24th “ Guastatori” Parachutist Company, 186th Parachutist Infantry Regiment, with: Clifton, commander of the New Zealand 6th Brigade. La Battaglia di El Alamein (196.9) The Battle of El Alamein part 2/2. (PL), 2nd Cavalry Division Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro, 3rd Cavalry Division Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta, 21st Infantry Division Granatieri di Sardegna, 22nd Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi, 40th Infantry Division Cacciatori d'Africa, 65th Infantry Division Granatieri di Savoia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=185th_Paratroopers_Division_Folgore&oldid=997798488, Military units and formations established in 1941, Military units and formations disestablished in 1943, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The 8th Army’s victory here helped to lead to ultimate Allied triumph. Small initial gains by the attackers against isolated ‘outposts’ led them eventually straight into Italian strong points. They often answered the request with gunfire directed at the British or solely with shouts of “Folgore.”. It was designed to break through the Italian-held southern sector of the El Alamein line, where the Bologna, Brescia, Pavia and Folgore Divisions anchored the Axis right flank. [6] When the division arrived in Africa the three artillery groups of the 185th Artillery Regiment "Folgore" were merged into two artillery groups of three batteries each, thus providing one group for each infantry regiment, which in turn could now provide one battery to each battalion of a regiment. [8], On 15 September the 185th Infantry Regiment "Folgore", which had remained in Italy, left the division and changed its name to 185th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" and became the basis for the 184th Infantry Division "Nembo" (Nemo Italian for Nimbus). essi additano agli italiani, nella buona e nell’avversa fortuna, The focus then shifts upon the Folgore’s major engagement of the campaign during the Battle of El Alamein: 'Operation Lightfoot', which was launched by General Montgomery on 24 October 1942. There was no white flag of surrender held by the Folgore. 20th Supply section The “Carabinieri” is the Italian Military Police Corps. The Allied attack began with an artillery barrage, followed by an all out assault by the 7th Armoured and 44th Infantry divisions. The 185th artillery found itself dispersed among all the Tactical Groups. Th tower is with marble walls almost as white as the surrounding sand. Women's El Alamein battle folgore bersaglieri italian ww2 1942 T-Shi XL Olive: Amazon.ca: Clothing & Accessories 22nd “ Guastatori” Parachutist Company El Alamein - 23/ottobre/1942. The placement of the Folgore along the line at Second Alamein consisted of three main sectors; north, central and south. With the British Desert Air Force pounding his troops from above and his supply situation critical, Rommel called for a general retreat to prepare his defensive line for the inevitable British counter. While Montgomery’s main thrust targeted the northern section of the whole Axis front, the fighting in the south would be just as intense. General Frattini replied with a simple “Thank you” for what more could be said. It’s deployment situated between Haret-el-Himeimat and Deir-el-Munassib. With a limited number of guns at their disposal to stop modern tanks, the Italians employed a “Cul de Sac” maneuver. A Net Inceptions project. The advance had gained far too little ground in comparison to the number of casualties stretched out on the desert floor before the Italian positions. HQ Company [3] Two years later, in 1939, two Paratroopers Military School based in Tarquinia and in Viterbo were established. The 8th formed its position just south of El Alamein, and it would be here that they would face Rommel’s weakened, but still dangerous force, in the next round of their epic encounter. [4] The division initially was organized as follows: For reasons of order of precedence the title I Paratroopers Battalion was reserved for the I Carabinieri Paratroopers Battalion. Months before finding themselves locked into one of the greatest battles of the war, the Folgore Division were to participate in the planned assault on the island fortress of Malta. Italian) Paratroopers Battalion: 300 troops, 4 Companies. [6], In 1942 the division was further augmented: on 15 January the II Paratroopers Artillery Group was raised, followed by the III Paratroopers Artillery Group on 10 March. 25th Parachutists Rifle Company Folgore 04/10/1942 EL ALAMEIN - ELENCO DEI CADUTI ITALIANI TUMULATI NEL SACRARIO (Dal libro "ALAMEIN 1933 - 1962" di Paolo Caccia Dominioni) ANDOLINA Paolo Geniere 14° Comp. HQ Company 25. Officially renamed under the cover name of 185th “Cacciatori d’Africa” Infantry Division, although reports and dispatches continued to refer to them as 185th “Folgore” Parachutist Brigade, this “Division” would prove it’s worth to the Axis cause many times over. After the end of the Cold War the Italian Army decided to rename the battalions in the brigade as regiments for historical reasons. The soldiers of the Folgore were quickly establishing a reputation as a formidable opponent. Like most Italian ‘infantry’ units fighting in North Africa, the Folgore possessed limited transport. Between 25 and 26 October 1942, the British had only gained minimal ground against fierce opposition from the dug-in Folgore. The British 132nd Infantry Brigade/44th Inf. Deployment of Forces on October 23rd, 1942 during the Second Battle of El Alamein. You reserve for the martyrs and Heroes. Related: Italian Folgore at El Alamein: Unbreakable. The 186th Regiment held the southern sector,  flanked on the right by the Italian Pavia Division. [2], The 2-months[2] Instructors course began in March 1940. Queen's Infantry Brigade, 44. They therefore attempting a retreat on foot through the desert with only limited supplies, water, and ammo. They immediately took him and several of his aides captive at gunpoint. They not only best the opposition solely by their courage, but they often out-fought them through superior military aptitude. Learn More . The division was sent to Africa and fought in the Battle of El Alamein with the following structure:[16]. On 1 January 1963 the Italian Army raised the I Paratroopers Brigade in Pisa, which received the name "Folgore" on 10 June 1967. “Bechi” Tactical Group (2nd and 4th Battalions) At the beginning of September the division deployed in the southern sector of the El Alamein line as part of the X Corps (together with the 17th Infantry division “Pavia”) and reorganized as follows : “Ruspoli” Tactical Group  (7th and 8th Battalions) Did the Italians have an Effective Navy during... Italian East Africa Theatre in World War II, Battle of Cape Spartivento on 27 November 1940, Caproni Campini N.1: World’s Second Jet Aircraft, Giovanni Messe: Italy’s Best WWII General. We found 3 results for you in El Alamein Clear all filters. (2004) [1st. 21st Parachutists Rifle Company, 185th Parachutists Artillery Regiment, with: The Italian army did have both Engineers “Guastatori” units and Infantry “Guastatori” units, sharing much of the same training. The German cemetery is an ossuary, built in the style of a medieval fortress. Their actions against incredible odds won the praise of the German allies and respect from the advancing Allies. While describing key … With Fausto Tozzi, Ettore Manni, Monica Clay, Aldo Bufi Landi. On 30 August 1942, General Erwin Rommel unleashed Operation Brandung, a concentrated attack undertaken by his Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee (ACIT – Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca) against the tired yet stout British and Commonwealth forces, designed as a follow-up engagement launched on the heels of the recently concluded First Battle of El Alamein . By 6 November, only a handful of the original 5,000 Folgore remained. 20th Mortars Company (81mm mod.35) 4th Parachutists Rifle Company The 185th Paratroopers Division Folgore at El Alamein fought with incredible courage and tenacity. They further point out that the Axis troops were now openly facing a stronger and more mobile opponent, who would quickly be able to call upon these advantages. Fallen for an ideal, without regrets, honored even in the memories of their enemies, The division trained alongside its German counterparts in preperation for the airborne assualt on Malta, which was to be never carried out. El Alamein has a war museum with artifacts from North African battles. the best flower of a people and a fighting army. This challenge was an almost insurmountable obstacle for practically all Italian infantry units during the retreat at Second El Alamein. Others believe that Rommel simply lost his nerve. HQ Company Wikipedia Articles One must pass through the arched entrance to enter the grounds of the memorial. He ordered a meaningless retreat that pulled back his defenders from their entrenchments and defensive lines and denied them their artillery support. It is an everlasting tribute to perhaps Italy’s finest soldiers of the Second World War. On the 26th, the British attempted to concentrate their attack on the southern portion of the Italian line. To put this philosophy into practice, Montgomery had cleverly left a ‘gap’ in the southern sector of the front designed to funnel Rommel’s attacking forces into his ‘trap,’ a substantial grouping of British tanks and artillery near Alam el Halfa ridge. The Folgore also sustained a high number of losses after the first night of fighting, particularly the 8th Battalion. Visitors can also go to the Italian and German military cemeteries on Tel el-Eisa Hill outside the town. 16th Parachutists Rifle Company Rommel, defying Hitler’s explicit command to stand his ground, ordered all Axis forces to fall back on the night of 2-3 November 1942. The German allies greatly respected the Italians’ performance in this clash, so much so that Wehrmacht leaders awarded 11 Iron Crosses to Folgore soldiers for their heroics on the battlefield. History. At El Alamein, it helped anchor the southern end of the line and was hit hard by the 7th Armored Division and two infantry divisions. The goal of operation Brandung was for the forces of the Italian-German Panzerarmee Afrika to outflank and then engage the British 8th Army, now under the commanded of General Bernard Montgomery. Diverting to the shadow of Alam el Halfa, Montgomery ‘sprung the trap’ that waited patiently for them. He hoped this philosophy would inflict severe damage to the advancing Axis forces while sparing his armor from the expected pounding in tank versus tank combat – an arena in which the Germans held the advantage. HQ Company These often suicidal charges proved highly effective at both destroying British armor and at unnerving the Allied soldiers who witnessed the assaults or heard rumor of the destruction and mayhem the Folgore inflicted. Inscribed on the walls of the Italian Memorial at El Alamein are the words below. Browse more videos. Once inside the Italian lines, small groups of Folgore would burst out of camouflaged positions. At El-Alamein, throughout several engagements, the paratroopers were either able to resist the attacks made upon them or, when the Allied forces had been successful in completely wiping out the first line of Folgore outposts, to reform again, usually counterattacking. Upon making contact with the Italians, the British were impressed with what they saw. However in the course of the battle the division was annihilated and declared lost on 23 November 1942. [3] In late November 1940 was established only one Paratroopers Battalion.[2]. Directed by Guido Malatesta. So this was the day that all organized resistance from the Folgore was to end. The Folgore was a tightly knit and highly skilled unit, and they possessed perhaps the greatest ‘esprit de corps’ of any Italian division during the war. In 1941, the division was created as the 185. Provisional Battalion/ 155th Artillery Regiment (8,8cm Flak 37, 10cm K18 and 21cm K38 – from the Geman 21st Panzerdivision). Estimates range from 60 to 120 vehicles destroyed or immobilized during the engagement. My Father served in the Pacific with 710 Tank BTL at Anguar, Peleliu, and the Philippines.

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