1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"

The 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo" () was an Italian CC.NN. (Blackshirts militia) division raised on 23 April 1935 for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War against Ethiopia. The name "23 Marzo" ("March 23rd") was chosen to commemorate the founding date of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento on 23 March 1919. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Bardia in January 1941.

History The division was one of six CC.NN. divisions raised in summer 1935 in preparation for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its members were volunteers from the various armed militias of the National Fascist Party's paramilitary wing and came from two regions: the 135th and 192nd CC.NN. legions, and the I CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion from Tuscany and the 202nd CC.NN. Legion from Umbria.

Second Italo-Ethiopian War The division arrived in Massawa in Italian Eritrea between 28 August and September 1935. On 3 October the division crossed the Balasa river into Ethiopia. The division participated in the Battle of Amba Aradam and then in the Second Battle of Tembien. During the war the division suffered a total of 108 casualties. After the war the division was repatriated and then disbanded.

World War II The division was reformed in Chieti in 1939 and sent with three other CC.NN. divisions to Italian Libya. The division took part in the invasion of Egypt in September 1940, reaching Sidi Barrani in Egypt by October. On 1 December 1940 the division was at Bardia, where it was surrounded with other Italian units by British forces during Operation Compass. After a short siege the division was destroyed during the Battle of Bardia on 3-5 January 1941.

Organization 1935 Below follows the division's organization during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions and companies/batteries were raised.

1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo" 135th CC.NN. Legion "Indomita", in La Spezia Command Company CXXXV CC.NN. Battalion, in La Spezia CLXXXVIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Livorno 135th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Volterra 135th CC.NN. Artillery Battery, in Rome (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) 192nd CC.NN. Legion "Francesco Ferrucci", in Florence Command Company CXC CC.NN. Battalion, in Pisa CXCV CC.NN. Battalion, in Florence 192nd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Empoli 192nd CC.NN. Artillery Battery, in Florence (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) 202nd CC.NN. Legion "Cacciatori del Tevere", in Perugia Command Company CCII CC.NN. Battalion, in Perugia CCIV CC.NN. Battalion, in Terni 202nd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Arezzo 202nd CC.NN. Artillery Battery, in Rome (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) I CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion, in Pisa I Artillery Group (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, Royal Italian Army) I Mixed Transport Unit (Royal Italian Army) I Supply Unit (Royal Italian Army) 1st Special Engineer Company (Royal Italian Army) 1st Medical Section (Royal Italian Army) 1st Logistic Section (Royal Italian Army) 1st Carabinieri Section

The supply unit had 1,600 mules and the mixed transport unit 80 light trucks. The division engaged in war crimes in Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

1940 Below follows the division's organization at the start of the Italian invasion of Egypt and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions were raised.

1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo" 219th CC.NN. Legion, in Frosinone Command Company CXIV CC.NN. Battalion, in Tivoli CXVIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Velletri CXIX CC.NN. Battalion, in Frosinone 219th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company 233rd CC.NN. Legion, in Campobasso Command Company CXXIX CC.NN. Battalion, in Pescara CXXXIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Campobasso CXLVIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Foggia 233rd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company 201st Artillery Regiment "23 Marzo" (formed by the depot of the 9th Army Corps Artillery Regiment in Foggia) Command Unit I Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns) II Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns) III Group (100/17 mod. 14 howitzers) 1st Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) 201st Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) 219th Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) 233rd Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) Ammunition and Supply Unit CCI Machine Gun Battalion (Royal Italian Army) CCI Mixed Engineer Battalion (Royal Italian Army) Command Platoon 1x Engineer Company 1x Telegraph and Radio Operators Company 1x Searchlight Section 201st CC.NN. Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns) 201st CC.NN. Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns) 201st CC.NN. Mortar Company (81mm mod. 35 mortars) 201st Transport Section (Royal Italian Army) 201st Supply Section (Royal Italian Army) 201st Medical Section (Royal Italian Army) 3x Field hospitals 1x Surgical Unit 701st Carabinieri Section 702nd Carabinieri Section 301st Field Post Office

Attached during the Battle of Bardia: LXI Tank Battalion "L" (L3/33 and L3/35 tankettes, Royal Italian Army)

CC.NN. Grouping "23 Marzo" For the Italian participation in the Eastern Front the regiment-sized CC.NN. Grouping "23 Marzo" was raised as unit of the Italian Army in Russia:

CC.NN. Grouping "23 Marzo" CC.NN. Battalions Group "Valle Scrivia" Command Company V CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Tortona XXXIV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Savona XLI CC.NN. Support Weapons Battalion, in Trento CC.NN. Battalions Group "Leonessa" Command Company XIV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Bergamo XV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Brescia XXXVIII Support Weapons Battalion, in Asti

Commanding officers During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War:

Generale di Divisione Ettore Bastico (23 April 1935 - 20 October 1935) Generale di Divisione Prince Filiberto, Duke of Genoa (21 October 1935 - 29 February 1936) Generale di Divisione Carlo Carini (1 March 1936 - ?)

During the Italian invasion of Egypt:

Generale di Divisione Francesco Antonelli (1939 - 5 January 1941, POW)

1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"

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