Active 1939–1945 Size Division | Type Infantry Nickname(s) Calabria | |
Country Regno d'Italia
Kingdom of Italy Branch Regio Esercito
Royal Italian Army | ||
The 31st Infantry Division Calabria was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Calabria Division, formed from the 31st Infantry Brigade "Caprera" 15 October, 1939, was part of the garrison at Sardinia where it remained until it surrendered to the Allies after the Italian surrender in September 1943. The Division would then serve on the Allied side until the end of the war.
Contents
Action
In the 1940, the division was tasked with the protection of the Sardinia north-west coast, with the garrisons in Sassari, Porto Torres, Alghero and Santa Teresa Gallura. In April, 1942, the duties of division were extended for the whole northern half of Sardinia. Promptly switching allegiance in the aftermath of the Armistice of Cassibile, it defended the Sassari against a half-hearted attack of German 90th Light Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) 9 September, 1943. 12-14 September 1943 it skirmished with the Germans at Martis and Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola, trying to speed up their evacuation. 25 September, 1943 the Calabria division was demoted to security division status, and remained with the police and coastal defence duties in Sardinia until the end of war in May, 1945.