37 Mountain Infantry Division Modena

37 Mountain Infantry Division Modena
Active	1939–1943
Country	Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Savona
Nickname	Modena
Engagements	World War II Italian invasion of France Greco-Italian War
Commanders
Notable commanders	General Alessandro Gloria
Insignia
Identification symbol
Identification symbol	Modena Division collar insignia

The 37 Mountain Infantry Division Modena was a Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Modena Division took part in the Italian invasion of France and the Greco-Italian War. Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.

It was made up entirely of men from Genoa and Liguria.

Invasion of France

The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice. The offensive did not meet its planned goals, with the Italian forces making only limited headway. The Modena Division was stationed on the French border in July 1940 and was part of the Italian XV Corps for the invasion.^[1]

Greco-Italian War

After the invasion of France the Modena was sent to Albania and joined the Italian XXV Corps which took part in the Greco-Italian War. After the Greek surrender it remained in Greece as an occupying force in the Athens area It served as an occupation force in the Athens region until the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943.^[2]

Commander

General Alessandro Gloria

Order of battle

• 41. Modena Infantry Regiment
• 42. Modena Infantry Regiment
• 341. Infantry Regiment
• 29. Cosseria Artillery Regiment
• 36. Craistoforo Colombo CCNN Battalion (Blackshirts)
• 37. Mortar Battalion
• 37. Anti-Tank Company
• 37. Signal Company
• 76. Signal Company
• 19. Pioneer Company
• 48. Medical Section
• 10. Field Bakery
• 15. Carabinieri Section ^{[nb 1][2]}

Notes

Footnotes

1. ^ An Italian Infantry Division normally consisted of two Infantry Regiments (three Battalions each), an Artillery Regiment, a Mortar Battalion (two companies), an Anti Tank Company, a Blackshirt Legion of two Battalions was sometimes attached. Each Division had only about 7,000 men, The Infantry and Artillery Regiments contained 1,650 men, the Blackshirt Legion 1,200, each company 150 men.^[3]

Citations

1. ^ "Invasion of France (20 June 1940)". Commando Supemo. http://www.comandosupremo.com/France.html. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Italian Army". Axis Histrory. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=9657l. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
3. ^ Paoletti, p 170

• Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.