History
101st Motorized Division "Trieste" (Italian: 101ª Divisione motorizzata "Trieste") was a motorized infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Trieste was formed in 1939 and named for the city of Trieste.
On 10 June 1940 Italy entered World War II and began to invade France. The Trieste and the 133rd Armored Division "Littorio" were sent to the Aosta Valley to exploit a planned breakthrough at the Little St Bernard Pass, which was to be achieved by the 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" on the left flank and the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" on the right flank, with the Trieste taking the pass itself.
In September 1941 the division disembarked in Libya for the Western Desert Campaign. The Trieste was immediately employed in the Siege of Tobruk covering the besieging forces right flank. The division then moved to Bir Hakeim to block British attacks from the southeastern desert.
On 11-18 December 1942 the Trieste participated in the Battle of El Agheila, after which Axis forces resumed their retreat towards Tunisia where the Trieste participated in the Tunisian Campaign. In February 1943 the two fusilier battalions of the 66th Motorized Infantry Regiment "Trieste" merged and formed the I Battalion "Trieste", while the "Granatieri di Sardegna" battalion changed its number to II Battalion. The regiment then received the III Battalion "Folgore", which had been formed with the survivors of the 185th Infantry Division "Folgore". The division then fought in the Battle of Medenine, the Battle of the Mareth Line, and the Battle of Wadi Akarit, before retreating to the Enfidaville Line. There the division surrendered on 13 May 1943 to allied forces.
On 10 June 1940 Italy entered World War II and began to invade France. The Trieste and the 133rd Armored Division "Littorio" were sent to the Aosta Valley to exploit a planned breakthrough at the Little St Bernard Pass, which was to be achieved by the 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" on the left flank and the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" on the right flank, with the Trieste taking the pass itself.
In September 1941 the division disembarked in Libya for the Western Desert Campaign. The Trieste was immediately employed in the Siege of Tobruk covering the besieging forces right flank. The division then moved to Bir Hakeim to block British attacks from the southeastern desert.
On 11-18 December 1942 the Trieste participated in the Battle of El Agheila, after which Axis forces resumed their retreat towards Tunisia where the Trieste participated in the Tunisian Campaign. In February 1943 the two fusilier battalions of the 66th Motorized Infantry Regiment "Trieste" merged and formed the I Battalion "Trieste", while the "Granatieri di Sardegna" battalion changed its number to II Battalion. The regiment then received the III Battalion "Folgore", which had been formed with the survivors of the 185th Infantry Division "Folgore". The division then fought in the Battle of Medenine, the Battle of the Mareth Line, and the Battle of Wadi Akarit, before retreating to the Enfidaville Line. There the division surrendered on 13 May 1943 to allied forces.
Featured Missions
| Campaign | Mission |
|---|---|
| Tunisia : Northern Operations | Enfidaville Line |