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]
| 201st Coastal Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 – 1943 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Savona |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |    201st Coastal Division gorget patches |
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
- 201st Coastal Division, in Savona[3][1]
- Harbor Defense Command Genoa, in Genoa
- 102nd Coastal Regiment
- 5th Coastal Regiment
- CCV Coastal Battalion
- CCCXXIV Coastal Battalion
- CDLXXXI Coastal Battalion
- XV Machine Gun Battalion
- CXI Machine Gun Battalion
- 131st Coastal Regiment
- X Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II"
- XXI Coastal Battalion
- CCVI Coastal Battalion
- CDLXXXII Coastal Battalion
- 5th Coastal Artillery Regiment
- V Coastal Artillery Group (1x battery 105/28 cannons and 1x battery 149/35 heavy guns)
- VI Coastal Artillery Group (1x battery 105/28 cannons and 1x battery 149/35 heavy guns; detached to Harbor Defense Command Genoa)
- CXXV Coastal Artillery Group (3x batteries 105/15 howitzers)
- CXXXII Coastal Artillery Group (1x battery 75/17 cannons and 2x batteries 105/15 howitzers)
- 52nd Anti-paratroopers Unit
- 53rd Anti-paratroopers Unit
- 54th Anti-paratroopers Unit
- 201st Carabinieri Section
- 1x Field Post Office
- Divisional Services[2]
- Harbor Defense Command Genoa, in Genoa
Attached to the division:
- 1st Army Artillery Grouping (from 4 December 1942)
- I Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- II Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- 7th Army Artillery Grouping (from 15 November 1942)
- IX Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- X Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- XI Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- XII Group (3x batteries 149/35 heavy guns)
- Marimobil, in Genoa (Royal Italian Navy)[4]
- Armored Train 120/2/S, in Vado Ligure (4x 120/45 Mod. 1918 naval guns, 4x 20/77 Scotti anti-aircraft guns)
- Armored Train 152/4/T, in Albisola Superiore (4x 152/40 naval guns, 4x 20/77 anti-aircraft guns)
- Armored Train 152/5/S, in Voltri (4x 152/40 naval guns, 4x 20/77 anti-aircraft guns)
- Armored Train 76/1/S, in Sampierdarena (6x 76/40 mod. 16 naval guns, 4x 20/77 anti-aircraft guns)
Commanding officers
The division's commanding officers were:[1][5]
- Generale di Brigata Costantino Salvi (1 November 1942 - 1943)
- Generale di Divisione Enrico Gazzale (1943 - 8 September 1943)
References
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