| 7th Infantry Division Lupi di Toscana | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939–1943 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Brescia |
| Nickname(s) | Lupi di Toscana |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Ottavio Priore |
| Insignia | |
| Collar patch (mostreggiatura) | File:7 infantry division lupi di toscana.jpg |
The 7th Infantry Division Lupi di Toscana ("Wolves of Tuscany") was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was held as part of the Army reserve in June 1940, during the Italian invasion of France.[1] The Lupi di Toscana then took part in the Greco-Italian War where it suffered heavy losses and disintegrated in January 1941 in the fight for Vlorë. Stationed on the French border, to recover it took part in the invasion of Vichy France in November 1942. It remained in Toulon until August 1943 when it returned to Italy. After the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943, it was tasked with the defence of the Furbara and Ceveteria airfields around Rome. It was still in this area when it surrendered to the Germans.[2]
Despite the name ("Wolves of Tuscany"), the division was formed by men from Lombardy, especially from Brescia, Bergamo and the surrounding valleys.
Commander[]
- Ottavio Priore[1]
Order of battle[]
- 77. Toscana Infantry Regiment
- 78. Toscana Infantry Regiment
- 30. Leonessa Artillery Regiment
- 20. Mixed Carabinieri Section
- 21. Mixed Carabinieri Section
- 7. Mortar Battalion
- 7. Anti-Tank Company
- 7. Mixed Engineer Company
- 26. Engineer Company
- 12. Searchlight Company [2][nb 1]
Notes[]
- Footnotes
- ↑ An Italian Infantry Division normally consisted of two Infantry Regiments (three Battalions each), an Artillery Regiment, a Mortar Battalion (two companies), an Anti Tank Company, a Blackshirt Legion (Regiment of two Battalions). Each Division had only about 7,000 men, The Infantry and Artillery Regiments contained 1,650 men, the Blackshirt Legion 1,200, each company 150 men.[3]
- Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mulholland, John. "Axis Order of Battle 10 June 1940 - The Italian Invasion of France". Axis History Factbook. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6466. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=8584. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ↑ Paoletti, p 170
References[]
- Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.
The original article can be found at 7th Infantry Division Lupi di Toscana and the edit history here.