| 58th Infantry Division "Legnano" | |
|---|---|
 58th Infantry Division "Legnano" insignia | |
| Active | 1939–1944 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Legnano |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |       Legnano Divisiongorget patches |
The58th Infantry Division "Legnano" (Italian:58ª Divisione di fanteria "Legnano") was aninfantrydivision of theRoyal Italian Army duringWorld War II. The Legnano's predecessor division was formed on 8 February 1934 inMilan and named for the medievalBattle of Legnano. On 24 May 1939 the division split to form the6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" and the 58th Infantry Division "Legnano". After the announcement of theArmistice of Cassibile the Legnano resisted theinvading German forces. The division's staff and67th Infantry Regiment "Legnano" were used to form the first unit of theItalian Co-belligerent Army, which fought on theallied side in theItalian campaign. On 17 February 1944 the division's last units joined other commands and the division was officially dissolved.[1][2]
The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Palermo" established inTurin on 1 August 1862 with the 67th and 68th infantry regiments.[3]
The brigade fought on theItalian front inWorld War I. On 1 November 1926 the brigade command was disbanded and the brigade's two regiments were transferred to other brigades: the67th Infantry Regiment "Palermo" to theVI Infantry Brigade and the68th Infantry Regiment "Palermo" to theII Infantry Brigade.[4][5]
The VI Infantry Brigade also included the7th Infantry Regiment "Cuneo" and 8th Infantry Regiment "Cuneo". The brigade was the infantry component of the 6th Territorial Division ofMilan, which also included the27th Field Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 6th Infantry Division "Legnano". On 24 May 1939 the 6th Infantry Division "Legnano" was renamed 6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" and transferred the "Legnano" name together with the67th Infantry Regiment "Palermo" to the newly activated 58th Infantry Division "Legnano". On the same date the Legnano division received the68th Infantry Regiment "Palermo" from the2nd Infantry Division "Sforzesca" and the newly raised 58th Artillery Regiment. All three regiments of the Legnano division were then renamed "Legano".[6][1]
In June 1940 during theItalian invasion of France the division remained in theFenestrelle-Col de Fenestre area as reserve of the4th Army. On 21-24 June 1940 the division entered the front in the Colle del Monginevro area. After theFranco-Italian Armistice was signed on 24 June 1940 the Legnano moved toBriançon for occupation duty.[2]
In early January 1941 the Legnano was transferred toAlbania to reinforce the Italian front in theGreco-Italian War. On 7 January 1941 the Legnano entered the front in the sector along the coast. On 25 January the division was sent to theGolikut sector, where the next day the division participated in the Italian attack with the aim to recaptureKëlcyrë pass in theBattle of Trebeshina. On 8 March 1941 the division went on the defensive and did not participate in the initial stage of theItalian Spring Offensive. After Greek units withdrew from the Albanian front during theBattle of Greece, the Legnano advanced and reached Këlcyrë on 16 April 1941. The division then advanced toKuman before being reassigned as reserve of the9th Army. On 21 June the Legnano began boarding ships inVlorë for the return toLombardy. The division was then sent toLiguria for coastal defense duties.[1]
In November 1942 the division participated in theOccupation of Vichy France and was then deployed for coastal defence duty in theCannes-Saint-Tropez sector of theItalian occupation zone.[1]
In August 1943 the division was ordered to move toApulia in the south east of Italy. The division's units were moved by rail throughBologna and then toBrindisi. After theArmistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943, some units were already at Brindisi andFrancavilla Fontana, while others were stranded inBologna or in locations on the way to their destination. Together with the152nd Infantry Division "Piceno", the210th Coastal Division, and the XXXI Coastal Brigade the units of the Legnano in Apulia deployed to form a defensive line fromTaranto throughGrottaglie,Francavilla Fontana, andLatiano toBrindisi, to screen the landing of the British1st Airborne Division at Taranto on 9 September from attacks of the German1st Fallschirmjäger Division.[7]
On 26 September 1943 the division's command was used to raise theI Motorized Grouping, which was to aid the Allied war effort. In the following months, the division's units were transferred to other commands fighting in theItalian campaign. On 17 February 1944 the division's last units joined other commands and the division was officially dissolved. On 24 September 1944 the II Brigade of theItalian Liberation Corps was renamed asCombat Group "Legnano". The Combat Group consisted of the68th Infantry Regiment "Legnano", the11th Motorized Artillery Regiment, theIX Assault Battalion and the Special Infantry Regiment, which contained the remnants of the3rd Alpini Regiment and4th Bersaglieri Regiment. The Combat Group was equipped with British weapons andmateriel. The new Legnano went to the front as part of theII Polish Corps, on the extreme left of theBritish 8th Army near the riverIdice, and was tasked with liberatingBologna.
58th Infantry Division "Legnano", inLegnano[2]Attached to the division from June to December 1940:[2]
Attached to the division from December 1940 until early 1942:[2]
Attached to the division in France in August 1943:[2]
Attached to the division in Southern Italy on 8 September 1943:[2]
For its conduct during the Alliedcampaign to liberate Italy thePresident of Italy awarded on 12 December 1948 to the 67th Infantry Regiment "Legnano" Italy's highest military honor, theGold Medal of Military Valor.
67th Infantry Regiment "Legnano" on 12 December 1948[15]The division's commanding officers were:[1][2]