History
The 50th Infantry Division "Regina" (Italian: 50ª Divisione di fanteria "Regina") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Regina was formed on 1 March 1939 in the Italian Islands of the Aegean from the 9th and 10th infantry regiments "Regina", entitled to the Queen (Italian: Regina), which were already stationed in the archipelago. The division was organised according to the Pariani and Soddu reforms.
On 10 June 1940, the day Italy entered World War II, the Regina had garrisons on the islands of Rhodes, Leros, Kos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Stampalia, and Patmos, with small detachments dispersed on other islands. On 1 August 1940 the division was reinforced by the 201st CC.NN. Legion.
In November 1940, during the first stages Greco-Italian war, the 1st battalion of the 10th infantry regiment "Regina" was sent to reconquer the island of Agathonisi, after it was occupied by a unit of Greek sailors.
In March 1941, the 4th battalion of the 10th infantry regiment reconquered the island of Kastellorizo, that had fallen in British hands after a surprise attack, and in May, after the signature of the armistice between the Axis and Greece, the same regiment was tasked with occupying part of the Cyclades, only to be relieved by the "Cuneo" infantry division on month later.
The "Regina" infantry division took also part in the battle of Crete, sending a tactical group, which landed in the Sitia bay and advanced, without encountering enemy opposition, until the Ierapetra crossroad, where it met with German forces coming from the West of the island.
On March 20, 1942, in Barletta (Apulia) was raised the 309th infantry regiment "Regina" that was sent to Rhodes to reinforce the division and, on October 24 of the same year, the 331st infantry regiment "Brennero" was dispatched to Rhodes to further strenghten the defences of the island.
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the garrison of Kastellorizo surrendered to British forces in the early moves of the Dodecanese Campaign. That same day the Germans stationed in Rhodes began carrying out Fall Achse and, after three days of confused skirmishes against the Sturmdivision Rhodos, made even more confused by the fact that part of the 201st CC.NN. Legion had sided with the Germans, on 11 September 1943 the commander of the Armed Forces Command Italian Islands of the Aegean Admiral Inigo Campioni ordered all the Italian units on Rhodes to surrender. The "Regina" infantry divison was considered disbanded since that date.
Nevertheless, many units of the division, stationed in Kos, Leros, and other minor islands, were still in arms and reacted, sometimes in collaboration with British units, such as in Kos, Leros, and Symi, to German attacks. By November, however, all the garrisons of the "Regina" had been overwhelmed. In several cases Italian officers who had surrendered were executed in retaliation, like in Kos, where, after the Italian surrender, 96 officers were killed by the Germans.
On 10 June 1940, the day Italy entered World War II, the Regina had garrisons on the islands of Rhodes, Leros, Kos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Stampalia, and Patmos, with small detachments dispersed on other islands. On 1 August 1940 the division was reinforced by the 201st CC.NN. Legion.
In November 1940, during the first stages Greco-Italian war, the 1st battalion of the 10th infantry regiment "Regina" was sent to reconquer the island of Agathonisi, after it was occupied by a unit of Greek sailors.
In March 1941, the 4th battalion of the 10th infantry regiment reconquered the island of Kastellorizo, that had fallen in British hands after a surprise attack, and in May, after the signature of the armistice between the Axis and Greece, the same regiment was tasked with occupying part of the Cyclades, only to be relieved by the "Cuneo" infantry division on month later.
The "Regina" infantry division took also part in the battle of Crete, sending a tactical group, which landed in the Sitia bay and advanced, without encountering enemy opposition, until the Ierapetra crossroad, where it met with German forces coming from the West of the island.
On March 20, 1942, in Barletta (Apulia) was raised the 309th infantry regiment "Regina" that was sent to Rhodes to reinforce the division and, on October 24 of the same year, the 331st infantry regiment "Brennero" was dispatched to Rhodes to further strenghten the defences of the island.
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the garrison of Kastellorizo surrendered to British forces in the early moves of the Dodecanese Campaign. That same day the Germans stationed in Rhodes began carrying out Fall Achse and, after three days of confused skirmishes against the Sturmdivision Rhodos, made even more confused by the fact that part of the 201st CC.NN. Legion had sided with the Germans, on 11 September 1943 the commander of the Armed Forces Command Italian Islands of the Aegean Admiral Inigo Campioni ordered all the Italian units on Rhodes to surrender. The "Regina" infantry divison was considered disbanded since that date.
Nevertheless, many units of the division, stationed in Kos, Leros, and other minor islands, were still in arms and reacted, sometimes in collaboration with British units, such as in Kos, Leros, and Symi, to German attacks. By November, however, all the garrisons of the "Regina" had been overwhelmed. In several cases Italian officers who had surrendered were executed in retaliation, like in Kos, where, after the Italian surrender, 96 officers were killed by the Germans.
Featured Missions
| Campaign | Mission | Campaign | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Kos | Kos Airport | Battle of Kos | Kefalos Last Stand |
| Battle of Kos | Kardamaina | Battle of Kos | Mount Dikeos Landings |
| Battle of Kos | Towards Kos Capital | Battle of Kos | Kos Harbor |
| Battle of Kos | Marmari Invasion | Battle of Kos | Road to Mastihari |
Although not explicitly mentioned in the game, all Kos missions feature elements of the 10th Infantry Regiment "Regina" and of the 36th artillery raggruppamento, part of the 50th Infantry Division, since in real life those elements were stationed in Kos at the time of the German Invasion.
The 50th Infantry Division "Regina" is the only Italian Division that fights on the Allies side in game.
The 50th Infantry Division "Regina" is the only Italian Division that fights on the Allies side in game.