56th Infantry Division "Casale"

The 56th Infantry Division "Casale" (Italian: 56ª Divisione di fanteria "Casale") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Casale was in 1939 in Forlì and named for the city of Casale Monferrato. After the Armistice of Cassibile the division disbanded in early September 1943 in the Aetolia-Acarnania region of Greece. The majority of its men originated from Romagna.[2][3]

56th Infantry Division "Casale"
56th Infantry Division "Casale" insignia
Active1939–1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQForlì
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Enea Navarini[1]
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Casale Division gorget patches

History

The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Casale" established on 21 December 1821, which on 25 October 1831 split to form the 1st and 2nd infantry regiments under the brigade's command. On 4 May 1839 the two regiments were re-numbered as 11th and 12th infantry regiments.[4]

World War II

The Casale Division was sent to Albania on 14 March 1941 to reinforce the failing Italian Spring Offensive during the Greco-Italian War. It immediately fought in Shushicë. By 20 March 1941, it was assigned to the XXV Army Corps and fought in the Tepelenë area. Contact with retreating Greek forces was lost soon after the start of the Battle of Greece on 6 April 1941, and the Casale engaged in a cautious advance along the Drin river. On 18 April 1941, it encountered the Greek rearguard at Lumi i Kardhiqit, and by 19 April 1941 had reached Gjirokastër. On 22 April 1941 the division reached the Greek border near Delvinaki, where it met with German patrols. It was used for mopping-up operations in Zitsa, Negrades, and Paramythia.

After this task was completed, Casale was moved to the south of the Ambracian Gulf, with garrisons in Agrinio, Amfilochia and Missolonghi by 1942. The division performed several anti-partisan raids in Agrinio, Kato Achaia, Chrysovitsa, and other locations. After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943, parts of the 11th Infantry Regiment joined Greek partisans while other sub-units of the division melted away.

Organization
Coat of Arms of the 12th Infantry Regiment "Casale", 1939
  • 56th Infantry Division "Casale"
    • 11th Infantry Regiment "Casale"
    • 12th Infantry Regiment "Casale"
      • Command Company
      • 3x Fusilier battalions
      • Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns)
      • Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 311th Infantry Regiment "Casale" (transferred to the 5th Guardia alla Frontiera Grouping in Slovenia on 27 May 1942)
      • Command Company
      • 3x Fusilier battalions
      • Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns)
      • Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 56th Artillery Regiment "Casale"
    • LVI Mortar Battalion (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
    • 156th Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
    • 47th Engineer Company
    • 56th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company
    • 60th Medical Section
    • 5th Supply Section
    • 41st Bakers Section
    • 48th Carabinieri Section
    • 49th Carabinieri Section
    • Field Post Office

Attached:[3]

  • 23rd CC.NN. Legion "Bersaglieri del Mincio"
    • XX CC.NN. Battalion
    • XXXVI CC.NN. Battalion
    • 23rd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company

During the war the following battalions temporarily reinforced the division:

  • VI Carabinieri Battalion
  • CXIX Army Corps Artillery Group

Commanding officers

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

References
  1. Enrico Tagliazucchi and Franco Agostini. "Royal Italian Army". World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  2. "56ª Divisione di fanteria "Casale"". 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. 304. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. Voghera, Enrico (1909). Annuario militare del regno d'Italia - Volume I. Rome. p. 382.
  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.


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