55th Infantry Division Savona

The 55th Truck-Moveable Division Savona was a North African type Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Savona Division was sent to Libya in September 1939. Its men hailed from Naples, Salerno and their surroundings. The division was not involved in the Italian invasion of Egypt as it was deployed facing French Tunisia. According to Inside the Afrika Korps: The Crusader Battles, 1941-1942 (Rainer Kriebel & Bruce Gudmundsson), the Savona Division took charge of the fortified towns of Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya at the beginning of September 1941. During November 22 and 23 in the initial fighting of Operation Crusader, the frontier garrisons of Omar Nuovo and Libyan Omar fell to determined infantry attacks of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by British tanks from the 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiments, and the New Zealanders captured Fort Capuzzo and cut off the Bardia garrison’s water supply. Both sides fought well. According to The Bologna Division: 19 November – 10 December 1941, a British war correspondent is reported to have written:

"It was a most gallant affair, carried out with compete disregard to casualties. The Italians did not give in until our troops were amongst them with bayonets. A minimum of 1,500 prisoners were taken, some of whom were Germans, but the majority of whom belonged to the Italian Savona Division."

On December 4, as the Afrika Korps prepared to retreat to the Gazala Line, the Savona was given instructions to cover the Axis withdrawal as much as possible by containing Commonwealth forces in the Sollum/Bardia/Halfaya area.

The Savona Division did not surrender until 17 January 17, 1942 and wasn't reformed. Of the divisional commander, Rommel is reported to have concluded, "Superb leadership was shown by the Italian General de Giorgis, who commanded this German-Italian force in its two months’ struggle."

Commander
Generale di Divisione Fedele di Giorgis

Order of battle

 * 15. Savona Infantry Regiment
 * 16. Savona Infantry Regiment
 * 12. Sila Artillery Regiment
 * 4. Genova Cavalleria Armored Car Battalion
 * 55. Engineer Battalion