4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio"

The 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio" (CC.NN. standing for Camicie Nere, Blackshirts) was one of seven Italian Black Shirt Divisions (similar to SS in Nazi-Germany), formed to participate in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War against Ethiopia in the mid-1930s. Its commander was Generale di Divisione Alessandro Traditi. The name 3 Gennaio ("3 January") was given in honor of the date of assumption of dictatorial powers by Benito Mussolini on 3 January 1925. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Sidi Barrani.

Order of battle (3 October 1935)

4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio"

• 101st Blackshirts Legion "Libica"
  • 101st Blackshirts Battalion (former 1st "Cirene" Bn from the Libya Territorial Legion)
  • 102nd Blackshirts Battalion (former 2nd "Cirene" Bn from the Libya Territorial Legion)
  • 101st MMG coy
  • 101st pack-artillery battery
• 104th Blackshirts Legion "S.Santarosa"
  • 104th "S.Santarosa" Blackshirts Battalion
  • 111th "Monferrato" Blackshirts Battalion
  • 104th MMG coy
  • 104th pack-artillery battery
• 215th Blackshirts Legion "Cimino"
  • 215th "Cimino" Blackshirts Battalion
  • 220 "Giulio Cesare" Blackshirts Battalion
  • 215th MMG coy
  • 215th pack-artillery battery
• 4th Blackshirts MMG Battalion
• 4th Artillery Battalion (65L17 – Army)
• 4th Special Engineers Coy (mixed Blackshirts and Army)
• 2 x Replacements Battalions

Notes:

• Additionally the division had a medical section, logistics section, and transport of a pack-mules unit (1,600 mules), and a mixed trucks unit (80 light trucks).
• The division took actively part in the Italian war crimes in Ethiopia.[1]

Order of battle (9 December 1940)

• 250. CCNN Legion
  • 150. G. Carli CCNN Battalion
  • 154. D. Mastronuzzi CCNN Battalion
  • 156. Lucania CCNN Battalion
• 270. CCNN Legion
  • 170. Agrigentum CCNN Battalion
  • 172. Enna CCNN Battalion
  • 174. Segesta CCNN Battalion
• 4. CCNN Anti-tank Company
• 204. CCNN MMG Battalion
• 204. Artillery Regiment
• 204. Mixed Engineer Battalion
• 204. Medical Section
• 204. Logistics Section
  • Transport Section (1,600 Pack-Mules)
  • Mixed Trucks Section (80 light and medium trucks)

Notes:

• Took part in the invasion of Egypt and was destroyed at Sidi Barrani while protecting the retreat of the other Italian units.

Sources

• Lucas, Ettore; Giorgio de Vecchi (1976). Storia delle Unità Combattenti della MVSN 1923-1943. Giovanni Volpe Editore. pp. 63–116.
• George F. Nafziger – Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)

References

1. Del Boca, Angelo (2007). Il gas di Mussolini. Il fascismo e la guerra d'Etiopia. ISBN 9788835958598.