17th Infantry Division "Pavia"

The 17th "Pavia" Division was raised as an infantry division. It was sent to Libya for the defence of Libya. It fought in North Africa until it was destroyed in El Alamein.

Order of battle (May 1941)

27th Infantry Regiment

28th Infantry Regiment

6th Armoured Battalion

5th Armoured Car Battalion

26th Artillery Regiment

77th Anti Aircraft Battalion

679th Carabinieri Platoon

135th Motorized Transport Company

66th Field Hospital

84th Field Hospital

With only the 17th "Pavia" Division, General Zaglio, attacks on 31 March 1941 Australian rearguards via the Balbia coast road from Agedabia, driving its survivors back to Mechili; on the 8th he surrounds the town. The "Fabris" and "Montemurro" Bersaglieri Motorised Battalions come up in support. In the first week of fighting the "Pavia" Division captures 3,000 British, Indian and Australian soldiers.

Zaglio's continuing unauthorised advance helps isolate the strong garrison in Tobruk. The division skirmishes nightly with the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK), and held 20 kilometers with just four infantry battalions.

The British 70th Infantry Division broke through the Bologna Division on 23 November 1941, with the British starting an offensive on 18 November. The Italians fought off a stong armour-infantry attack, and the "Pavia" Division went over to the counterattack themselves, sealing off the enemy breakthrough in heavy fighting.