XXI Army Corps (Italy) facts for kids
The Italian XXI Army Corps was a group of soldiers from the Italian army that fought in World War II. It was like a large team of different military units working together.
History
This army corps fought in North Africa during World War II. It took part in two main campaigns: the Western Desert Campaign and the Tunisian campaign. These were big battles that happened between 1940 and 1943.
The Western Desert Campaign involved fighting in the deserts of North Africa, mainly in Egypt and Libya. The Tunisian Campaign was the final part of the fighting in North Africa, which took place in Tunisia.
In May 1943, the Italian XXI Army Corps, along with other forces from Army Group Africa, surrendered to the Allied forces in Tunisia. This marked the end of their involvement in the North African part of the war.
What was it made of?
An army corps is made up of different types of military units, like divisions. These divisions can include infantry (soldiers who fight on foot), motorized units (soldiers who move in vehicles), and armored units (soldiers who use tanks).
The Italian XXI Army Corps changed its makeup over time, depending on the battles it was fighting and what was needed. For example, at different times, it included:
- Infantry divisions, which were groups of foot soldiers.
- Motorized divisions, which could move quickly using vehicles.
- Armored divisions, which had tanks and other armored vehicles.
The specific divisions that were part of the corps changed throughout the war.
Who led it?
The Italian XXI Army Corps had several different leaders, called generals, during its time in World War II. These generals were in charge of planning and leading the corps in battles.
Some of the generals who led the corps included:
- General Mario Caracciolo di Feroleto, who was one of the early commanders.
- General Paolo Berardi, who was the last commander when the corps surrendered in 1943.
Where to learn more
- Regio Esercito
