223rd Coastal Division
Active1942 – 1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQLa Colle-sur-Loup
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol
223rd Coastal Division gorget patches

The 223rd Coastal Division (Italian: 223ª 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. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.[2]

History

In November 1942 Axis forces invaded Southern France and divided it into a German and an Italian occupation zone. For the coastal defense of its zone Italy raised on 1 January 1943 the 223rd Coastal Division in Bologna and the 224th Coastal Division in Florence. Both divisions were formed with replacements and reserve units of the army's regular Alpini regiments.[2]

The 223rd Coastal Division was based in La Colle-sur-Loup and assigned to I Army Corps. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.[3][1]

Organization

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officer was:[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 375. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Jowett p 6
  3. ^ a b "223a Divisione Costiera". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 16 October 2021.


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