1st Alpine Division 'Taurinense'

1st Alpine Division 'Taurinense'

1a Divisione Alpina "Taurinense"

History

Italian capitulation caught division on the move from Sandzak towards Montenegrin littoral dispersed with one regiment in area of Gornje Polje (NikÅ¡iÄ‡) and the other on march from Vilus to Herceg-Novi, parts of one regiment and divisional artillery in NikÅ¡iÄ‡ and the rest in Å avnik and moving from Pljevalja to NikÅ¡iÄ‡.

Goal was to transfer to Italy across the sea as quickly as possible. Yugoslav Partisan General Staff for Montenegro and 2nd Corps told divisional commander that such plan isn't possible at the moment and suggested that division remain at its positions and join Partisans in fight against Germans.

Germans moved quickly and soon engaged division smashing its two battalions at Bijela gora and division found itself surrounded at Ogorjelo Å½drijelo. During night some 450 Italians managed to breakout using mountain trails with further 1000 during two days of fighting. Rest of the division out of over 4000 soldiers more then half were killed, wounded, captured or missing. Germans executed 18 officers in accordance with Hitler order.

On 8 October, commander of Intra battalion captain Piero Zavattaro Ardizzi (Pietro Zavataro) decided for breakthrough towards SandÅ¾ak to join other Italian units stationed there. He was joined by soldiers from other units captain Zaneli, corporal Angelo Locatelli, senior sergeant Antonio Kacialanca in total some 150 men. Leaving Montenegro it run into Chetniks of vojvoda BaÄ‡oviÄ‡ who escort them to FoÄa where year and half ago division suffered 46 killed in combat with Partisans.

Chetniks refuse to allow them to continue to Priboj or Pljevlja and secret attempt to send Alpini Dionisija Piracija to Pljeva to ask for aid for Italian units there is intercepted by Chetniks as was attempt of lieutenant Baltrami with three Alpini to find nearest Partisan units. They were murdered by Chetniks and their bodies thrown into Drina.

On 14 November FoÄa was attacked by 2nd Krajina Brigade and Chetniks quickly withdraw leaving Italians behind. Partisans at first demanded that Italians surrender but this was refused and after misunderstanding was cleared battalion was reorganized as Italian Alpine Battalion Taurinense with 2nd Krajina Brigade of the 27th Division.

In daily combat with Chetniks and Germans from 15 November 1943 to March 1944 battalion was decimated and was finally disbanded with 20 remaining soldiers transferred to other brigades.

War crimes

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Order of battle

Commanders

Carlo Vecchiarelli

Luigi Nuvoloni

Paolo Micheletti

Paolo Puntoni

Giovanni Maccario

Lorenzo Vivalda

Operations

Operation TRIO

Operation SCHWARZ

References