• Source: 220th Coastal Division (Italy)

The 220th Coastal Division (Italian: 220ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. 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.




History


The division was activated on 15 April 1942 in Rome by uniting the two coastal defense sectors "Civitavecchia" and "Magliana". The division was assigned to XVII Army Corps and based its headquarter in Santa Severa. The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of northern Lazio between the rivers Chiarone and Astura. The division was also responsible for the defense of the harbor of Civitavecchia and the city of Anzio.
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.




Organization


220th Coastal Division, in Santa Severa
111th Coastal Regiment
3x Coastal battalion
152nd Coastal Regiment
3x Coastal battalion
23rd Coastal Artillery Regiment
220th Carabinieri Section
182nd Field Post Office
Division Services
Attached to the division:

Harbor Defense Command Civitavecchia
III Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Genova Cavalleria"
IV Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Genova Cavalleria"
CCCXXV Coastal Battalion
CVIII Coastal Artillery Group
If needed the division would have been reinforced by personnel and units of the following:

10th Arditi Regiment, in Santa Severa
III Arditi Battalion
IV Arditi Battalion
1x Battalion/ Marine Infantry Regiment "San Marco", in Nettuno (Royal Italian Navy)
II Training Battalions Group, in Nettuno
1x Alpini training battalion
Paratroopers Training Center, in Tarquinia
1x Paratroopers training battalion
3rd Infantry Experiences Training Center, in Anzio
Coastal Recruits School, in Civitavecchia
Artillery Officer Recruits School, in Cerveteri
1x Artillery group
Sapper School, in Civitavecchia
2x Sapper battalions
CC.NN. Anti-aircraft School, in Anzio
Guardia di Finanza Non-Commissioned Officer Recruits School, in Ostia Lido
Aeronautical Personal Assistance Center, in Ostia Lido (Royal Italian Air Force)
Telecommunications Personnel Training Center, in Anzio (Royal Italian Air Force)
Gioventù Italiana del Littorio Pre-military Instructors Center, in Civitavecchia
On 8 September 1943 the XXXIV Coastal Brigade, which had been activated on 16 August 1943 and consisted of four battalions that were still in the process of forming, was assigned to the division.




Commanding officers


The division's commanding officers were:

Generale di Brigata Oreste Sant'Andrea (15 April 1942 - September 1943)




References



Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.
Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• 220th Coastal Division (Italy)
• List of Italian divisions in World War II
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• 227th Coastal Division (Italy)
• 215th Coastal Division (Italy)
• 221st Coastal Division (Italy)
• 207th Coastal Division (Italy)
• 201st Coastal Division (Italy)
• 213th Coastal Division (Italy)
• 222nd Coastal Division (Italy)