1st Libyan Division (Italy)

Infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II 1st Libyan Division 1939–1941 Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Italy Infantry Division Sibille World War II The 1st Libyan Division (it 1ª Divisione libica) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. It was commanded by general Luigi Sibille. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Sidi Barrani.Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002 2002 Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico Rome 355 https://issuu.com/rivista.militare1/docs/bollettino-ii-n.3-4-2002-testo 2 November 2021 History The division's history begins with the Italian Libyan Colonial Division formed in the 1920s with local troops from Italian Libya. The division fought in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. On 1 March 1940 the 1st Libyan Division and 2nd Libyan Division were formed from existing units in Italian Libya. Both divisions consisted of Italian officers and local non-commissioned officers and troops. By the time Italy entered World War II the division had 7,224 troops and its commanding general was Luigi Sibille.http://niehorster.org/019_italy/40_organ/div_libica_40.html Divisione libica, 10.06.40 niehorster.org 21 January 2019 In September 1940 the 1st Libyan Division participated in the Italian invasion of Egypt. On 13 September the 1st Libyan Division and 1st Paratroopers Regiment "Fanti dell'Aria" attacked Sollum in British Egypt, which was defended by platoons of the Coldstream Guards.http://www.arsmilitaris.org/pubblicazioni/deserto.pdf Delusione nel deserto - Dall'entrata in guerra (10-6-1940) alla vigilia del contrattacco inglese (9-12-1940) 21 January 2019 The British laid mines in the area and quickly withdrew to Marsa Matruh after suffering 50 casualties. In December 1940 the 1st Libyan Division was deployed farthest of all Italian division into Egypt. Consequently its camp at Maktila was the first to be attacked during the British Operation Compass. On 10 December 1940, amid a howling sandstorm, the division offered stiff resistance, but by 11 December the division had disintegrated with heavy losses.http://www.egyptstudycircle.org.uk/Articles/p280QC223.pdf The Italian Army in Egypt during World War II 21 January 2019Walker, Ian W. (2003). Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini's elite armoured divisions in North Africa. Marlborough: Crowood. 1-86126-646-4. The division was declared lost on 11 December 1940. Organization thumb|right|520px|1st Libyan Division organization 1st Libyan Division Headquarters Command Company 1 × Carabinieri section 262nd Field Post Office (replaced by the 26th Field Post Office in September 1940) 1st Libyan Infantry Grouping VIII Libyan Infantry Battalion "Bardia" IX Libyan Infantry Battalion "Agedabia" X Libyan Infantry Battalion "Nufilia" 2nd Libyan Infantry Grouping XI Libyan Infantry Battalion "Derna" XII Libyan Infantry Battalion "Barce" XIII Libyan Infantry Battalion "Zezem" 1st Libyan Artillery Grouping VI Libyan Artillery Group (77/28 field guns) VII Libyan Artillery Group (77/28 field guns) 6th Libyan Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) 7th Libyan Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) I Libyan Mixed Engineer Battalion 1 × Libyan engineer company 1 × Libyan telegraph and radio operators company 1 × Searchlight section 1st Libyan Anti-tank Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns) 1st Libyan Transport Group 1 × Medical section 1 × Supply section Commanding officers The division's commanding officers were: Generale di Brigata Luigi Sibille (1 March 1940 - 8 July 1940) Generale di Brigata Giovanni Cerio (9 July 1940) - 11 December 1940, POW) See also Italian Libyan Colonial Division 2nd Libyan Division Maletti Group History of Libya as Italian Colony References A Military History of Italy Paoletti, Ciro Greenwood Publishing Group 2008 978-0-275-98505-9 Category:Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II Category:Libya in World War II Category:Italy–Libya relations Category:Military units and formations established in 1939 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Category:Divisions of Italy of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War Category:1939 establishments in Italy