32nd Infantry Division Marche

The 32nd Infantry Division Marche was a mountain infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed 22 February 1939 in Conegliano as Division 32a Marche, based on earlier infantry brigade Marche.[1] The only difference between line infantry divisions and mountain infantry divisions was that the latter's artillery was carried by pack mules instead of the standard horse-drawn carriages. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by the "Alpini" mountain troops.

32nd Infantry Division Marche
32nd Infantry Division Marche Insignia
Active1939–1943
Country Regno d'Italia
Kingdom of Italy
Branch Regio Esercito
Royal Italian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Marche
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Riccardo Pentimalli
Giuseppe Amico
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Identification
symbol		Marche Division collar insignia

History

10 June 1940, the Marche division was transferred to Treviso. In the March, 1941, the division was assigned to Italian XVII (Armoured) Corps and was sent to the Potenza-Eboli-Padula on the south of Italy to reinforce a coastal defence.

But before the move was completed, in the 1–10 April 1941 interval, the Marche division was rerouted to Albania due to the collapse of the Greek resistance in the Greco-Italian War. Initially, the division was garrisoned on the Yugoslavia-Albania border at Shkodër-Lezhë-Koplik area. It crossed the border with Yugoslavia 20 April 1941 as part of Invasion of Yugoslavia, and proceed to capture Dubrovnik, Trebinje, Bileća, Metković, Mostar, and islands of Mljet and Korčula. Afterward, the division was tasked with coastal defence and anti-partisan actions.

The initial fighting with Yugoslav Partisans started in July, 1941, near Gacko. In this period the Giuseppe Amico had assumed the post of division commander instead of Riccardo Pentimalli. The change of the command was the immediate result of division capturing the main Yugoslavian gold reserve, a total of 56 tons of gold bars and coins, hidden in a cave. On 30 July 1941, fighting escalated at Dragalj-Grahovo, Nikšić in a joint anti-partisan action with a 48th Infantry Division Taro and a 22nd Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi. In September 1941, partisan raids on Gacko became so severe that the Marche division was forced to garrison Gacko permanently. As local partisan activity diminished, the division performed a series of patrols and skirmishes on the Serbia-Croatia border from 9 October 1941 to 9 November 1941. Heavy fighting for the control of the Trebinje-Bileća road happened from 5 December 1941 to 20 December 1941, and ended with a victory for the Marche division. In the same period, the division repulsed partisan attacks on the city of Dubrovnik and the Gabela-Dubrovnik-Kotor railroad.

From January 1942 to May 1942, the intensity of skirmishes with Yugoslav Partisans in the Bileća-Gacko-Trebinje region increased gradually. In June, 1942, a major mopping-up operation started in the Dobromani-Lastva-Plana, Bileća area. Especially heavy fighting happened at Plana, Bileća, which was initially firmly under Yugoslav Partisan control. Later, the focus of fighting shifted back to the Gabela-Dubrovnik-Kotor railroad.

The Division was in the Axis order of battle during the Battle of the Neretva (Operation Weiss) between 20 January and 17 February 1943 and in Battle of the Sutjeska (Operation Schwarz) between May and June 1943, but was not ordered any offensive actions because it was considered unreliable due to the well-known pro-Jewish attitude of Marche division commander, Giuseppe Amico. After the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the division fought the German 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen near the city of Dubrovnik until 10 September 1943; then the Marche division was routed and dissolved.

Order of battle
Coat of Arms of the 55th Infantry Regiment "Marche", 1939
Coat of Arms of the 56th Infantry Regiment "Marche", 1939
  • 55. Marche Infantry Regiment
  • 56. Marche Infantry Regiment
  • 32. Artillery Regiment
  • 49. CCNN Legion (Blackshirts)
  • 32. Mortar Battalion
  • 32. Anti-Tank Company
  • 32. Signal Company
  • 39. Pioneer Company
  • 39. Medical Section
  • 4. Supply Section
  • 32. Bakery Section
  • 35. Carabinieri Section
  • 36. Carabinieri Section [nb 1][3]

C.R.O.W.C.A.S.S.

The names of 29 men attached to the Marche Division can be found in the CROWCASS list established by the Anglo-American Allies of the individuals wanted by Yugoslavia for war crimes:

  • (Name) BIZARRI Vincenzo - (C.R. File Number) 259099 - (Rank, Occupation, Unit, Place and Date of Crime) Capt., Ital.Army, 56. Regt., Marche Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - (Reason wanted) Murder - (Wanted by) Yugo.[4]
  • BUCARI Giorgio - 259106 -Lt. Italian Army, 56. Regt., "Marche"-Div., Stolag (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [5]
  • BULLO Attilio - 259194 - Lt., Italian Army, Marche-Div., 56. Regt. Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [6]
  • CAPIGATI GIUSEPPE - 259105 - Lt.Col. Italian Army, 56.Regt. "Marche" Div., Stolag (Yugo.) - 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [7]
  • CAPITANO Gino - 190913 - Major Italian Army, 55.Regt. "Marche" Div., Trebine (Yugo.) 20.4.41-8.9.43 - Murder - Yugo. [8]
  • CARELLI Giuseppe - 190915 - Major, Italian Army, 53. Regt., Marche Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 20.4.41-8.9.43 - Murder - Yugo. [9]
  • CAVALERRI Giorgio - 259123 - Lt., Italian Army, 56 Regt., Marche-Div., Stolag (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [10]
  • CIAMPAULO Rolando - 259104 - Lt. Italian Army, 56 Regt., Marche-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [11]
  • DAGLI ALBERI Delio - 259100 - Lt., Italian Army, 56. Regt., Marche-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [12]
  • DE GUIDA - 190981 - Col. Italian Army, 51 Regt. of Marche-Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 42-43 - Murder - Yugo. [13]
  • FALCOMARE Marcello - 259193 - Lt., Italian Army, "Marche" Div., 56 Rgt., Stolac (Yugo.) 41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [14]
  • FARESSIN Emilio - 259192 - Lt., Italian Army, "Marche"-Div., 56. Rgt., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [15]
  • FISCHETTI Ettore - 190959 - Lt., Italian Army, 56 Inf. Rgt., 1 Bn., I A Coy., Div. "Marche", Mostar (Yugo.) 42 - Pillage - Yugo. [16]
  • GUGLIELMINO Antonio - 259103 - Lt., Italian Army, 56 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [17]
  • INGEGNI Pasquale - 259121 - Lt., Italian Army, 56 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [18]
  • LUCIANO - 259190 - Lt. Italian Army, Marche Div., 56 Rgt., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [19]
  • LUPARELLI Enzo - 259189 - Lt. Italian Army, Marche Div., 56 Rgt., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [20]
  • LUSANO Alexandro - 190994 - Lt., General, Italian Army, 55 Rgt. "Marche" Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 41-43 - Murder - Yugo. [21]
  • MONTALTO Rino - 191031 - Capt. of Carabinieri, Ital. Army, 55 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 20.4.41- 8.9.43 - Murder - Yugo. [22]
  • MONTESSI Enzo - 259122 - Lt., Ital. Army, 56 Regt. "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [23]
  • MUSSI Bruno - 259188 - Lt., Ital.Army, "Marche"-Div., 56 Regt., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [24]
  • NOLLI Stefano - 259120 - Lt., Ital.Army, 56 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-8.42 - Murder - Yugo. [25]
  • PELEGRINO Alessandro - 259187 - Lt., Italian Army, "Marche" Div. 56 Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [26]
  • PITARRELLO Romoaldo - 259186 - Lt., Ital.Army, Marche-Div., 56 Regt., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [27]
  • PIGNATELLI Antonio - 191065 - Col., Ital. Army, 55 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 20.4.41-8.9.43 - Murder - Yugo. [28]
  • SERENTINO Pietro - 259098 - Lt., Ital. Army, 56 Regt., "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [29]
  • SPAGNA - 191112 - Capt., 56 Inf. Regt., 1 Bn., 1 Coy., Div. "Marche", Mostar (Yugo.) 7.42 - Pillage - Yugo. [30]
  • TADDEO Sergio - 191124 - Lt., 55 Regt. "Marche" Div., Trebinje (Yugo.) 20.4.41-8.9.43 - Murder - Yugo. [31]
  • TAGLIO Pietro - 259185 - Lt., Ital. Army 56 Regt. "Marche"-Div., Stolac (Yugo.) 4.41-9.42 - Murder - Yugo. [32]

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.[2]

Citations
  1. http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rediv32.htm
  2. Paoletti, p 170
  3. "1940 Infantry Division". World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  4. The Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects, Consolidated Wanted Lists (1947), Naval & University Press, Uckfield 2005; Part 2 - Non-Germans only, p. 58 (facsimile of the original at the National Archives in Kew/London).
  5. Ibid., p. 59
  6. Ibid., p. 59
  7. Ibid., p. 59
  8. Ibid., p. 59
  9. Ibid., p. 59
  10. Ibid., p. 60
  11. Ibid., p. 60
  12. Ibid., p. 61
  13. Ibid., p. 61
  14. Ibid., p. 63
  15. Ibid., p. 63
  16. Ibid., p. 63
  17. Ibid., p. 65
  18. Ibid., p. 65
  19. Ibid., p. 66
  20. Ibid., p. 66
  21. Ibid., p. 66
  22. Ibid., p. 67
  23. Ibid., p. 68
  24. Ibid., p. 68
  25. Ibid., p. 68
  26. Ibid., p. 69
  27. Ibid., p. 70
  28. Ibid., p. 70
  29. Ibid., p. 72
  30. Ibid., p. 72
  31. Ibid., p. 73
  32. Ibid., p. 73
  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.
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