Main article: Folgore Mechanized Division On 25 September 1944 the Italian Co-Belligerent Army raised the Folgore Combat Group with soldiers and materiel from the disbanded 184th Airborne Division Nembo. (1) The 185. Italian) Paratroopers Battalion: 300 troops, 4 Companies. The VIII Parachute Engineer Battalion fielded one Headquarters and three Parachute Engineer Companies. Regiment was used to form 184. The Italian Folgore Parachute Division: North African Operations 1940-43 (English Edition) eBook: Morisi, Paolo: Amazon.nl: Kindle Store Selecteer uw cookievoorkeuren We gebruiken cookies en vergelijkbare tools om uw winkelervaring te verbeteren, onze services aan te bieden, te begrijpen hoe klanten onze services gebruiken zodat we verbeteringen kunnen aanbrengen, en om advertenties weer te geven. [14] At the end of the battle of El Alamein, Harry Zinder of Time magazine noted that the Italians paratroopers fought better than had been expected, and commented that: "In the south, the famed Folgore Paratroopers Division fought to the last round of ammunition". Whenever the exit of the cleared track was within reach of one of the short-ranged Italian 47mm AT guns, it was easy to block the attack, provided that the first tank or two were disabled. In the northern sector, three British divisions slowly advanced, creating a small bulge between the Trento and 164th infantry Division positions. Actually, it was officially renamed 185th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d'Africa", and not without reason (apart from counterintelligence), since the well-trained, highly motivated … The so-called “six-days run” or battle of Alam Halfa saw the first employment of Folgore which was employed directly aside with panzers of DAK (remember that division was not motorized and advanced by feet….) However in the course of the battle the division was annihilated and declared lost on 23 November 1942. • Illustrated with rare archival photographs, detailed maps and specially commissioned artwork giving a fascinating insight into a little-studied aspect of Axis forces• By drawing from archival sources from both sides, it gives a more complete and balance However, all that was achieved at a high casualty rate was a small salient, which was soon recaptured. On November 3rd the Folgore received the order to retreat 25 km to the West, and so began a slow, hard fighting march for the Italian paratroopers. Here the minefields were extensive, thick, and treacherous; furthermore, the mines were in multiple fields. Initially the division was made up of the following units: Each Parachute Infantry Battalion fielded one Headquarters and three Parachute Infantry Companies. For its conduct during the Second Battle of El Alamein the division as whole was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor. Order of battle Meanwhile, Rommel returns to HQ and, contrary to orders from Hitler, decides to retreat, using the Ramcke battle group, along with the Italian units of the Folgore Division and the Ariete Armored Division to stand fast and cover the retreat of the rest of the army, though it is mentioned that the other Italian units have no transportation and will surely be lost in the process. The "Folgore" (Lightning bolt) paratroop Division was a chosen unit within the Italian army and the X Corps during the African campaign. [3] Two years later, in 1939, two Paratroopers Military School based in Tarquinia and in Viterbo were established. The few survivors, who managed to withdraw, were reorganized into the 285 Folgore Parachute Battalion and fought in Tunisia, they surrendered to the British in 1943, but without having to show a white flag and without having to raise their hands while surrendering. During this phase of the battle a ratio of 1/20 was sometimes reached. Free delivery on qualified orders. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion [12] On 6 November, after having exhausted all its ammunition, the remainder of the Division surrendered. The British attack began with an artillery barrage, followed by an all out assault by the 7th Armoured and 44th Infantry divisions. Therefore, the battalions in the Folgore Parachute Brigade were given the names of the regiments of the former 185th Airborne Division Folgore. Each Parachute Artillery Group fielded one Headquarters and two Parachute Artillery Batteries armed with 47/32 M35 cannons. On the night of 28/29 June 1942, the Littorio Division took up positions near Wadi Nagamish, with the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment and tanks opening fire on the British Commonwealth forces that attempted to escape from Mersa Matruh under the cover of darkness.According to Les Davies: Initially created to emulate the German Fallschirmjäger in order to carry out the planned airborne attack against the British base of Malta, Folgore Airborne Division fought on the battlefields of North Africa - including the key Battle of El Alamein. (2004) [1st. [4] The division initially was organized as follows: For reasons of order of precedence the title I Paratroopers Battalion was reserved for the I Carabinieri Paratroopers Battalion. At El-Alamein, throughout several engagements, the paratroopers were either able to drive back the attacks or, when the enemy had been successful in completely wiping out the first line of outposts, to reform again, usually counterattacking. In spite of the overwhelming numbers, the British made little headway against them, and in the end, the Folgore was ordered to fall back because the enemy obtained a breakthrough elsewhere. [15] With a few survivors and some replacement, the 285º Battaglione Paracadutisti "Folgore", a battaillon-size unit commandeered by Captain Lombardini, was formed, and participated to the defense of the Mareth Line in Tunisia in mid 1943, particularly at the Battle of Takrouna, where it was destroyed. 185th Airborne Division Folgore or 185ª Divisione Paracadutisti Folgore was a Parachute Division of the Italian Army (in Italian Regio Esercito) during World War II. On 1 January 1963 the Italian Army raised the Folgore Parachute Brigade in Pisa. For the Italian Cold War mechanized division, see, Playfair I.S.O. They also used their 47mm Anti-tank guns from enfilade positions and Molotov cocktails to knock out advancing armor. The British attack began with an artillery barrage, followed by … With a few survivors and some replacement, the 285º Battaglione Paracadutisti "Folgore", a battaillon-size unit commandeered by captain Lombardini, was formed, and participated to the defense of the Mareth Line in Tunisia in mid 1943, particularly at the battle of Takrouna, where it was completely destroyed. La brigade parachutiste Folgore (en italien : Brigata paracadutisti "Folgore") est une unité de parachutistes de l'Armée de terre italienne. [1][2][4], 185 Airborne Division position before the 2nd Battle of El Alamein. Only 306 paratroopers were left of an original complement of 5,000. Initially created to emulate the German Fallschirmjäger in order to carry out the planned airborne attack against the British base of Malta, Folgore Airborne Division fought on the battlefields of North Africa - including the key Battle of El Alamein. During the Second battle of El Alamein the Folgore Division was under attack from three British divisions 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, 7th Armoured Division, and the 1st Free French Brigade. Elle est cantonnée à Pise et à Livourne. [citation needed], At the end of the battle of El Alamein, Harry Zinder of Time magazine noted that the Italians paratroopers fought better than had been expected, and commented that: In the south, the famed Folgore parachute division fought to the last round of ammunition[5]. [6] The division was intended to be used in Operation Hercules – the planned Axis invasion of Malta. The attack began at 0300 hours on 26 July, but soon got bogged down, and any gains were taken back by counterattacks. At El-Alamein, throughout several engagements, the paratroopers were either able to resist the attacks made upon them or, when the Allied forces had been successful in completely wiping out the first line of Folgore outposts, to reform again, usually counterattacking. Folgore preparing to fire artillery during the first battle of El Alamein. The Folgore used everything at their disposal including letting the enemy advance into a "cul-de-sac" and then launching a counterattack from all sides. The division was sent to Africa and fought in the Battle of El Alamein with the following structure:[6]. [8] On 15 March 1942 the 3rd Paratroopers Infantry Regiment with the battalions VIII, IX, and X was raised in Tarquinia.[6]. [1], By 1939 there were two Libyan Paratroopers Battalions. After the end of the Cold War the Italian Army decided to rename the battalions in the brigade as regiments for historical reasons. The 185th Artillery, 186th Paratroopers and 187th Paratroopers regiments received a second Gold Medal for specific actions during the Second Battle of El Alamein. [3], In the initial British assault alone the Folgore had destroyed over 120 armoured vehicles, and inflicted over 600 casualties. Initially created to emulate the German Fallschirmj ger in order to carry out the planned airborne attack against the British base of Malta, Folgore Airborne Division fought on the battlefields of North Africa - including the key Battle of El Alamein. However, all that was achieved at a high cost of life and equipment was a small salient, which was soon recaptured by the Folgore. They also used their 47mm Anti-tank guns from enfilade positions and Molotov cocktails to knock out the advancing tanks. Sgt. Placed under the XX Corps, Folgore division, with Brescia and Pavia divisions, was ordered to advance in the center of the offensive, as the left flank of the armoured units of the Italian-German Tank Army who were though to break through the southern defence of the British Army, in the same manner as they did during the Gazala battle. In the following days between 25 October and 4 November, the 50th, 7th, 44th divisions, 1st and 2nd Free French and the Royal Hellenic Brigades, supported by artillery and armour, failed to break through in the southern sector. The regiment took command of the three paratroopers artillery groups, which each fielded two batteries with four 47/32 cannons per battery. Notwithstanding the heavy casualties they suffered, and temporary British successes in occupying several positions in the first outpost line, they held their ground. Losses were high, in particular for what concerns the IX and X Battalion which were … Others began the long walk back, and many died from their wounds, hunger, or thirst or were picked off by Senussi tribesmen for their … On 1 September 1941 the Royal Italian Army raised the 1st Paratroopers Division in Tarquinia. Direct and immediate origins of the 185th Paratroopers Division "Folgore" lie in the Paratroopers units formed in the wake of the breaking out of the World War Two. Initially created to emulate the German Fallschirmjäger in order to carry out the planned airborne attack against the British base of Malta, Folgore Airborne Division … Second Battle of El Alamein Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the battle, 23 October – 3 November 1942. Therefore, the battalions in the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" were given the names of the regiments of the former 185th Paratroopers Division "Folgore". [6], In 1942 the division was further augmented: on 15 January the II Paratroopers Artillery Group was raised, followed by the III Paratroopers Artillery Group on 10 March. [10][11] Operation Lightfoot, launched on 24 October 1942, was designed to break through the weak Italian-held southern sector of the Alamein line where the Bologna, Brescia, Pavia and Folgore Divisions anchored the right flank. The infantrymen of the Pavia and Brescia Divisions quickly joined them. The Allied attack began with an artillery barrage, followed by an all out assault by the 7th Armoured and 44th Infantry divisions. The Division was well equipped with modern automatic weapons (Beretta submachine gun, Breda M37 and Breda M38 heavy machine guns) and many support weapons, giving the paratroopers of the division a good firepower against infantry and light tanks, but without any transports or medium and heavy artillery. 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