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Revision as of 06:56, 14 April 2008 by 144.138.1.184 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The 27th Truck-Moveable Division "Brescia" (Italian: 27 Divisione Autotrasportabile "Brescia") was organized from the 27th Infantry Division "Sila" prior to the start of World War II.
The Tobruk siege ring in 1941 was mainly held by the Italian "Ariete" Armoured and "Trieste" Motorized Divisions (the XX Motorised Corps), and the "Pavia", "Bologna", and "Brescia" Infantry Divisions(the XXI Infantry Corps). Not to be outdone by the Germans the "Brescia" Division who brought flame-thrower parties and tanks assaulted the Austraian defences on 1 May 1941 and the Australian soldiers bunkered along the R4, R5, R6, and R7 strongpoints were eliminated, while forcing the survivors to surrender. The Italian commanders were persistent and sent out another strong fighting patrol of "Brescia" infantry on 16 May. In the ensuing night attack, three Austraian strongpoints were taken. Although the Australian Official History describes losing three positions to German attackers an Italian narrative has recorded:
On the night on 16 May, 1941, two platoons of the 3rd Combat Engineer Company in union with assault groups of the "Brescia" Infantry Division, which had been sent as reinforcements on the 11th of that month, initiated the attack. With total disregard to danger and usual stealthness the combat sappers open three paths in the wire fencing in front of each assault group . They use explosive chages in tubes. Fighting side by side with the assaulters, in fierce hand-to-hand combat, they inflict heavy losses on the enemy conquering the objective.
Order of Battle June 1940
27th Truck-Moveable Division "Brescia"
- 19th Infantry Regiment "Brescia"
- 20th Infantry Regiment "Brescia"
- 55th Artillery Regiment
- 27th Mixed Engineer Battalion
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