMG Company
 * 192nd pack-artillery battery
 * 202nd Blackshirts Legion "Cacciatori del Tevere"
 * 202nd Blackshirts Battalion "Cacciatori del Tevere"
 * 204th Blackshirts Battalion "Trotti"
 * 202nd MMG Company
 * 202nd pack-artillery battery
 * 1st Blackshirts MMG Bn
 * 1st Artillery Battalion (65L17 - Army)
 * 1st Special Engineers Company (mixed Blackshirts and Army)
 * 2 x Replacements Battalions

Commanders:
 * Gen. Ettore Bastico (23/4/35 – 20/11/35)
 * Gen.Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia (20/11/35 – 29/2/36)

Additionally the division had a medical section, logistics section, and transport of a pack-mule unit (1600 mules), and a mixed trucks unit (80 light trucks). The division took an active part in the Italian war crimes in Ethiopia.

Order of battle (1940)

 * 219. CCNN Legion
 * 114. G. Veroli CCNN Battalion
 * 118. Volsca CCNN Battalion
 * 119. N. Ricciotti CCNN Battalion
 * 233. CCNN Legion
 * 129. Adriatica CCNN Battalion
 * 133. Lupi di Matese CCNN Battalion
 * 148. Tavogliere CCNN Battalion
 * XLI Light Tank Battalion (CV3/33 & CV3/35 tanks)
 * 1. CCNN Anti-tank Company
 * 201. MG Battalion
 * 201. Artillery Regiment
 * 201. Mixed Engineer Battalion

Took part in the invasion of Egypt and was destroyed at Bardia, Libya, in January 1941.