Professional Documents
Culture Documents
OF THE
ITALIAN ARMY
SEPTEMBER 1942
WASHINGTON D.C.
PAGE NO.
FOREWORD
Russia ...........................................................•...... 10
Russia 10
- Dodecanese. . . . . .. . ... .. . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . .. . .. 11
ii
1. Order of Battle information is Vii a he ¥tlitary Intelligence Serree.
This information received from many agencies scattered aU over the world,is
carefully, pieced together in the Order of Battle section, Military Intelligence Ser
vice, in order to present to the combat commands of the United Nations the best
possible estimates of the enemy situation. The decisions which involve the lives
of thousands of American soldiers are based at least partially on Order of Battle
intelligence.
Composition of enemyunits.
by changes in organization.
iii
't/.
.
o
,~
1 t l m.' of Battle information:
e· ltS.
b .. Names and qualifications of enemy commanders and staff offiCErs:
Promotion lists published in papers "are a good source.
c. Dispositions (locations of enemy units).
d. Move"ments. -
e. Concentration areas.
f. Types of units: 'The location of panzer or tank units, mountain
units, artillery concentrations, and other arms of offense is especially imporiant
g. Insignia: This includes personal insignia, unit insignia, deco~a
tions, and the like. Sketches showing dimensions and colorS are very helpful.
h. Military symbols and abbreviations: These are necessary in or&r
that captured maps and documents may be translated.
,1. Captured maps, documents and other written material.
j. Maps of all kinds, especially new ones.
k. Lines of communications (changes in railways, canal systems,Etc.)
1. All information on mObilization: Case history of individuals, es
pecially when they are typical, is of great assistance. Observe the promotion
rates for senior commanders for indications of an expansion.
m. Armament: Watch for new weapons, or modificatiol13 of standard
weapons.
n. Organization of enemy unit~ (especially for particular operations).
o. Casualties.
p. Auxiliary units (labor units, truck-driver or labor-service forma
tions, etc., which operate under military jurisdiction).
q. Terrain.
iv
abbreviations b ~~ld be$eiif1py.;al~ mail. ·~Ifsuffieiently im
portant,a summary of detaiie "0rmation··shoU1cib~cabledatt he t~me of ,m ail
ing.
12. Where the means are available, the location of enemy units should be
posted by means of pins on mounted maps. This procedure aSsists greatly in
evaluating Order of Battle reports at the iriformation-collecting agency.
14. The minute details are important. Some Of these may have consider
able significance when compared with information from other sources.
15. Officers and agencies sho~d evaluate the Order of Battle information
they receive and indicate their opinion of its reliability. The Order of Battle
Section may not have any other means of evaluating the report.
16. Where practical, the source of the ·Order of Battle information should
be indicated. If it is not desirable to mention names or sources in cables or re
ports,a list of code names to represent them can be transmUted to the Military
Intelligence SerVice by secret letter. '
17. As far as possible, exploit sources which are not available or known
to represeIltatives and agencies of the other United Nations.
v
. 1;1 ~~
It~ts.
Order of Battle information, money is often
Cultivate a banker friend and watch all
~rrrt'E~S'. _ requently bonds, stocks, and checks will not vary' in value, b.utcash or:
currency wilL For example,during the first week lIl.Decembe:r 1941, in Berlin,
the ~tandard rate of exchange was 2.49 RM per dollar. This held true for valu
able paper, but the cashdollar dropped suddenly several days before Pearl Har
bor to 1.90 RM per dollar. Unexplainable variations in the value of money should
be cabled at once.
~ ~I~"
22. Inform~tig¥i tiM'
'
dpnment of.:·oldunits, or the con
version of one Unit into anothgf esign.atioIl,is important because it
affects the strength estimates. For exam e: Recent information indicates that
,the German 1st Cavalry Division was converted into the German 24th Panzer Di-
I /Vision.
/
* * * * .* *
This is the first edition of the Order of Battle of the Italian Army,
:pre~a.red and
lssl;led by the Military Intelligence Se.rvice.
~,: !.,.,tt}\r,.l.i~,"... Ii
1.
rW
"t:
", -frm'
(A) Italy
~
Central, Prince of
Southern, Piedmont.
and Islands
of Sardinia,
and Sicily.
Group of the
East.
Group of the
West.
Superior
'T'rento Aug1Jst 7, 7 divisions, The divisions
Alpine
1942. only one in are tactically
Italy at pres under other
ent. corps.
(4) Armies:
\i"\ t
N Turinr~;;\ ( All corps
abroad.
vn Naples Aug. 8, XII Corps Gen. (Duke of
1942., Sicily Bergamo).'
1
~marks
XIII Corps-
Sardinia.
XV Corps
Genoa.
TOTAL -- 4 Armies
(5) Corps
No. Location Date Composition Commander Remarks
TOTAL -- 5 Corps.
(6) Divisions:
AH.MORED
PARACHUTE /0
45 Spezia Pisa· 'MJy/~5.,
INFANTRY ! j i,!
k':::;,~!'t;' ),1'7"',//-'\
7 Lupi di Sicily;~' -"A:ugf'-7}
Toscana (Calabria
12 Sassari Italy Nov. 12, 1941.
. 25 Volturna Italy
(Continued)
No. and Remarks
Name
COASTAL
211 CataI!Zara April 28, 1942.
212 Catanzara April 28, 1942.
TOTAL -- 28,Divisions.
(3) Armies:
V
,r>
•~i~\acciolo Apr. 23/42
'i~di9f Gen. S.
rileiso
Commander Remarks
TOTAL - - 2 Armies.
(4)- Corps:
Libyan North Aug. '22, 1st Libyan Div. Gen. Spattaco Status unknown.
Corps Africa 1940. 2nd Libyan Div.
Note: In ~ddi.~.',.~ · ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
achver::.~B~?:Sl~ssl~mne,nt~ovm.J; f.' . !GI
~.t l d.;,."T~.~
.,'•.' o.,•.: ;n'.' '. • ;.0. .• :', ·,•. :•. _:., a ,t. J iV ·,j.p,.iy.·:.'. •.·.•,)iS.,. e.,'. ;.
'I '.; a.
. ,:l. J.o'. :v,.,.,:e.",-.'•.:'C orps there are 9 more
d., .' ·J"/,,·,,!iU ""!.j:]:;,\) , 'ljc+C;JJ:/1
4
JEIED Commander Remarks
ARMORED
132 Ariete··, Cyrenaica. August 30, 1942~
MOTORIZED
101 Trieste· Cyrenaica August 30, 1942.
16Pistoia ".
Cyrenaica August 24, 1942.
PARACfIUTE
Folgore Cyrenaica August 31, 1942.
INFANTJtY-f
1 Superga Cyrenaica August 7, 1942.
Aug 22/40
60 Sabrata. North Africa Aug. 25, 1942. Gen. Zaglio
•Aug22/40
o.
61 Sirte (1) North Africa Nov. 12, 1941. (1) Being recon
stituted.
(1) stituted.
63 Cirene "'-- North Africa Nov. 12, 1941. (1) Being recon
stituted.
64 Catanzata ,North Africa Nov. 12, 1941. (2) Reconstituted.
(2)
NATIVE
1 Libyan (3) ~ North Africa Nov. 12, 1941. Gen. Spattoco (3) status unknown.
Aug. 22/40.
2 Libyan (3) ~ North Africa n. Spattoco (3) Status unknown.
ug. 22/40.
5
in 1941.
(D) .Yugoslavia.
(3) Armies:
(4) Corns:
XI Croatia
Lubiana
TOTAL -- 3 Corps.
6
No. and
(5) WiLA IFiED
Location Date Commanrl.er Remarks
Name
ALPINE
1 Taurineense Yugoslavia April 28, 1942.
CELERE
1 Eugenio di Yugoslavia May 17, 1942.
Savoia
INFANTRY
13 Re Yugoslavia Dec. 20, 1941.
14Isonzo Yugoslavia Dec. 20, 1941.
15 Bergamo Yugoslavia June 4, 1942.
19 Venezia Yugoslavia May 4,1942.
21 Granatieri Yugoslavia Dec. 12, 1941.
di Sardegna
23 Ferraro Yugoslavia Aug. 7, 1942.
153 Macerata Yugoslavia Aug. 7, 1942.
155 Imilia Yugoslavia June 10, 1942.
TOTAL -- 10 Divisions.
Note: In addition there are 2 Black Shirt Bns. and 1 Carabinieri Bn. -
April 22, 1942.
(3) Armies:
7
No. sition Command Remarks
(5) Divisions:
ALPINE
5 Pusteria Montenegro July 15, 1941
6 Reserve Montenegro May 16, 1942.
INFANTRY
18 Messina Albania May 16, 1942.
38 Puglie Albania Dec. 20, 1941
41 Firenze Montenegro Dec. 20, 1941.
4-9 Parma Albania Dec. 20, 1941. Gen. Grattarolo
. (Aug. 22,1940).
53 Arezzo Koritza, May 4, 1942.
Albania.
TOTAL ..- 7 Divisions.
(Oct. 20/41)
No. and
Name Location pate Commander Remarks
ALPINE
3.Julia Livadia July10, 1942.
INFANTRY
5 Cosseria Samos Aug. 9, 1942.
6 Cuneo Samos July 10, 1942.
24 Pinerolo Macedonia July 10, 1942.
29 Piemonte Patras July 10, 1942..
33 Acqui Corfu July 10, 1942.
36 Forli Larissa July 10, 1942.
37 Modena Janitza July 10, 1942.
48 Taro , Greece Dec. 20, 1941
51 Siena Naupli July 10, 1942. Gen. Caliglion,
(Aug. 22/40)
56 Casale Agrinon July 10, 1942.
58 Cagliari Tripolis July 10, 1942.
162 - Greece May 4, 1942.
164 - Salonika Nov. 19, 1941
230 - Crete June 4, 1942. Gen. Zanini
231 - Crete June 4, .1942. Gen. Zanini
232 ~ Crete June 4, 1942. Gen.. Zanini
TOTAL -- 17 Divisions.
9
(G) Russia
(3) Armies:
(4) Corps:
ALPINE
2 Tridentina August 7, 1942.
3 Julia August 7, 1942.
4 Cuneense August 7, 1942.
CELERE
1 Eugenio di April 3, 1942.
Savoia
2 :Emanuel . IvIay 30, 1942.
Filiberto
3 Duca di Aosta April 28, 1942.
illFANTRY
2 Sforzesca August 7, 1942.
3· Ravenno August 7, 1942.
22 Cacciatore May 30, 1942.
Delle Alpi
TOTAL -- 12 Divisions.
Note: In addition to the above there are a number of Black Shirt and
Carabinieri Bns. I
(5) Divisions:
11
2.
Italy 4 5 28
North Africa 2 5 17
Yugoslavia 2 3 10
Albania and Montenegro 1 2 (1) 7
Greece and Islands 1 8 (2) 17
Russia 1 4 12
Dodecanese 1
-
TOTAL 11 27 92
Notes: (1)
The only elements of the IV Corps in Albania at present are the
4th Auto Center, 4th Engineers Regiment, Part of 91st Regiment
of Black Shirts.
(2)
The only elements remaining are 1 Bn., 9th Auto Center, 1 De
tachment Engineers. (of the 9th Corps).
. CORPS: The Corps is elastic, and like the Army it may be assigned to different
theaters accordiIlg to existing conditions. It may have ? or 3 Divisir'
or more. Present indications in Africa are that more than 3 Divisi
exist in some areas.
DIVISIONS: The composition of the Italian Division has been subject to seve.
changes since World War 1. The older fo:r:m of the Ternary Division
replaced by the modern Binary Division with 3 regiments, 2 Infantry,
1 Artillery. This was organized to meet requirements of modern wear
as welf as mobility and fire power. There is no Cavalry Division; Cav
alryRegiments are assignedto the Cel~re:X:)iyi~iop.§~rr.heTrento and
Trieste are the old o/P6 <lVJ:6torized B~yf~lq.~~'.n~ew, ,"No:d:h African"
types have. been organizeq~,.So~e qftp.e§(a,:l;~\i!,r R1.lpsia., Armored or
Corazzata Divisions haye';be~E·-or,~;~f~~,q~r,~hl.:~eiifP:f8~orazzata
12
["
ARMORED
131 Centauro Udine October, 'Armd. 131
Italy 1941.
132 Ariete North August 7, Armd. 132
Africa 1942.
133 Littorio North August 7, Armd. 133
.Africa 1942.
134 Freccia Rome, April 17,
Italy 1942.
MOTORIZED
Bis - 101 Trieste Russia' A~:".'il
3, 65th & 66th 21st
1942.
101 Trieste North August 30, 65th & 66th 21st
Africa 1942.
102 Trento .:'North August 30, 61st& 62nd 46th
·7~'r{·:Africa 1942.
9 Pasubio Russia August 20, 79th & 80th 8th
1942.
52 Torino Russia August 20, 81st&82nd 52nd
1942.
17 Pavia North August 31, 27th &28th 26th Gen. Zaglio,
Africa 1942. (Aug 22, 1940).
25 Bologna North August 31, 39th & 40th 205th Gen. Levi,
Africa 1942. (Aug 22, 1940).
10 Piave Genao, August 7, . 57th & 58th 10th
Italy 1942.
16th Pistoia North August 24, 35th &36th 36th&3rd
Africa 1942.
PARACHUTE
45 Spezia Pisa, May 25, 125th &126th
Italy 1942.
Folgore North Augu~t.3k,?", 2 regts of
Africa
.,\
:h 9:12\ .\\ \~~;,~
"
~i'->-\,
'\"l'
'
paratroops,
185th & 186th
Inf.
,r4
13
(Continued)
1 Taurineense Yugoslav- Apt'll 28,
-;"'(
ia .' .' 19~2.-",
1 Tridentilia,<) R.ussia . Ali' 't'L!7l7" £I; '"
Li'L'.~l;!r,ti~~.i
'''\l>~:l,'
3 Julia RusSla~~jy
1942•.
3 Julia Greece July 10,
(Livadia) 1942.
4 Cuneense Russia August 7,
1942.
5 Pusteria Montene- December 20,
gro 1941.
6 Reserve Montene- May 16,
gro 1942.
CELERE
Bis - 1 Eugenio di Yugoslav- May 17,
Savoia ia 1942.
1 Eugenio di Russia April 3,
Savoia 1942.
2 Emanuel Russia May 30,
Filiberto 1942.
3 Duca di Russia April 28,
Aosta 1942.
INFANTRY
1 Superga North August 7, 91st&92nd 5th
Africa 1942.
2 Sforzesca Russia August 7, 53rd & 54th 17th
1942..
3 Ravenna Russia August 7, 37th &38th 11th
1942.
4 Livorna North August 7, 33rd &34th 28th
Africa 1942.
5 Cosseria Samos, August 7, 89th &90th 37th & lOath
Greece 1942. Mot. Arty.
6 Cuneo Samos, July 10, 7th &8th 27th
Greece 1942.
7 Lupi di Calabria, August 7, 77th &78th 30th
Toscana Italy 1942.
8
9 See Motorized
10 See Motorized
11 Brennero North Kugust 26,. 231~t &232nd i9th
14
,'f'''':,,~,~\t
(Continued)
13 Re
~iti_iiI'
Yugosla
_lIIIL.SMliI&.-Jl!lIil
Dece:rri.be~"
JED .
1st &2rid 23rd
via 1942.
16 See Motorized
17 See Motorized 27th & 28th 26th
18 Messina Albania December 93rd & 94th 2nd Gen. Levis
20, 1941.
19 Venezia Yugosla May 4, ' 83rd &84th 19th
via 1942.
20 Friuli North August 7, 87fu&88th 35th
Africa 1943.
21 Granatieri Yugoslav- December 1st &2nd 13th
via 1942.
Montene" August 15;
gro 1942.
24 Pinerolo Macedon- July 1'0, 13th &14th 18th
is, Greece 1942.
25 See Motirized
25 Volturna Italy '217th &218th 205th
26 Assieta North August 7 29th &30th 25th
Africa 1942.
27 Brescia North May 30, 19th&.2Oth 55th Gen Levi
Africa 1942. (Aug 22/40).
28 Aosta Italy December 5th & 6th 22nd Gen Malotti
20,1941
29 Piemonte Patras, July 10, 3rd&4th 24th
Greece 1942.
30 Sabauda Italy December. 45th &46th 16th
20, 1941
31 Calabria Italy December 59th & 60th 40th
20, 1941
32 Marche Italy November 55th &; 56th 32nd
12, 1
33 Acqui ':"';'\
•
.\
C
f~
'\~
\ '
'Il ."
',r .
33rd .
34
35 ;~;~~~~
Greece 1942.
37 Modena Janitza, July 10, 41st& 42nd 29th
Greece 1942.
15
(Continued)
38 Puglie 15th
39
40 - .~:.
1940).
(1) 61 Sirte North November 69th & 70th 43rd Gen Zaglio
16
:
Gen. Nasi,
(Nov. 14, 1941,
1942.
151 Perugia Italy December
20, 1941
152
153 Macerata Yugosla.... August 7, 121st & 122nd
via 1942. '
154 Murge France & April 1, -
Frontier 1942.
155 Imilia Yugosla- June 10,
via 1942.
156 Vicenza Italy June 10,
1942.
157 Navaro Italy June 10,
1942.
158
159 Veneto Italy June 10,
1942.
1942.
COASTAL
211 Italy, April 28,
(Catanzara) 1942.
212 Italy, April 28,
(Catanzara) 1942.
INFANTRY
230 Crete, June 4,
Gen Zanini,
Greece 1942.
(June 4, 1942).
231 Crete, June 4,
Gen Zanini,
Greece 1942.
(June 4, 1942).
232 Crete, June 4,
Gen Zanini,
Greece 19,421
(June 4, 1942)0
(a) Carabinieri.
Note: In addition to the Command jn Albania and L.'1 Italy there are 3
Carabinieri Divisions and 7 Brigades. The Bns. of these units
are assigned to the theaters of war as necessity arises. The
Carabinieri function as Military Police.
18
.. . . ....
4 Livorno -
Cuneo 33rd & 34th Inf. 28th Art.
36 Forli -
Saluzzo 43rd & 44th Inf.
IV -. Milan or ill -. Milan 2 Sforzesca - 53rd & 54th Inf. 17th Art.
Verona Novara
6 Cuneo- 7th & 8th Inf. ' 27th Art.
Milan
7 Lupi di 77th & .78tli Inf. 30th Art.
Tosca ~
Brescia
'58 Legnano - 67th & 68th Inf. 58th Art.
Milan
20
ivision Number of
·ocation Regiments
1 Black Shirt
2 Black Shirt
3 Bers. Regts.
102 Trento
7 Berso Regt. 61st & 62nd
Trento
Mot.Inf. 46th Art.
101 Trieste
9th Bers . Regiment 65th &
Piacenza
66th Mot. Inf. - 21st Art.
41 Firenzi
127th & 128th Info 44th Art.
Firenze
44 Cremona
21st & 22nd Info 7th P_rt.
Pisa
46 Udine ~ Siena
95th & B6thJnf.
"""41
21