40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d'Africa" facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d’Africa" |
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40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d'Africa" insignia
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| Active | 27 July 1940 – 15 May 1941 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War II East African Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Giovanni Varda |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
      Cacciatori d'Africa Division gorget patches |
The 40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d’Africa" (which means "Hunters of Africa" in Italian) was a special group of soldiers in the Royal Italian Army during World War II. This division was created on July 27, 1940, using troops and reservists who were already in Italian East Africa.
The "Cacciatori d’Africa" and another division, the 65th Infantry Division "Granatieri di Savoia", reported directly to Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta. He was the leader of Italian East Africa at the time. The division was almost completely destroyed during the East African campaign. It was officially ended on May 15, 1941.
Contents
How the Division Was Formed
The 40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d’Africa" was planned to be set up if a war started in Italian East Africa. It was supposed to include soldiers called back from leave, Italian people living there, and military supplies already in the area.
The plan was for the "Cacciatori d’Africa" to be a regular Italian infantry division. This meant it would have two infantry regiments, each with three battalions (groups of soldiers). It would also have a special group of soldiers called a "blackshirt legion" with three battalions, and an artillery unit with cannons. There would also be other support units.
However, when the division was actually started on July 27, 1940, they couldn't find enough men. Because of this, it never became as big as planned. Instead of nine infantry battalions, it only had six. And instead of three artillery groups, it only had one, which used 65/17 cannons.
The Division in World War II
From its start in July 1940 until the end of December 1940, the "Cacciatori d’Africa" mostly stayed inside the strong walls of Addis Ababa, defending the city. In January 1941, more soldiers joined the division. This allowed them to start taking positions outside the city walls.
After a very tough battle called the Battle of Keren on March 23, 1941, the "Cacciatori d’Africa" sent some of its soldiers to help another division. They sent their 210th Infantry Regiment "Bisagno" and its artillery group to the 65th Infantry Division "Granatieri di Savoia".
On March 31, 1941, the 211th Infantry Regiment "Pescara" was sent to the Amba Alagi mountain. It was now directly controlled by the main command in Italian East Africa. On the same day, the division's main headquarters moved to Dessie. The remaining parts of the "Cacciatori d’Africa" were spread out to help other units. These units were defending a line from the Danakil Depression to Amba Alagi and Addis Ababa. The division also received groups of local soldiers to replace its two infantry regiments.
After Addis Ababa was taken by British forces on April 6, 1941, the "Cacciatori d’Africa" set up defenses at the Kombolcha airbase and in Bati. On April 17, 1941, these defenses were attacked by the 1st South African Brigade and local Ethiopian fighters.
By April 19, 1941, the Italian defenses were in trouble because of air attacks. This allowed British armored vehicles to break through their lines between April 19 and 21, 1941. Heavy shelling from British cannons forced the Italians to leave their first line of defense near Bati on April 22, 1941.
On April 25, 1941, the Kombolcha airbase was captured. Dessie was taken over on April 26, 1941. This forced the "Cacciatori d’Africa" command to move first to Bati and then quickly to Tendaho in the desert.
By May 6, 1941, the remaining soldiers of the "Cacciatori d’Africa" had retreated to Danakil to make a final stand. Attacks from Ethiopian fighters increased from May 7 to May 15, 1941. This forced the remaining Italian soldiers to flee to Assab. They stayed there until June 10, 1941. On June 10 and 11, 1941, all the remaining soldiers of the "Cacciatori d'Africa" division were either killed or captured by Indian forces during a military operation called Operation Chronometer.
The 210th Infantry Regiment "Bisagno"
The "Bisagno" regiment was sent to Āwash on March 21, 1941. It was then split up on April 1, 1941. One of its battalions was sent to Dessie. It was ambushed by Ethiopian fighters and completely destroyed on April 7, 1941.
The regiment's second battalion was sent south of Addis Ababa to the Sidama Zone. There, it joined the 25th Colonial Division. It continued to fight until it was defeated on May 22, 1941, near Sodo.
The 211th Infantry Regiment "Pescara"
During the fall of Dessie on April 26, 1941, the "Pescara" regiment was holding positions at Kalaga, Ethiopia. It was involved in the Battle of Amba Alagi from May 4 to May 19, 1941. It surrendered along with other Italian units on May 19, 1941.
How the Division Was Organized
July 1940 Organization
40th Infantry Division "Cacciatori d'Africa", based in Addis Ababa
- 210th Infantry Regiment "Bisagno", based in Asmara
- Command Company (a group that manages the regiment)
- 2x Fusilier battalions (groups of riflemen)
- 211th Infantry Regiment "Pescara", based in Addis Ababa
- Command Company
- 2x Fusilier battalions
- III African CC.NN. Battalion (a special group of soldiers)
- XV African CC.NN. Battalion
- I African Motorized Artillery Group (using 65/17 cannons)
- XVIII Mixed African Engineer Battalion (soldiers who build and repair things)
- Medical Section (for health care)
- Supply Section (for food and equipment)
- Transport Section (for moving things)
- Field Post Office (for mail)
- 210th Infantry Regiment "Bisagno", based in Asmara
April 17, 1941 Organization
- III CC.NN. Battalion
- XI CC.NN. Battalion
- XII CC.NN. Battalion
- XXXII Colonial Battalion Danakil (local soldier group)
- XL Colonial Battalion of Gojjam (local soldier group)
- LII Colonial Battalion of Gojjam (local soldier group)
- Assab Garrison Battalion (soldiers defending Assab)
- Royal Italian Navy Marines Battalion (sailors trained to fight on land)
- XI Colonial Dismounted Squadron (a group of local soldiers who fought on foot)
- XVIII Colonial Engineer Battalion
- 2x batteries of Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider (groups of cannons)
- 3x batteries of 8 cm FK M. 5
- 3x batteries of 76/40 Mod 1916 RM
- 2x batteries of Skoda 75 mm Model 15
- 2x batteries of Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34
May 6, 1941 Organization
- 2nd Colonial Coastal Battalion (local soldiers defending the coast)
- Royal Italian Air Force Motorized Battalion (air force soldiers with vehicles)
- Royal Italian Navy Marines Company
- 4x Camel Companies (soldiers who used camels for transport)
- 1x Artillery battery
- Auxiliaries of the Sultanate of Aussa (local helpers from Aussa)
Who Led the Division?
The main leader of the division was:
- Generale di Divisione Giovanni Varda (He led from July 27, 1940, until May 19, 1941, when he became a POW - a prisoner of war).
