80th Infantry Division La Spezia

80th Infantry Division La Spezia was an Airlanding Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The La Spezia was formed in 1941, for the planned Invasion of Malta.[1] When the invasion was cancelled the Division was instead transferred to Libya in October 1942.[1] In December it was reinforced by a battalion of the San Marco Marines and additional artillery.[2] It suffered heavy losses during the Battle of the Mareth Line in Tunisia in March 1943 and the surviving elements surrendered in May 1943.[1][3]

80th Infantry Division La Spezia
Active	1941–1943
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Role	Airlanding
Size	Division
Part of	Italian XXI Corps
Nickname(s)	La Spezia
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
Identification symbol
Identification symbol	La Spezia Division collar insignia

Commander

• Generale di Divisione Fernando Conte Gelich

Order of battle

• 125. Infantry Regiment
• 126. Infantry Regiment
• 80. Artillery Regiment
• 39. Bersaglieri Battalion
• 80. Anti-Tank Battalion
• 343. Artillery Battalion
• 80. Engineer Battalion
• 102. Pioneer Company
• 70. Machine Gun Company
• 80. Medical Section
• 180. Supply Section [1][nb 1]

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 (Regiment of two Battalions). 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. [4]

Citations

1. Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
2. Bennighof, Mike PhD (2007). "Italy's Marines". Avalanche Press.
3. Stevens (1962), p. 155
4. Paoletti, p 170

References

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