201st Coastal Division (Italy)

The 201 Coastal Division was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was based in the south of France and then pulled back into Italy and based in Genova as part of the Italian XV Corps until the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943.

Coastal divisions, were second line divisions, usually formed from men in their forties and fifties intended to perform labour and second line duties. Recruited locally they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement. Their equipment was also second rate, Mussolini had hoped to obtain large quantities of arms and equipment from the disbanded Vichy French army, but this had often been sabotaged or arrived with no ammunition.[1]

Order of battle

• 55th Coastal Infantry Regiment
• 131st Coastal Infantry Regiment
• 201st Coastal Artillery Regiment[1]

References

1. Jowett p 6

• Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.