37 Mountain Infantry Division Modena
Encyclopedia
The 37 Mountain Infantry Division Modena was a Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Modena Division took part in the Italian invasion of France
and the Greco-Italian War
. Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.
It was made up entirely of men from Genoa
and Liguria
.
. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps
mountain range and the region around Nice
. The offensive did not meet its planned goals, with the Italian forces making only limited headway. The Modena Division was stationed on the French
border in July 1940 and was part of the Italian XV Corps for the invasion.
and joined the Italian XXV Corps which took part in the Greco-Italian War. After the Greek surrender it remained in Greece as an occupying force in the Athens
area It served as an occupation force in the Athens region until the Italian surrender to the Allies
in September 1943.
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 Modena Division took 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...
and the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
. Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.
It was made up entirely of men from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
.
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 FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
mountain range and the region around Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
. The offensive did not meet its planned goals, with the Italian forces making only limited headway. The Modena Division was stationed on the French
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...
border in July 1940 and was part of the Italian XV Corps for the invasion.
Greco-Italian War
After the invasion of France the Modena was sent to AlbaniaAlbania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and joined the Italian XXV Corps which took part in the Greco-Italian War. After the Greek surrender it remained in Greece as an occupying force in the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
area It served as an occupation force in the Athens region until the Italian surrender to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
in September 1943.
Order of battle
- 41. ModenaModenaModena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
Infantry Regiment - 42. Modena Infantry Regiment
- 341. Infantry Regiment
- 29. CosseriaCosseriaCosseria is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 60 km west of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of Savona...
Artillery Regiment - 36. Craistoforo Colombo CCNN Battalion (Blackshirts)
- 37. Mortar Battalion
- 37. Anti-Tank Company
- 37. Signal Company
- 76. Signal Company
- 19. Pioneer Company
- 48. Medical Section
- 10. Field Bakery
- 15. 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