154 Infantry Division Murge
Encyclopedia
The 154 Infantry Division Murge was a Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Murge Division was a Garrison Division formed in April 1942. In it was sent to Dalmatia
as an occupation force and took part in anti partisan
operations. It took part in the Battle of the Sutjeska and then had to be withdrawn after suffering heavy losses in fighting with the partisans. It was disbanded in September 1943, following the Italian surrender to the Allies
.
's novel Partisans
, set in the Balkan Theater of World War II
, mentions the Murge Division as being a major force in the Axis offensives against the Yugoslav Partisans. The book begins at the buildup to Fall Weiss
and ends with the protagonists having accomplished a significant espionage mission that would ensure the mauling of the Murge at the hands of the Yugoslav Resistance.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Italian Army
Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Murge Division was a Garrison Division formed in April 1942. In it was sent to Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
as an occupation force and took part in anti partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
operations. It took part in the Battle of the Sutjeska and then had to be withdrawn after suffering heavy losses in fighting with the partisans. It was disbanded in September 1943, following the Italian surrender to the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.
Order of battle
- 259. Murge Infantry Regiment
- 260. Murge Infantry Regiment
- 154. Artillery Regiment
- 154. Machine Gun Battalion
- 154. Engineer Battalion
- Motor Transport Section
- Medical Section
- Supply Section
- CarabinieriCarabinieriThe Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
Section
Popular culture
Alistair MacleanAlistair MacLean
Alistair Stuart MacLean was a Scottish novelist who wrote popular thrillers or adventure stories, the best known of which are perhaps The Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare, all three having been made into successful films...
's novel Partisans
Partisans (novel)
Partisans is a novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean, first published in 1982. MacLean reverted to the theme of World War II, with which he was successful and highly popular in his early career...
, set in the Balkan Theater of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, mentions the Murge Division as being a major force in the Axis offensives against the Yugoslav Partisans. The book begins at the buildup to Fall Weiss
Fall Weiss
Fall Weiss translates as Case White following the German military's naming convention.Fall Weiss may refer to two military operations:* Fall Weiss , the German strategic plan for a war with Poland...
and ends with the protagonists having accomplished a significant espionage mission that would ensure the mauling of the Murge at the hands of the Yugoslav Resistance.