• Source: 221st Coastal Division (Italy)

The 221st Coastal Division (Italian: 221ª 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 Latina by uniting the two coastal defense sectors "Littoria" and "Gaeta". The division was assigned to XVII Army Corps and based its headquarter in Pontinia. The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of southern Lazio between the rivers Astura and Garigliano.
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the division was disbanded by invading German forces.




Organization


221st Coastal Division, in Pontinia
4th Coastal Regiment
3x Coastal battalions
8th Coastal Regiment
3x Coastal battalions
II Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria"
221st Carabinieri Section
Field Post Office
Division Services
If needed the artillery for the division would come from the following artillery schools located within the division's area of responsibility:

Artillery School, in Sabaudia
Coastal Artillery School, in Torre Olevola
Maritime Artillery School, in Gaeta




Commanding officers


The division's commanding officers were:

Generale di Brigata Edoardo Minaja (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.

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