2nd Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro

The 2nd Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro was a Cavalry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was mobilised in 1940, it did not take part in the Italian invasion of France, but did serve in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in the Celere Corps and remained in Yugoslavia as part of the occupying forces.[1] In March 1942 the division's 6th Bersaglieri Regiment was sent to the Soviet Union attached to the 3rd Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta.[2] In May 1942, the division was selected to convert to an Armoured division and starting converting to the 134 Armoured Division Freccia; however, the conversion was cancelled and it returned to the Cavalry division format. In December 1942, the division moved to France as part of the Italian occupying forces where it was based in Toulon. The division remained in France until the Italian surrender, when it returned to Italy in September 1943, where it was disbanded.[3]

2nd Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro
2a Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro Insignia
Active1940–1943
CountryItaly
BranchItalian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro
EngagementsWorld War II

Commander
  • General Mario Marazzani [4]

Order of battle
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II" (10th),
  • 6th Bersaglieri Regiment
  • 2. Autocelere Artillery Regiment (mot)
  • II San Marco Armoured Battalion
  • 352. Carabinieri Section
  • 2. Transportation Unit
  • 8. Road Movement Unit
  • 33. Field Post Office
  • 102. Mixed Engineer Company
  • 72. Medical Section
  • 157. Field Hospital
  • 158. Field Hospital
  • 159. Field Hospital
  • 212. Mixed Motor Transport Group Command
  • 862. Light Motor Transport Detachment
  • 863. Light Motor Transport Detachment
  • 864. Light Motor Transport Detachment
  • 35. Mixed Motor Transport Detachment
  • 8. Road Recovery Unit
  • Fuel Section

The division had undergone a level of mechanization. Each division had two cavalry regiments, a highly mobile infantry (Bersaglieri) regiment, an artillery regiment, and a light tank group. The squadrons of the cavalry regiments were horse-mounted and, other than a motorcycle company, the Bersaglieri were issued with bicycles. The light tank group had a total of 61 tanks. The tanks were typically L3s or L6s.[3] [5]

References
  1. Jim Heddlesten. "Invasion of Yugoslavia (6 April, 1941)". Italy at War. Archived from the original on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  2. Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army (3rd Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta)". Axis History. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  3. Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  4. Gary J. MacDonald. "Order of Battle at the beginning of Operation Torch Allied and Italian Land Forces: September 1942". France fights on. Archived from the original on 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  5. Mollo, p.87

Further reading
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