48th Infantry Division "Taro"

The 48th Infantry Division "Taro" (Italian: 48ª Divisione di fanteria "Taro") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Taro was formed on 12 September 1939 in Catanzaro and named for the river Taro. The division's regimental depots were shared with the 64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro", which was based in Acroma in Libya and recruited its men from and trained them in Calabria. After the Armistice of Cassibile the division disbanded on 8 September 1943 in Toulon, France.[2][3]

48th Infantry Division "Taro"
48th Infantry Division "Taro" insignia
Active1939–1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Gino Pedrazzoli[1]
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Taro Division gorget patches

History

World War II

The Taro division was deployed in Civitavecchia by 10 June 1940 and saw no action during the Italian invasion of France. On 19 November 1940, it was ordered to transfer to Albania via Bari, as part of II Army Corps. Initial sub-units disembarked in Durrës on 27 November 1940, and by 30 November 1940 the entire division was in Albania. As of 1 December 1940, the 207th regiment of Bari reinforced 19th Infantry Division Venezia near Pogradec, while 208th regiment reinforced 53rd Infantry Division Arezzo; divisional headquarters with some other units temporarily assigned from other shattered Italian formations organized defences in the Shkumbin river valley. By 11 December 1940, the Taro division comprised 208th and 225th infantry regiments together with 48th artillery regiment, and made a stand at Guri i Llengës - Shkumbin line. The defensive line was never broken, although the pressure from Greek units increased in January - February 1941, resulting in the over-run of some positions near Guri i Llengës which were re-captured 14 February 1941. The last major attack from the Greeks came on 20 February 1941, and by 6 March 1941, Taro was on the offensive, capturing Guri i Topit and other peaks by 8 March 1941. The division remained in the same positions during the entire Battle of Greece until 23 April 1941.

In June 1941, Taro was transferred to Montenegro, quartering in Cetinje, Bar, Nikšić and Danilovgrad. On 19 July 1941, an additional garrison was established in Kotor. In 1942, the division conducted anti-partisan raids at Budva, Velja Gora, Boguti and Čisto Polje. In February–March 1942, an especially large group of Yugoslav Partisans was beaten off at Bokovo. In August 1942, the division was called back to Italy, and stationed in the Alessandria-Novi Ligure area. In November 1942, Taro participated in Case Anton, occupying Vichy France area north of Toulon and the coastal strip to the east, from Cape Brun to Cavalaire-sur-Mer. It quartered in Cuers, Méounes-lès-Montrieux, Pierrefeu-du-Var and Carnoules.

Organization

Order of battle (1940)
  • 207. Taro Infantry Regiment
  • 208. Taro Infantry Regiment
  • 48. Artillery Regiment
  • 164. CCNN Legion
    • 163. CCNN Battalion "T. Gulli"
    • 164. CCNN Battalion "E. Scalfaro"
  • 48. Mortar Battalion (da 81)
  • 48. Anti-Tank Company (47/32
  • 48. Mixed telegraph/radio Signal Company
  • 11. Pioneer Company
  • 48. Searchlight Section
  • 58. Medical Section
    • 222. Field Hospital
    • 237. Field Hospital
  • 368th Transport Company
  • 58. Supply Section
  • 23. Mixed Carabinieri Section

Order of battle (1943)
  • 207. Taro Infantry Regiment
  • 208. Taro Infantry Regiment
  • 48. Artillery Regiment
    • 1. Artillery group
    • 2. Artillery group
    • 3. Artillery group
  • 48. Mortar Battalion (da 81)
  • 48. Engineer Battalion
  • 168. Coastal defence regiment

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were:[2][3]

CROWCASS

The names of four men attached to the division can be found in the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects (CROWCASS) set up by the Anglo-American Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in 1945. The names can be found at: Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects from the Kingdom of Italy.

References
  1. Enrico Tagliazucchi and Franco Agostini. "Royal Italian Army". Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  2. "48ª Divisione di fanteria "Taro"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 288. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.


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