For hours after this battle, fire and smoke emanating from several destroyed British tanks gave off an eerie glow into the still darkness of the African morning, the sight a smoldering symbol of the Italian’s merciless stand. With the British Desert Air Force pounding his troops from above and his supply situation critical, Rommel called for a general retreat to prepare his defensive line for the inevitable British counter. On 6 November, after having exhausted all its ammunition, the remainder of the Division surrendered. There was no white flag of surrender held by the Folgore. 30th Parachutists Rifle Company, 187th Parachutist Infantry Regiment, with: Their actions against incredible odds won the praise of the German ⦠The Axis initiative in the North African campaign was lost, as was any chance they had to achieve ultimate victory in the desert. Archived. However, the four divisions attacking the Folgore positions in the south, had also been given breakthrough objectives, that they did not reach. The 8th “Guastatori” Parachutist Battalion was an infantry “Guastatori” unit. They immediately took him and several of his aides captive at gunpoint. Montgomery chose not to follow this defensive victory by immediately pursuing the reeling Axis, a decision that received a lot of criticism. In the early morning darkness of 2 November 1942, the next phase of Montgomery’s plan, Operation Supercharge, began. The Italian Folgore would hold its ground and proved victorious, with the attackers only able to gain a minimal amount of ground. Regimental Guns Company (47/32 mod.35), 2nd Parachutist Infantry Battalion, with: [2], In July 1940 first paratroopers units were established: I Paratroopers Royal Carabinieri Battalion and II and III Paratroopers Battalions; in Spring 1941 the IV Battalion, the Anti-tank Cannons Company and the 1st Paratroopers Regiment were established. The advance had gained far too little ground in comparison to the number of casualties stretched out on the desert floor before the Italian positions. Clifton, commander of the New Zealand 6th Brigade. Posted by 2 years ago. 29th Parachutists Rifle Company The second Battle of El Alamein: 7th Armoured Division, 44th Infantry Division, 50th Infantry Division and Free French Brigade attack Folgore from three directions: 10:30pm October 25, 1942, until 3am October 26, 1942. On 7 November, the commander of the British 44th Infantry Division, General Hughes, made an effort to meet with the Folgore’s commander, General Frattini. More information Italian Folgore Division paratroopers dug in with a 37mm cannon at El Alamein. As was heavier firepower in the form of attached Italian 75mm and 88mm guns. Dio degli Eserciti, The German allies greatly respected the Italians’ performance in this clash, so much so that Wehrmacht leaders awarded 11 Iron Crosses to Folgore soldiers for their heroics on the battlefield. They further point out that the Axis troops were now openly facing a stronger and more mobile opponent, who would quickly be able to call upon these advantages. 4th Battalion/26th Artillery Regiment “Rubicone” (100/17 mod.16 – from the “Pavia” Division) The 185th Artillery, 186th Paratroopers and 187th Paratroopers regiments received a second Gold Medal for specific actions during the Second Battle of El Alamein.Additionally the following soldiers of the division were awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor during the Western Desert Campaign: 1. The first step, known as Operation Lightfoot, initiated with an artillery bombardment, the like of which that had never before seen during the entire North African Campaign. Additionally the following soldiers of the division were awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor during the Western Desert Campaign: On 25 September 1944 the Italian Co-Belligerent Army raised the Folgore Combat Group with soldiers and materiel from the disbanded 184th Paratroopers Division Nembo. The few survivors, who managed to withdraw, were reorganized into the 285 Folgore Paratroopers Battalion and fought in Tunisia, they surrendered to the British in 1943, but without having to show a white flag and without having to raise their hands while surrendering. “Bechi” Tactical Group (2nd and 4th Battalions) 185th Signal Engineers Company Sections of this page. The surviving troops had collectively expended almost every piece of ammunition they had possessed to hold the British at bay. Regimental Command and HQ battery, 1st Parachutist Artillery Battalion, with : However, their performance, bravery, and courage have ensured that their legend is now immortal. The British military leadership reluctantly conceded that although they held a numerical superiority in almost every category over their adversary, they could not defeat the Folgore in this sector with the forces they had so far employed. After the First Battle of El-Alamein, Egypt (150 miles west of Cairo), ended in a stalemate, the second one was decisive. [2], After quarrels,[2] in 1937 paratroopers schools were assigned by law to the Regia Aeronautica. There, the outnumbered paratroops, after hours of artillery fire, counterattacked the infantry and close assaulted the tanks, with grenades and molotov cocktails. In a preview of what would come to pass at Second El Alamein, the soldiers of the 185th Folgore Division, particularly members of the 9th Btn, delivered an impressive defensive victory, mauling the British in this encounter. Regimental Command and HQ Company Upon making contact with the Italians, the British were impressed with what they saw. [citation needed]. 21st Battalion/132nd Artillery Regiment “Ariete” (88/55 FlaK 37 – from the “Ariete” Division) The Folgore was a tightly knit and highly skilled unit, and they possessed perhaps the greatest ‘esprit de corps’ of any Italian division during the war. Their performance in such hard-fought battles as El Alamein and Monte Cassino reinforced their reputation as some of the toughest troops of World War II. Throughout the Battle of the Second El Alamein, a tank group from the German 21st Panzer Division, along with elements of the Ariete Armored Division, had stood by in the rear behind the Folgore to act as a reserve to counter any British breakthrough that might occur. My Bren gun was set on single shot, and I fired from the hip well ahead of him. Every year the Italian paratroopers celebrate the recurrence of the El Alamein battle; never a defeat was so glorious. " [2], At the beginning of the Italian participation in World War Two there were:[2], On 15 January 1941 both Libyan Paratroopers School and Libyan Paratroopers Battalion were assigned to the defence of El Fteiah airport (near Derna) with 850 troops (418 Italians and 432 Libyans). HQ Company The mines were of course an invaluable asset for the defense. Highly skilled soldiers of the heavy AA/AT artillery battalion of the “Ariete” Armored Division manned the 88s. Others believe that Rommel simply lost his nerve. The history of the 185th Division "Folgore" spans from late 1930s, when its immediate ancestors were established, to 1945, when its immediate successor was disbanded. [2], The 2-months[2] Instructors course began in March 1940. To help compensate for the overwhelming disadvantage in firepower, the Folgore utilized an ingenious yet dangerous tactic to counter the immense British superiority in armor throughout the battle. Reports state the Folgore destroyed nearly 30 British tanks on the 25th alone. The Folgore also sustained a high number of losses after the first night of fighting, particularly the 8th Battalion. They not only best the opposition solely by their courage, but they often out-fought them through superior military aptitude. the path to honor and glory. The VIII Paratroopers Engineer Battalion fielded one Headquarters and three Paratroopers Engineer Companies. The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October â 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein.The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa had prevented the Axis from advancing further into Egypt.. Oct 22, 2017 - Folgore paratroopers, El Alamein,1942 ( film) - pin by Paolo Marzioli Close. Whenever the exit of the cleared track was within reach of one of the short-ranged Italian 47mm AT guns, it was easy to block the attack, provided that the first tank or two were disabled. During the Second battle of El Alamein, it resisted the attack of six British divisions, thus provoking the respect and admiration of the British. They were the equivalent to the German Assault Engineers. Using Ultra intercepts that forewarned the upcoming Axis operation, Montgomery prepared a new defensive alignment to support his change in the 8th Army’s philosophy on the use of its armor. [7], In the initial British assault alone the Folgore had destroyed over 120 armoured vehicles, and inflicted over 600 casualties. The Panzerarmee withdrew, ultimately to Tunisia; within days of El Alamein, Anglo-American forces landed in Morocco. [2] By early 1940 an Italian paratroopers battalion was also established. Repeatedly the soldiers of the Folgore refused the offer,. 7:05. Inscribed on the walls of the Italian Memorial at El Alamein are the words below. To overcome the lack of field artillery (the divisional artillery regiment had only 47L32 AT/IG), the “Folgore” Tactical Artillery Group under Colonel Boffa, formed with the following units : 2nd Battalion/26th Artillery Regiment “Rubicone” (75/27 mod.06 – from the “Pavia” Division) The decision to retreat condemned many Italians to capture by Montgomery’s pursuing Eighth Army. Colonel Camosso ordered his surrounded soldiers to destroy their weapons before the surrender. The First Battle of El Alamein A German Signals reception unit in the desert at first day of the battle of El Alamein. HQ Company As it became apparent to the British that the Folgore stopped resisting, they advanced forward to secure the enemy they had come to respect over these many days of hard battle. son qui di presidio per l’eternità i ragazzi della Folgore The 88s (and the similar 90/53) did not belong to any specific group but used as mobile assets dispersed to the various groups during different phases of the battle. With a few survivors and some replacement, the 285º Battaglione Paracadutisti "Folgore", a battaillon-size unit commandeered by Captain Lombardini, was formed, and participated to the defense of the Mareth Line in Tunisia in mid 1943, particularly at the Battle of Takrouna, where it was destroyed. During World War II in the years 1941-1942, there was established in Tarquinia, Italy an elite military paratrooper school known as the Folgore division, who later became notorious for the heroic valor in the battle of El Alamein. Soldiers would engage British armor separated from its infantry support that crossed into the Italian lines. May 14, 2019 - Battle of El Alamein saw the defeat of German forces in North Africa in 1942. As the Folgore fell back from their lines, they pulled their artillery by hand through the sand. He felt both angry and embarrassed at being captured by Italians. Regimental Guns Company (47/32 mod.35), 5th Parachutist Infantry Battalion, with: They often answered the request with gunfire directed at the British or solely with shouts of “Folgore.”. 12th Parachutists Rifle Company, 9th Parachutist Infantry Battalion, with: HQ Company they did show to the Italians, in the good and bad luck, The leaders of the last functioning group of combatants, Colonel Camosso and Major Zanninovich, decided to lay down their arms. 25 October October During the Second battle of El Alamein the Folgore Division was under attack from three British divisions 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, 7th Armoured Division, and the 1st Free French Brigade. The Second Battle of El Alamein lasted from 23 October 1942 to 11 November 1942. Rommel’s extensive use of mines in both number and depth at the Second Battle of Alamein earned these lethal patches of the earth the nickname of “the Devil’s Garden” by the advancing British forces. welcome the ghosts of these boys in that corner of heaven Passerby, stop and revere. It was part of the Western Desert Campaign of World War 2 was fought between the British Eighth Army led by General Claude Auchinleck and the Axis forces consisting of German and Italian units of Panzerarmee Afrika (Panzer Army Africa) led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Only the advanced and finely honed mine clearing techniques the British had developed during the war allowed their forces to make steady if slow progress through these fortified areas once the battle commenced. Estimates range from 60 to 120 vehicles destroyed or immobilized during the engagement. 1st Parachutists Artillery Battery (47/32 mod.35) It cost the Allies 13,560 dead and wounded while 300-500 tanks destroyed. 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