48th Infantry Division Taro

The 48th Infantry Division Taro was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed on 12 September 1939 in Catanzaro and ceased to function 8 September 1943 in Toulon.

48th Infantry Division Taro
48th Infantry Division Taro Insignia
Active1939–1943
CountryItaly
BranchItalian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Taro
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General General Gino Pedrazzoli[1]

Actions

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 Italian II 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.[2] 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.[3]

The names of 4 Italian men attached to the Taro Division can be found in the CROWCASS List established by the Anglo-American Allies of the individuals wanted by Yugoslavia for war crimes. [4]

Orders of battle

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
  • 368. Heavy Motor Transport Section
  • 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


Notes

[nb 1][3]

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.[5]
Citations
  1. Enrico Tagliazucchi and Franco Agostini. "Royal Italian Army". Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  2. http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/fanteria/rediv48.htm
  3. Marcus Wendal. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  4. (Name) MELINI - (C.R. File Number) - 191011 - (Rank, Occupation, Unit, Place and Date of Crime) Major, Ital. Army, Div. Taro, Gradjome, Radomir, Montenegro (Yugo.) 5.42 - (Reason wanted) Pillage - Yugo. ; ORIOLI E. - 191046 - Major, Ital. Army, Deputy Chief of staff, "Taro" Div., Crna Gora (Yugo.) 41 - Murder - Yugo. ; PEDRAZOLI - 149077 - General, Italian Army, Tarro-Div., Montenegro (Yugo.) - Murder - Yugo. ; SPITALERI - 193556 - Major, Ital. Army "Tarro"-Div., Budva, Banovina, Zevska (Yugo.) 41 - Murder - Yugo. In: The Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects, Consolidated Wanted Lists (1947), Naval & University Press, Uckfield 2005; Part 2 - Non-Germans only, p. 67, 68, 69, 72 (facsimile of the original document at the National Archives in Kew/London).
  5. Paoletti, p 170
  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.

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