27th Infantry Division "Brescia"
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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 stormed the Australian 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 7th Bersaglieri Regiment then bunkered along the captured concrete emplacements but was later ordered to Ain Gazala to rest and refit. (About 7 AM on 13 May an Australian attack or raid was made in the Italian sector but the Italian shock troops allowed no penetration of their lines.)
The Italian commanders were persistent and sent out another strong fighting patrol of "Brescia" infantry on 16 May. In the ensuing night attack, three Australian concrete strongpoints were taken. Although the Australian Official History describes losing three positions to German attackers an Italian narrative has recorded:
On the night of 16 May, 1941, two platoons of the 3rd Combat Sappers Company in unison with assault groups of the "Brescia" Infantry Division, which had been sent as reinforcements on the 11th of the month, started the assault. With total disregard to danger and with accustomed 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 raiders, and in fierce hand-to-hand combat, they inflict heavy losses on the enemy conquering the objectives. [1]
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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