201st Coastal Division
Active1942 – 1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQSavona
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol
201st Coastal Division gorget patches

The 201st Coastal Division (Italian: 201ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.[1] Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.[2]

History

The division was activated on 1 November 1942 in Genoa by expanding the I Coastal Brigade. The division was assigned to XV Army Corps and in December 1942 moved to Savona.[1] The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of Liguria between Menton in occupied France and Punta del Mesco near La Spezia.[3] In January 1943 the division moved its headquarter to Menton.[1]

After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.[1]

Organization

Attached to the division:

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were:[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 357. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Jowett p 6
  3. ^ a b "201a Divisione Costiera". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Treni Armati della Marina". Italian Navy. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  5. ^ Pettibone, Charles D. (2010). The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II Volume VI Italy and France Including the Neutral Countries of San Marino, Vatican. Trafford Publishing (UK) Limited. p. 128. ISBN 9781426946332. Retrieved 24 July 2021.


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