201st Coastal Division (Italy)


The 201st Coastal Division was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.

History

The division was activated on 1 November 1942 in Genoa by expanding the I Coastal Brigade. The division was assigned to XV Army Corps and in December 1942 moved to Savona. The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of Liguria between Menton in occupied France and Punta del Mesco near La Spezia. In January 1943 the division moved its headquarter to Menton.
After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.

Organization

201st Coastal Division, in Savona
  • * Harbor Defense Command Genoa, in Genoa
  • ** 102nd Coastal Regiment
  • * 5th Coastal Regiment
  • ** CCV Coastal Battalion
  • ** CCCXXIV Coastal Battalion
  • ** CDLXXXI Coastal Battalion
  • ** XV Machine Gun Battalion
  • ** CXI Machine Gun Battalion
  • * 131st Coastal Regiment
  • ** X Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II"
  • ** XXI Coastal Battalion
  • ** CCVI Coastal Battalion
  • ** CDLXXXII Coastal Battalion
  • * 5th Coastal Artillery Regiment
  • ** V Coastal Artillery Group
  • ** VI Coastal Artillery Group
  • ** CXXV Coastal Artillery Group
  • ** CXXXII Coastal Artillery Group
  • * 52nd Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • * 53rd Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • * 54th Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • * 201st Carabinieri Section
  • * 1x Field Post Office
  • * Divisional Services
Attached to the division:

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were: