| 11th Infantry Division "Brennero" | |
|---|---|
 11th Infantry Division "Brennero" insignia | |
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Bolzano |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |       Brennero Divisiongorget patches |
The11th Infantry Division "Brennero" (Italian:11ª Divisione di fanteria "Brennero") was ainfantrydivision of theRoyal Italian Army duringWorld War II. The Brennero was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's realmountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions composed ofAlpini mountain troops. The Brennero was named for theBrenner Pass between Italy andAustria. The division was based in the western half ofSouth Tyrol with the division's headquarter inBolzano.[1][2]
The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Avellino" established duringWorld War I inCamposampiero on 26 May 1916. The brigade consisted of the231st Infantry Regiment and 232nd Infantry Regiments. The brigade fought on theItalian front and for their conduct the brigade's two infantry regiments were awarded Italy's highest military honor, theGold Medal of Military Valor.[3][4] After the war regiments raised during the war were dissolved, with the exception of those, who had been awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor.[1]
On 15 October 1926 the brigade assumed the name of XI Infantry Brigade and received the 18th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" from the disbandedBrigade "Acqui". The brigade was the infantry component of the 11th Territorial Division ofBolzano, which also included the9th Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 11th Infantry Division "Brennero". On 15 December 1938 in preparation for the activation of the33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" the 18th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" inBrixen and the231st Infantry Regiment "Avellino" inMeran switched names and personnel. In August 1939 the division ceded the 18th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" to the newly activated 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" in Meran. At the same time the XI Infantry Brigade was dissolved and the two remaining infantry regiments came under direct command of the division, with both regiments being renamed "Brennero". The 9th Artillery Regiment was also given the division's name.[1][5][6]
On 4 January 1940, the Brennero division was transferred toPianezza andSan Maurizio Canavese region. On 10 June 1940 it was at the border with France as reserve unit ofI Army Corps. Some the division's units participated in theinvasion of France and entered the front on 19 June 1940 atMont Cenis. Repeated attacks on the mountain pass of Mont Cenis were not successful until 22 June 1940. The French defence was broken on 24 June 1940, with the Brennero's troops capturingLanslevillard andLanslebourg-Mont-Cenis. The total loss of life for Brennero was 18 men killed and 74 wounded, with half of the deaths attributed to exposure to the elements.[1]
During theGreco-Italian War the Brennero was sent as reinforcement toAlbania arriving on 24 December 1940 inVlorë. The division was part of toXXV Army Corps. The division assembled inTepelenë by 8 January 1941, with its first units entering the front already on 31 December inKurvelesh. On 10 January 1941, the Brennero was used to reinforce the remnants of the37th Infantry Division "Modena" near Salari. On 9–12 February 1941 Brennero helped to defeat a Greek attack onTepelenë, with about two-thirds of the division becoming casualties in the fierce fighting. From 7–23 April 1941, the Brennero attacked in the area of Kurvelesh and broke through Greek lines after 4 days of fighting.[1][2]
After the war had ended the division moved toGreece, where it was assigned to theIII Army Corps and tasked with counter-insurgency and police duties inAthens. The division's 231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" remained in Albania and was assigned to the41st Infantry Division "Firenze" for anti-partisan duties. In early 1942 the newly raised 331st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" arrived as replacement for the 231st "Brennero". However, on 24 October 1942 the 331st "Brennero" was transferred to the50th Infantry Division "Regina" and moved toRhodes.[1][7]
In February 1943 the division moved toDurrës in Albania to begin its conversion to motorized division. While in Albania the division was subordinated toIV Army Corps. After theArmistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the division dissolved chaotically: some troops and the division's commander joined the Germans, while other troops abandoned their heavy equipment and embarked on ships for allied-controlled southern Italy. The I Battalion/231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" joined the41st Infantry Division "Firenze", which fought with Albanian partisansagainst German forces, while the III Battalion/ 231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" inSarandë sailed toKorfu, where its men were taken prisoner by the Germans.[1][2]
11th Infantry Division "Brennero", inBolzano[1][2]Attached during theinvasion of France in 1940:[2]
Attached from 14 November 1940 until April 1942:[2]
The XXV CC.NN. Battalion remained with the division even after the 45th CC.NN. Legion "Alto Adige" had returned to Italy.[2]
Below follows the organization of the 11th Motorized Division "Brennero":
11th Motorized Division "Brennero"[1][2]Attached units in 1943:[2]
The division's commanding officers were:[1][2]