Italian Order of Battle Second Italo-Abyssinian War

The following is the Italian Order of Battle at the beginning of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...

as of October 8, 1935.

Commando Supremo Africa Orientale

Commander: General Emilio De Bono

Emilio De Bono

Emilio De Bono was an Italian General, fascist activist, Marshal, and member of the Fascist Grand Council . De Bono fought in the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, and the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.-Early life:De Bono was born in Cassano d'Adda...

to 11/1935, Field Marshal Pietro Badoglio

Pietro Badoglio

Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...

11/1935 - 6/1936

7th Artillery Group (77mm/28)
Granatieri Battalion (coming from Italy)
Alpini
Alpini
The Alpini, , are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. They are currently organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinated to the Alpini Corps Command. The singular is Alpino ....

Battalion (coming from Italy)
Guardia di Finanza Battalion (coming from Italy)
3 Assault Battalions (still in Italy)
7th Artillery Group (149/13) (coming from Italy)
Engineer Unit Comando Supremo Africa Orientale
Bombardment, Reconnaissance, and Fighter Aviation Command A. O. - Gen. Aimone Cat
- 3rd Air Brigade - Bgd. Gen. Ferruccio Ranza
  Ferruccio Ranza
  Brigadier General Ferruccio Ranza began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with seventeen confirmed victories and eight unconfirmed ones. Postwar, he rose to command of several area commands of the resurgent Italian air force...
  
  Eritrea with:(145 aircraft)
  - HQ Flight - (4 x Ca.101
    Caproni Ca.101
    |-See also:-References:* Lembo, Daniele, Ca.101/102, Aerei Nella Storia magazine, Westward editions, n.42 pagg.23-29.-External links:* * Illustration...
    
    )
  - Recon Squadron (un-numbered), with :
    - 34th Recon Flight (8 x Ro.1
      Fokker C.V
      Fokker C.V was a Dutch light reconnaissance and bomber biplane aircraft manufactured by Fokker. It was designed by Anthony Fokker and the series manufacture began in 1924 at Fokker in Amsterdam.-Development:...
      
      ) attached to Eritrean Corps
    - 38th Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1)
    - 41st Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1)
    - 103rd Recon Flight (9 x Ro.37)
    - 116th Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1)
    - 118th Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1) attached to 2nd Corps
    - 131st Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1)
    - Libyan Recon Flight (11 x Ro.1) attached to 1st Corps
  - 106th Fighter Flight (7 x CR.20
    Fiat CR.20
    |-See also:-References:* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York:Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8....
    
    )
  - 4th Bombers Squadron - Bgd. Gen. Attilio Matricardi
    - 14th Bomber Flight "Hic Sunt Leones" - (10 x Ca.101 D/2
      Caproni Ca.101
      |-See also:-References:* Lembo, Daniele, Ca.101/102, Aerei Nella Storia magazine, Westward editions, n.42 pagg.23-29.-External links:* * Illustration...
      
      )
    - 15th Bomber Flight "La Disperata" - (10 x Ca.101 D/2)
  - 27th Bomber Squadron
    - 17th Bomber Flight (5 x Ca.111
      Caproni Ca.111
      The Caproni Ca.111 was a long-range reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber produced in Italy during the 1930s. It was a derivative of the Ca.101.-Design and development:...
      
      )
    - 18th Bomber Flight (5 x Ca.111)
  - Hydroplanes Detachments (4 x MF.4
    Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk
    Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk - The Navy's Flying Boat Factory - was the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service' aeroplane producer. It was established in Horten in 1915.It produced a total of 120 planes from 1915 to 1940.-Planes produced:...
    
    and 2 x CANT 25
    CANT 25
    |-CANT 25AR:-See also:-References:*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . Orbis Publishing: 1985.*Green, William, and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: SMITHMARK Publishers, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8....
    
    )
  - 7th Bomber Wing detached to Somalia with 38 aircraft - Bgd. Gen. Ferruccio Ranza
    Ferruccio Ranza
    Brigadier General Ferruccio Ranza began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with seventeen confirmed victories and eight unconfirmed ones. Postwar, he rose to command of several area commands of the resurgent Italian air force...
    
    (see below)

Northern Front - Eritrea

1st Corps - Ruggero Santini
- 26th (Assietta) Division
  Italian 26 Infantry Division Assiette
  The 26 Mountain Infantry Division Assietta was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Assietta Division was formed in 1939, from the 26 Infantry Division Assietta that had participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and was reorganized as a Mountain division prior to...
  
  - Gen. Enrico Riccardi
- 30th (Sabauda) Division
  Italian 30 Infantry Division Sabauda
  30th Division "Sabauda" participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and was reorganized as a binary division prior to the start of the East African Campaign during World War II.- Order of Battle Oct. 1935 :30th Division "Sabauda" - Gen...
  
  - Gen. Italo Gariboldi
  Italo Gariboldi
  Italo Gariboldi was a senior officer in the Italian Royal Army before and during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
- 5th (Pusteria) Alpine Division
  5 Alpine Division Pusteria
  The 5th Alpini Division Pusteria was a light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II...
  
  - Gen. Luigi Negri Cesi
- 4th (3rd of January) CCNN Division (still in Italy) - Gen. Alessandro Traditi
- X Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari
  Askari
  Askari is an Arabic, Bosnian, Urdu, Turkish, Somali, Persian, Amharic and Swahili word meaning "soldier" . It was normally used to describe local troops in East Africa, Northeast Africa, and Central Africa serving in the armies of European colonial powers...
  
  )
- XV Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari)
- Banda dello Scimezana (native troop)
- 5th Cavalry Squadron Group
- 3rd Motorized Artillery Group (77mm/28)
- 5th Motorized Artillery Group (105mm/28)
- Artillery Command of positions of Agame
  Agame
  The Agame is a former province in northern Ethiopia, now part of the Tigray Region. Its inhabitants include the Irob people, a region where tradition states the legendary Makeda was born and raised...
- 1st Corps A.O. Engineer Unit
- Libyan Recon Flight (11 x Ro.1)
2nd Corps - Pietro Maravigna
- 19th (Gavninana) Division - Gen. Nino Salvatore Villa Santa
- 24th (Gran Sasso) Division
  Italian 24 Infantry Division Gran Sasso
  The 24th Infantry Division Pinerolo was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was made up of draftees from Abruzzo and originally called the 24th Infantry Division Gran Sasso which had participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and was reorganized as the binary 24th...
  
  - Gen. Adalberto Principe (Adi Ugri-Quala zone)
- 3rd (21 April) CCNN Division - Gen. Giacomo Appiotti
  Giacomo Appiotti
  Giacomo Appiotti was Lieutenant General of the Italian Army during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.He was the commanding officer of the 12th Brigade from 1929 to 1933. In 1935 he was the general commanding the 3rd Black Shirt Division XXI Aprile in Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War...
- Gruppo Bande Altopiano (native troop)
- 10th Cavalry Squadron
- Artillery Group Command (100mm/17)
- Artillery Command of positions in western Tigre (Eritrean Ascari)
- 2nd Corps Engineer Unit
- 118th Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1) (Libyan)

Eritrean Corps - Alessandro Pirzio Biroli
- 1st Eritrean Division
  Italian 1st Eritrean Division
  The First Eritrean Division or I Division Indigeni was organized for service in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War in 1935. It was formed from the Eritrean ascari of the Battalion indigeni who provided the regular colonial forces of Italian Eritrea.- Order of battle :1st Native Division - Gen....
  
  - Gen. Salvatore di Pietro
- 2nd Eritrean Division
  Italian 2nd Eritrean Division
  The Italian 2nd Eritrean Division, also known as the Second Eritrean Division or II Division Indigini , was an Italian Military division used in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War in 1935. It was formed from the Eritrean ascari of the Battalion indigeni who provided the regular colonial forces of...
  
  - Gen. Achille Vaccarisi
- 1st (23rd of March) CCNN Division
  Italian 1 Blackshirt Division 23 Marzo
  The Blackshirt Division 23 March was an Italian MVSN Blackshirt militia unit formed for the Second Italo-Abyssinian War....
  
  - Gen. Ettore Bastico
  Ettore Bastico
  Ettore Bastico was an Italian military officer before and during World War II. He held high commands during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War , the Spanish Civil War, and the North African Campaign....
- 1st Battalion Group CCNN dell'Eritrea - Filippo Diamanti
  - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Italian East Africa Backshirts Infantry Battalions
  - East Africa Blackshirts MMG Company
- Banda dell'Hassamò (Irregular troop)
- 6th Cavalry Squadron Group
- Native Cavalry Squadron Group (Eritrean Ascari troop)
- 2nd Motorized Artillery Group 77mm/28
- 3rd Motorized Artillery Group 100mm/17
- 4th Fast Tanks Squadrons Group
- Artillery Command of positions in eastern Tigre
- Eritrean Corps Engineer Unit
- 34th Recon Flight (8 x Ro.1)(Libyan)

Western Lowlands Zone - Brig. Gen. Amedeo Couture
- XXVII Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari)
- XXVIII Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari)
- Irregulars Foot Bands Group
- "Celere" (fast) Group
- Eritrea Fast Tanks Squadron

Eastern Lowlands Zone - Brig. Gen. Oreste Mariotti
- XXIV Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari)
- XXVI Battalion indigeni (Eritrean Ascari)
- Libyan Battalion
- Massaua Irregulars Band
- Northern Dankalia Irregulars Band
  Bands (Italian Army irregulars)
  Bande was in Italian military terminology the name used to designate irregular forces, composed normally of foreigners or colonial natives, with some Italian officers and NCOs in command. These units were employed by the Italian Army as auxiliaries to the regular national and colonial military...
- Southern Dankalia Irregulars Band
  Bands (Italian Army irregulars)
  Bande was in Italian military terminology the name used to designate irregular forces, composed normally of foreigners or colonial natives, with some Italian officers and NCOs in command. These units were employed by the Italian Army as auxiliaries to the regular national and colonial military...
- 7th Artillery Battery (120L25)
- 37th Artillery Battery (77L28 - pack camels)

Sent to the front in Feb. 1936

3rd Corps - Gen. Ettore Bastico
Ettore Bastico
Ettore Bastico was an Italian military officer before and during World War II. He held high commands during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War , the Spanish Civil War, and the North African Campaign....
- 27th (Sila) Division (coming from Italy) - Gen. Francesco Bertini
- 1st (23rd of March) CCNN Division
  Italian 1 Blackshirt Division 23 Marzo
  The Blackshirt Division 23 March was an Italian MVSN Blackshirt militia unit formed for the Second Italo-Abyssinian War....
  
  - Gen. Filiberto Ludovico from Eritrean Corps

Formed in Jan. 1936

4th Corps - Gen. Ezio Babbini
- 5th (Cosseria) Division
  Italian 5 Infantry Division Cosseria
  The 5th Infantry Division Cosseria was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during the Second World War. The 5th Division "Cosseria" participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and was reorganized as a binary division prior to the start of the Second World War...
  
  - Gen. Pietro Pintor
- 2nd (28th of October) CCNN Division - Gen. Umberto Somma
- 5th (1st of February) CCNN Division (still in Italy) - Gen. Attillo Teruzzi

Organized in March 1936

Celere Column A.O. (Eritrea) - Ten. Gen. Achille Starace
Achille Starace
Achille Starace was a prominent leader of Fascist Italy prior to and during World War II.-Early life and career:Starace was born in Gallipoli in southern Italy near Lecce. He was son of a wine and oil merchant....
- 82nd CCNN Battalion "Mussolini"/6th CCNN Battalions Group, motorized
- 3rd 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
- 8th Artillery Group (77mm/28, motorized)
- Included truck-transported machine-guns, armored cars, altogether 3000 men and 500 motor vehicles.

Southern Front - Somaliland

Graziani Column - General Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
- 29th Division (Peloritana)
  Italian 29 Division Peloritana
  The 29 Infantry Division Peloritana was an infantry division of the Italian Royal Army . The division fought in Ethiopia during the interwar period...
  
  - Gen. Giuseppe Pavone
- Libyan Division (Libyan Colonial troops)
  Italian Libyan Colonial Division
  The Libyan Division was a formation of colonial troops raised by the Italians in their colony in Libya. It participated in the invasion of Ethiopia in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. The formation was reorganized into the 1 Libyan Infantry Division Sibelle by the beginning of Italy's entry into...
  
  - Guglielmo Nasi
  Guglielmo Nasi
  Guglielmo Ciro Nasi was an Italian General who fought in Italian East Africa during World War II.-Biography:Nasi was born in Civitavecchia, Latium...
- 6th (Tevere) CCNN Division (still in Italy) - Enrico Boscardi
- Aosta Lancers Cavalry Regiment
- 6 Battalions, Royal Colonial Troop Corps (Arabo-Somali Colonial troops)
- Camel Mounted Artillery
- 6 Dubat Bands
  Dubats
  Dubats was the designation given to armed irregular bands employed by the Italian Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali in Italian Somaliland from 1924 to 1941...
  
  (Companies of Somali Irregulars)
- Ogaden border region command - Colonel Luigi Frusci
  Luigi Frusci
  Luigi Frusci was an officer in the Italian Royal Army during World War II.Frusci fought on the southern front for General Rodolfo Graziani during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War...
  - 9 L3 tanks
    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....
    
    , 20 Armoured cars
  - 6 Royal Colonial Troop Corps Battalions (Arabo-Somali Colonial troops)
  - 6 Dubat Bands (Companies of Somali Irregulars)
  - 150 trucks
- Sultan Olol Dinke Column (Feudal Army) - Sultan of Sciavelli, Olol Dinke
  Olol Diinle
  Sultan Olol Diinle was the last sultan who ruled at Kelafo as a sultan of the Ajuran Somali clan lineage to rule an independent kingdom.-Historical Context:...
  - 1000 Dubat (mounted Somali warriors of the Ajuran clan)

7th Bomber Wing - Bgd. Gen. Ferruccio Ranza
Ferruccio Ranza
Brigadier General Ferruccio Ranza began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with seventeen confirmed victories and eight unconfirmed ones. Postwar, he rose to command of several area commands of the resurgent Italian air force...

(38 aircraft)
- 25th Bomber Squadron, with :
  - 8th Bomber Flight (10 x Ca.101 bis
    Caproni Ca.101
    |-See also:-References:* Lembo, Daniele, Ca.101/102, Aerei Nella Storia magazine, Westward editions, n.42 pagg.23-29.-External links:* * Illustration...
    
    )
  - 9th Bomber Flight (10 x Ca.101 bis)
- Recon Flight (10 x Ro.1)
- 107th Fighter Flight (8 x CR.20)

Notes:

The 7th (Cirene) CCNN Division was deployed in Libya to threaten the Suez Canal should the British close it to Italian traffic. It was never deployed to Ethiopia, but was considered to have taken part in the campaign. It actually acted as a local garrison and engaged in various construction projects.

Sources

De Bono, E., La preparazione e le prime operazioni, Rome: Istituto Nazionale Fascista di Cultura, 1937. pp. 175–177.
Starace, A., La marcia su Gondar. Milan: A. Mondadori, 1937.
Mockler, Anthony, Haile Selassie's War, New York: Olive Branch Press.
Gentili, Roberto, Guerra aerea sull’Etiopia 1935–1939 ("Air war in Ethiopia 1935–1939"), Firenze: EDAI, 1992
Pedriali, Ferdinando, (Stato Maggiore Aeronautica – Ufficio Storico), L’aeronautica Italiana nelle guerre coloniali – Guerra Etiopica 1935–1936 ("Italian Aviation in the colonial wars – Ethiopian War 1935–1936), Roma: Stato Maggiore Aeronautica – Ufficio Storico, 1997

External links

Regio Esercito:La Milizia nella Campagna d'Africa 1935-1936 Now on Internet Archive, archived on May 19, 2007
Italian Army of the Ethiopian Conquest
Italian Air Force in Italian East Africa 1919 – 1939, Part I - End of 1919 to October 3rd, 1935 ( Invasion of Ethiopia )
Generals of WWII,Italy

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Commando Supremo Africa Orientale

Northern Front - Eritrea

Southern Front - Somaliland

See also

Sources

External links