Order of Battle of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia

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During World War II, the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia (CSIR) was a corps of the Regio Esercito that fought on the Eastern Front. In July 1942 the CSIR entered the newly formed Italian Army in Russia as XXXV Army Corps. On 1 August 1941 the CSIR consisted of the following units:

Contents

Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia

3rd Fast Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta"

Reorganization March 1942

In March 1942 the division was reorganized: both cavalry regiments left the division and formed the Mounted Grouping under direct command of the CSIR, while the 3rd Horse Artillery Regiment came under direct command of the CSIR's Artillery Commander. The units were replaced in the division by the following units

  • 6th Bersaglieri Regiment , Commander: Colonel Umberto Salvatores: [1] [2]
    • Headquarters and Regiment Headquarters Company
    • VI, XIII, and XIX Auto-transported Bersaglieri Battalion, each with:
      • Headquarters and Battalion Headquarters Company
      • 3x Bersaglieri companies
      • Accompanying Weapons Company (Machine guns and 81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
  • 120th Motorized Artillery Regiment , Commander: Colonel Ugo de Simone
    • Headquarters and Regiment Headquarters Unit
    • I Motorized Group (100/17 field guns)
    • II Motorized Group (75/27 field guns)
    • III Motorized Group (75/27 field guns)
    • Ammunition and Food Unit
  • XLVII Bersaglieri Motorcyclists Battalion
    • Headquarters and Battalion Headquarters Company
    • 3x Bersaglieri motorcyclists companies
  • LXVII Armored Bersaglieri Battalion (arrived early summer 1942)
    • Headquarters and Battalion Headquarters Company
    • 2x Tank Companies (L6/40 tanks)
  • Divisional Mortar Battalion
    • Headquarters and Battalion Headquarters Company
    • 3x Mortar companies (81mm Mod. 35 mortars))
  • 75th Anti-tank Cannons Battery (75/39 anti-tank cannons)
  • 272nd Anti-tank Cannons Company (47/32 anti-tank cannons)
  • XIV Heavy Transport Group
    • 218th Heavy Transport Unit
    • 219th Heavy Transport Unit

9th Infantry Division "Pasubio"

The 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio" was an auto-transportable division, which had motorized artillery and support units, while its infantry continued to transport equipment on mules or with carriages.

52nd Infantry Division "Torino"

The 52nd Infantry Division "Torino" was an auto-transportable division, which had motorized artillery and support units, while its infantry continued to transport equipment on mules or with carriages.

CSIR Aviation Command

The Regia Aeronautica dispatched the following units to Russia:

Logistic Services

The following logistic and support units were attached to the corps: [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Le operazioni delle Unità italiane al Fronte Russo (1941-1943) - CSIR". Unione Nazionale Italiana Reduci Di Russia. Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. "Le operazioni delle Unità italiane al Fronte Russo (1941-1943) - ARMIR". Unione Nazionale Italiana Reduci Di Russia. Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico. Retrieved 5 November 2019.