53rd Infantry Division Arezzo


The 53rd Infantry Division Arezzo was a mountain infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed 24 May 1939 and officially dissolved 12 September 1943. The Arezzo division is not related to partisan division Arezzo operating in 1943 in the Cortona vicinity under command of Siro Rossetti. The only difference between line infantry divisions and mountain infantry divisions was that the latter's artillery was carried by pack mules instead of the standard horse-drawn carriages. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by the Alpini mountain troops.

History

The Arezzo Division took part in the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939. It was next involved in the Greco-Italian War in November 1940, as part of the Italian XXVI Corps and later Italian XXV Corps. Although it was used initially on Yugoslavian border as part of the 11th army reserve, the division used to oppose a Greek breakthrough at Mal Moravë - Mal Ivan line in Devoll river valley. The Arezzo losses were light until December, 1940. 29 November-3 December 1940 division have suffered a serious losses while beating off the Greek assault. The Arezzo division was reformed and sent back to Albania, Korçë, as part of the occupation force within Italian IV Corps. 5 April 1941 it took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia as part of the Librazhd Sector under command of Italian 9th army. In this role, it captured parts of Montenegro, and used as garrison in Zadar, Ersekë, Korçë and Pogradec. 29 January 1943, the division was reinforced by 343rd infantry regiment. The division remained in the area until the Armistice of Cassibile 8 September 1943. Following the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943, the division was disarmed by the Germans. A large number of the men escaped to join the partisans.

Order of battle (1943)