Italian First Army
Encyclopedia
The Italian First Army was an Italian
army formation, in World War I
, facing Austro-Hungarian and German
forces, and in World War II
, fighting on the North African front.
on the Swiss-Austrian Italian tri-border to the Asiago
plateau. It successfully resisted the Austro-Hungarian Strafexpedition. Its sector was later reduced, limiting its role to the defense of the Trentino borders and the Verona
area.
. At this time, the First Army was commanded by General Pietro Pintor and included three army corps: the 2nd Corps commanded by General Francesco Bettini, the 3rd Corps - General Mario Arisio, and the 15th Corps commanded by General Gastone Gambara
. (See order of battle, below.)
By 1942, after the defeat of Panzer Army Africa
(Panzerarmee Afrika) at the Second Battle of El Alamein
and after the Operation Torch
landings, Field Marshal
Erwin Rommel
was forced to make one of the longest retreats in history. He withdrew from the "Western Desert" of Egypt
and Libya
and established a defence on the French-built Mareth Line
in southern Tunisia
. After occupyinging the Mareth Line, Rommel took command of the newly created Army Group Africa and turned over the "German-Italian Panzer Army" (formerly "Panzer Army Africa") to Italian
General
Giovanni Messe
. The army was once again renamed and on February 23, 1943, Messe took command of the "Italian First Army."
The First Army, with Messe in command, took part in Rommel's attempt to break through the Kasserine Pass. As part of Army Group Africa commanded by General
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
, the First Army attacked Field Marshal
Bernard Montgomery
's British Eighth Army at Medenine
, just west of the Mareth Line
. However, the First Army was crushingly defeated. In addition, the attempt by Rommel and Arnim to breakthrough in Tunisia failed.
By the end of May, Allied troops had captured all of North Africa
, and the First Army was part of the 270,000 Axis troops taken prisoner.
Corps Reserves:
Corps Reserves :
Corps Reserves:
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
army formation, in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, facing Austro-Hungarian and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
forces, and in 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...
, fighting on the North African front.
World War I
During World War I, the First Army bore the responsibility of a long front from Stelvio PassStelvio Pass
The Stelvio Pass , located in Italy, at 2757 m is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, slightly below the Col de l'Iseran .-Location:...
on the Swiss-Austrian Italian tri-border to the Asiago
Asiago
Asiago is the name of both a minor township and the surrounding plateau region in the Province of Vicenza in the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy...
plateau. It successfully resisted the Austro-Hungarian Strafexpedition. Its sector was later reduced, limiting its role to the defense of the Trentino borders and the Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
area.
World War II
At the beginning of World War II, the Italian First Army was one of two armies that made up Army Group West commanded by Prince General Umberto di Savoia. Together with the Italian Fourth Army, the First Army attacked French forces during the Italian invasion of FranceItalian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
. At this time, the First Army was commanded by General Pietro Pintor and included three army corps: the 2nd Corps commanded by General Francesco Bettini, the 3rd Corps - General Mario Arisio, and the 15th Corps commanded by General Gastone Gambara
Gastone Gambara
Gastone Gambara was an Italian General during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.Born at Imola, he was commander-in-chief of the Corpo Truppe Volontarie during the Catalonia Offensive, the final offensive of the Spanish Civil War....
. (See order of battle, below.)
By 1942, after the defeat of Panzer Army Africa
Panzer Army Africa
As the number of German armed forces committed to the North Africa Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the now larger Afrika Korps, with Italian units under this new German command structure,...
(Panzerarmee Afrika) at the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
and after the Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
landings, Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
was forced to make one of the longest retreats in history. He withdrew from the "Western Desert" of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and established a defence on the French-built Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
in southern Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. After occupyinging the Mareth Line, Rommel took command of the newly created Army Group Africa and turned over the "German-Italian Panzer Army" (formerly "Panzer Army Africa") to Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Giovanni Messe
Giovanni Messe
Giovanni Messe was an Italian general, politician, and Field Marshal . He is considered by many to have been the best Italian general of the Second World War.-Early life and career:Born in Mesagne, Apulia, Giovanni Messe pursued a military career in 1901...
. The army was once again renamed and on February 23, 1943, Messe took command of the "Italian First Army."
The First Army, with Messe in command, took part in Rommel's attempt to break through the Kasserine Pass. As part of Army Group Africa commanded by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, the First Army attacked Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Bernard Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
's British Eighth Army at Medenine
Operation Capri
The Battle of Medenine, also known as Operation Capri, was a German counter-attack at Medenine, Tunisia, intended to disrupt and delay the 8th Army's attack on the Mareth Line. The German attack started on 6 March 1943, failed to make much impression and was abandoned at dusk on the same day...
, just west of the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
. However, the First Army was crushingly defeated. In addition, the attempt by Rommel and Arnim to breakthrough in Tunisia failed.
By the end of May, Allied troops had captured all of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and the First Army was part of the 270,000 Axis troops taken prisoner.
2nd Corps
Commanded by General Francesco Bettini- 4th Infantry Division, "Livorno" (Gen. Benvenuto Gioda)
- 33rd Infantry Division, "Acqui" (Gen. Francesco Sartoris)
- 36th Infantry Division, "Forlì " (Gen. Giulio Perugi)
- 4th Alpine Division, "Cuneense" (Gen. Alberto Ferrero)
Corps Reserves:
- 3rd Guardia alla Frontiera (Frontier Guards) Sector
- 2nd Corps Artillery Group
- 2nd Engineer Group
- 7th Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
- 14th Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
- 22nd Guardia alla Frontiera Artillery Group
- "Valle Stura" Alpini Btl.
- "Val Maira" Alpini Btl.
- 6th MMG. Btl.
- 102nd MMG. Btl.
- 109th Positional MMG. Btl.
- 114th Positional MMG. Btl.
- 5th "Artieri" (Construction Engineers) Btl.
- 2nd Tank Company
- 84th Telegraph Company
- 152nd Workers Company
- 1st Chemical Company
- 72nd Searchlights Section
- 6th Mobile Pigeon-Messengers Unit
3rd Corps
Commanded by General Mario Arisio- 3rd Infantry Division, "Ravenna" (Gen. Edoardo Nebbia)
- 6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" (Gen. Carlo Melotti)
Corps Reserves :
- 2nd Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
- 3rd Corps Art.Grp.
- 3rd Eng Grp.
- 16th Guardia alla Frontiera Art.Grp.
- "Val Venosta" Alpini Btl.
- 3rd MMG. Btl.
- 103rd MMG. Btl.
- 112th Positional MMG. Btl.
- 10th "Artieri" (Construction Eng) Btl.
- 7th Telegraph Coy.
- 72nd Telegraph Coy.
- 3rd Blackshirts Btl.
- 4th Blackshirts Btl.
- 8th Mobile Pigeon-Messengers Unit
15th Corps
Commanded by General Gastone GambaraGastone Gambara
Gastone Gambara was an Italian General during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.Born at Imola, he was commander-in-chief of the Corpo Truppe Volontarie during the Catalonia Offensive, the final offensive of the Spanish Civil War....
- 5th Infantry DivisionItalian 5 Infantry Division CosseriaThe 5th Infantry Division Cosseria was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during the Second World War. The 5th Division "Cosseria" participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and was reorganized as a binary division prior to the start of the Second World War...
, "Cosseria" (Gen. Alberto Vassari) - Italian 37th Infantry Division, "Modena" (Gen. Alessandro Gloria)
- Italian 44th Infantry Division, "Cremona" (Gen. Umberto Mondino)
- Alpini Grp. (4 x Alpini Btl.s - 2 x Alpini Art. Btl.s - 1 x Blackshirts Btl.)
Corps Reserves:
- 1st Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
- 5th Guardia alla Frontiera Sector
- 15th Corps Art.Grp.
- 11th Guardia alla Frontiera Art.Grp.
- 24th Guardia alla Frontiera Art.Grp.
- 15th MMG. Btl.
- 108th Positional MMG. Btl.
- 111th Positional MMG. Btl.
- 9th "Artieri" (Construction Eng) Btl.
- 71st Telegraph Coy.
- 76th Telegraph Coy.
- 100th Radio Coy.
- 33rd Blackshirts Btl.
- 34th Blackshirts Btl.
Army Reserves
- 4th AA Art. Rgt
- 2nd Army Art.Grp.
- 4th Army Art.Grp.
- 7th Army Art.Grp.
- 8th Army Art.Grp.
- 1st Signal Btl.
- 2nd Cableways Btl.
- 2nd Miners (Mountain Eng) Btl.
- 5th Miners Btl.
- 69th Air Force Sqn. (recon)
- 7th Infantry Division, "Lupi di Toscana" (Gen. Ottavio Priore)
- 16th Infantry Division, "Pistoia" (Gen. Mario Priore)
- 22nd Infantry Division, "Cacciatori delle Alpi" (Gen. Dante Lorenzelli)
- 5th Alpine Division5 Alpine Division PusteriaThe 5th Alpini Division Pusteria was a light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II...
, "Pusteria" (Gen. Amedeo de Cia) - "Celere" (fast - motor) Grp.
- 1st Bersaglieri Rgt
- 3rd Tank Rgt
- "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" Cav. Rgt
Commanders
- General Pietro Pintor - at June 10, 1940
- General Giovanni MesseGiovanni MesseGiovanni Messe was an Italian general, politician, and Field Marshal . He is considered by many to have been the best Italian general of the Second World War.-Early life and career:Born in Mesagne, Apulia, Giovanni Messe pursued a military career in 1901...
- February 23, 1943 - May 13, 1943