226th Coastal Division (Italy)

The 226th Coastal Division was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was located on the French island of Corsica. The division was formed from units of the regular army, from the 170th, 171st and 181st Infantry Regiments and the 7th Artillery Group a formation smaller than an Artillery regiment. Normally Coastal divisions were second line divisions, usually formed from men in their forties and fifties intended to perform labouring and second line duties. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement. Their equipment was also second rate. The Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini had hoped to obtain large quantities of arms and equipment from the disbanded Vichy French army, but this was often sabotaged or arrived with no ammunition.