| 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" | |
|---|---|
 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" insignia | |
| Active | 1939–1943 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Macerata |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
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| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |       Arezzo Divisiongorget patches |
The53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" (Italian:53ª Divisione di fanteria "Arezzo"[aˈrɛttso]ⓘ) was ainfantrydivision of theRoyal Italian Army duringWorld War II. The Arezzo 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 manned byAlpini mountain troops.
The division was formed on 24 May 1939 and named after the city ofArezzo. The division disintegrated on 12 September 1943 after theArmistice of Cassibile between Italy and theAllies was announced. The Arezzo is not related to the Partisan Division "Arezzo", which operated in theCortona area inTuscany in 1943.[2][3][4]
The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Arezzo" established duringWorld War I inCastelfranco Veneto on 18 May 1916. The brigade consisted of the225th Infantry Regiment and 226th Infantry Regiment, which were manned by reservists. 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.[5][6] After the war the regiments raised during the war were dissolved, with the exception of those, who had been awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor.
On 30 September 1926 the brigade command and 226th Infantry Regiment "Arezzo" were disbanded, while the225th Infantry Regiment "Arezzo" was assigned to theXXIV Infantry Brigade. On 1 March 1938 the18th Infantry Division "Matauro" reactivated the 226th Infantry Regiment "Arezzo" inMacerata. On 24 May 1939 the 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" was activated in Macerata and was assigned its two namesake infantry regiments and the 53rd Artillery Regiment "Arezzo", which had been reformed by the depot of the18th Artillery Regiment "Pinerolo".[2][7][8]
The Arezzo was transferred toAlbania in June 1939 and based inShkodër in the country's North. After the Arezzo had left for Albania the49th Infantry Division "Parma" was activated on 12 September 1939 and housed in some of the barracks of the Arezzo in mainland Italy. From 30 October 1940 units of the division were sent to the South of Albania to reinforce Italian units fighting theGreco-Italian War. From 20 November the entire division was engaged in combat against Greek forces in theShkumbin valley. After Greek forces advanced on the Arezzo's right flank the division was forced to retreat on 2 December.[2] The Arezzo suffered serious losses in the fighting between 29 November and 3 December 1940.[9]
From 2 January 1941 Greek forces increased the pressure on the Arezzo, which lost some of its positions. On 10 January the Greeks managed to take more positions of the Arezzo and fighting continued into February. On 20 February 1941 the heavily decimated Arezzo was sent to the rear to be brought back up to strength. In preparation for theInvasion of Yugoslavia the Arezzo moved to theLake Ohrid area on border withYugoslavia on 28 March 1941. On 9 April 1941 the Arezzo crossed the border and with the aim of capturingOhrid andStruga. After fierce fighting the Arezzo captured both cities on 11 April. The division then advanced towardsTrebeništa andVranište.[2]
On 17 April the Arezzo was sent to the Greek front for theItalian second spring offensive. At the war's end the division reachedSarantaporos, where it was engaged in mopping up operations. After the war the Arezzo moved toKorçë in Albania where it performed anti-partisan duties until September 1943. After the announcement of theArmistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disarmed by partisans.[2]
53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo", inMacerata[2][4]Attached to the division from 14 November 1940:[4]
Attached to the division from 29 January 1943:[4]
The division's commanding officers were:[2][4]