51 Infantry Division Siena
Encyclopedia
The 51 Infantry Division Siena was a regular Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Siena Division was fully mobilized in August 1940, for service in the occupation of Albania
in the following September. It took part in the Greco-Italian War
as part of the Italian VIII Corps suffering heavy losses. In was next used as an occupation force and in May 1941, was located in the Peloponnese
before being transferred to the island of Crete
and joining the Italian XXVI Corps in September 1941. It remained in Crete until September 1943, when Italy surrendered to the Allies
and the division was disarmed by the Germans.
Historically a Campanian
unit, it was made almost entirely of Neapolitans
.
2,670 men drowned when they were transported to the mainland as POW's on the SS Petrella
, which was torpedoed by the HMS Sportsman
.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Italian Army
Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Siena Division was fully mobilized in August 1940, for service in the occupation of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in the following September. It took part in the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
as part of the Italian VIII Corps suffering heavy losses. In was next used as an occupation force and in May 1941, was located in the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
before being transferred to the island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and joining the Italian XXVI Corps in September 1941. It remained in Crete until September 1943, when Italy surrendered to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
and the division was disarmed by the Germans.
Historically a Campanian
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
unit, it was made almost entirely of Neapolitans
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
2,670 men drowned when they were transported to the mainland as POW's on the SS Petrella
German ship Petrella
The Petrella was an German merchant ship, which sank on February 8, 1944 north of Suda Bay, Crete, killing some 2,670 Italian POWs.- Background :...
, which was torpedoed by the HMS Sportsman
HMS Sportsman (P229)
HMS Sportsman was an S class submarine of the Royal Navy, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 17 April 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Sportsman.In 1951 it was lent to the French Navy who...
.
Order of battle
- 31. SienaSienaSiena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
Infantry Regiment - 32. Siena Infantry Regiment
- 265. LecceLecceLecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
Infantry Regiment - 341. Infantry Regiment
- 51. Artillery Regiment
- 141. CCNN Legion
- 51. Mortar Battalion
- 312. Tank Battalion
- 51. Anti-Tank Company
- 251. Anti-Tank Company
- 51. Signal Company
- 160. Signal Company
- 83. Pioneer Company