185 Airborne Division Folgore
| 185th Paratroopers Division Folgore | |
|---|---|
Folgore Division Insignia
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| Active | 1 September 1941– 23 November 1942 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Parachute |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Folgore |
| Engagements | |
185th Paratroopers Division Folgore or 185ª Divisione Paracadutisti Folgore was a Parachute Division of the Italian Army (in Italian Regio Esercito) during World War II.
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.
Direct and immediate origins of the 185th Paratroopers Division "Folgore" lie in the Paratroopers units formed in the wake of the breaking out of the World War Two.
In 1938 Marshal of the Air Force Italo Balbo established the Camp-School for Paratrooper of the Libyan Troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Goffredo Tonini and stationed at the airport of Castel Benito near Tripoli.
By 1939 there were two Libyan Paratroopers Battalions. By early 1940 an Italian paratroopers battalion was also established.
At the beginning of the Italian participation in World War Two there were:
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).
After quarrels, in 1937 paratroopers schools were assigned by law to the Regia Aeronautica. Two years later, in 1939, two Paratroopers Military School based in Tarquinia and in Viterbo were established. School personnel was drawn from the Air force, while personnel to instruct consisted of Royal Italian Army officers and sub-officers.
The Tarquinia school included:
The 2-months Instructors course began in March 1940. In late November 1940 was estblished onlu one Paratroopers Battalion.
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. By 1942, the V, VI and VII Paratroopers Battalions formed the 2nd Paratroopers Regiment, the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions formed the 3rd Paratroopers Regiment; at the same time, Regimental Cannons Company were combined into the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Paratrooper Artillery Groups, which in turn formed the Paratrooper Artillery Regiment.
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Wikipedia