80 Infantry Division La Spezia (Airlanding)
Encyclopedia
80 Infantry Division La Spezia (Airlanding) was an Airlanding Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The La Spezia was formed in 1941, for the planned Invasion of Malta
. When the invasion was cancelled the Division was instead was transferred to Libya
in October 1942. In December it was reinforced by a battalion of the San Marco Marines
and additional artillery.
It suffered heavy losses during the Battle of the Mareth Line
in Tunisia
in March 1943 and the surviving elements surrendered in May 1943.
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 La Spezia was formed in 1941, for the planned Invasion of Malta
Operation Herkules
Operation Herkules was the German code-name given to a planned but never-executed Italo-German invasion of Malta during World War II...
. When the invasion was cancelled the Division was instead was transferred to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in October 1942. In December it was reinforced by a battalion of the San Marco Marines
San Marco Regiment
The San Marco Regiment , located in Brindisi, are the marines of the Italian Navy. Until the middle of the 1990s the unit was known as the “San Marco Battalion” , until it was expanded beyond battalion size because of the new geopolitical situation after the end of the Cold War and an increasing...
and additional artillery.
It suffered heavy losses during the Battle of the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
in March 1943 and the surviving elements surrendered in May 1943.
Order of battle
- 125. Infantry Regiment
- 126. Infantry Regiment
- 80. Artillery Regiment
- 39. 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...
Battalion - 80. Anti-Tank Battalion
- 343. Artillery Battalion
- 80. Engineer Battalion
- 102. Pioneer Company
- 70. Machine Gun Company
- 80. Medical Section
- 180. Supply Section