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210th Coastal Division (Italy)
The 210th Coastal Division (Italian: 210ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.[1] Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.[2] HistoryThe division was activated on 1 March 1943 in Bari by expanding the X Coastal Brigade.[3] The division was assigned to IX Army Corps and had its headquarter in Monteroni.[1] The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of the Salento peninsula to the south of the towns of Taranto and Brindisi. The defense of the two towns and their surrounding area was the responsibility of the Royal Italian Navy's Maritime Military Base Taranto respectively Maritime Military Base Brindisi.[4] After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the division together with the 58th Infantry Division "Legnano", 152nd Infantry Division "Piceno" and XXXI Coastal Brigade immediately established a defensive line beginning in Taranto and running through Grottaglie, Francavilla Fontana, and Latiano to Brindisi, behind which on 9 September the British 1st Airborne Division landed. The division surrendered on 10 September to the British 1st Airborne Division and on 13 September the Allies reactivated the division, which joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army. For the rest of the Italian campaign the division performed rear area security and work duties as 210th Auxiliary Division for the American Fifth Army. The division was disbanded in autumn 1945.[4] Organization
Attached to the division:[1]
Commanding officersThe division's commanding officers were:[1]
References
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