2 Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro was a Cavalry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The division was mobilised in 1940, it did not take part in the Italian invasion of France
, but did serve in the Invasion of Yugoslavia
in the Celere Corps and remained in Yugoslavia as part of the occupying forces. In March 1942 the Divisions 6. Bersaglieri
Regiment was sent to the Soviet Union
attached to the 3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta
. In May 1942, the division was selected to convert to an Armoured
division and starting converting to the 134 Armoured Division Freccia; however, the conversion was cancelled and it returned to the Cavalry division format. In December 1942, the division moved to France
as part of the Italian occupying forces where it was based in Toulon
. The division remained in France until the Italian surrender, when it returned to Italy in September 1943, where it was disbanded.
The Division had undergone a level of mechanization. Each division had two cavalry regiments, a highly-mobile infantry (Bersaglieri
) regiment, an artillery regiment, and a light tank group. The squadrons of the cavalry regiments were horse-mounted and, other than a motorcycle company, the Bersaglieri were issued with bicycles. The light tank group had a total of 61 tanks. The tanks were typically L3s
or L6s.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
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 division was mobilised in 1940, it did not take part in the Italian invasion of France
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
, but did serve in the Invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
in the Celere Corps and remained in Yugoslavia as part of the occupying forces. In March 1942 the Divisions 6. Bersaglieri
Bersaglieri
The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...
Regiment was sent to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
attached to the 3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta
3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta
The 3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta was an Cavalry or Celere Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in 1934, and during World War II was mobilized in June 1940. As a cavalry division and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia and was part of the Italian...
. In May 1942, the division was selected to convert to an Armoured
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
division and starting converting to the 134 Armoured Division Freccia; however, the conversion was cancelled and it returned to the Cavalry division format. In December 1942, the division moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as part of the Italian occupying forces where it was based in Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
. The division remained in France until the Italian surrender, when it returned to Italy in September 1943, where it was disbanded.
Order of battle
- 1. FirenzeFirenzeFirenze is the Italian name for the city of Florence.Firenze may also refer to:* Andrea da Firenze, an Italian composer* Lorenzo da Firenze, an Italian composer and music teacher of the trecento...
Lancer Regiment - 2. Vittorio Emmanuel II Lancer Regiment
- San MarcoSan MarcoSan Marco is one of the six sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore...
Armoured Battalion - 2. Autocelere Artillery Regiment (mot)
- 6. BersaglieriBersaglieriThe Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...
Regiment - 352. 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 - 2. Transportation Unit
- 8. Road Movement Unit
- 33. Field Post Office
- 102. Mixed Engineer Company
- 72. Medical Section
- 157. Field Hospital
- 158. Field Hospital
- 159. Field Hospital
- 212. Mixed Motor Transport Group Command
- 862. Light Motor Transport Detachment
- 863. Light Motor Transport Detachment
- 864. Light Motor Transport Detachment
- 35. Mixed Motor Transport Detachment
- 8. Road Recovery Unit
- Fuel Section
The Division had undergone a level of mechanization. Each division had two cavalry regiments, a highly-mobile infantry (Bersaglieri
Bersaglieri
The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...
) regiment, an artillery regiment, and a light tank group. The squadrons of the cavalry regiments were horse-mounted and, other than a motorcycle company, the Bersaglieri were issued with bicycles. The light tank group had a total of 61 tanks. The tanks were typically L3s
L3/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tank used before and during World War II. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turretless configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes....
or L6s.
Further reading
- Dr Jeffrey T. Fowler - Axis Cavalry in World War II
- George F. Nafziger - Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)