44th Infantry Division Cremona

44th Infantry Division Cremona
44th Infantry Division Cremona Insignia
Active	1939–1945
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Nickname(s)	Cremona
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	General Umberto Mondino; General Clemente Primieri (1943-45)

General Umberto Mondino;

The 44th Infantry Division Cremona was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II.

In 1926 the brigade received the 88th Infantry Regiment Friuli and became the infantry component of the 20th Infantry Division Curtatone and Montanara. The same year the brigade was renamed as XX Infantry Brigade. On 24 August 1939 the 20th Infantry Division Curtatone and Montanara was split into the 20th Infantry Division Friuli and the 44th Infantry Division Cremona. The Cremona consisted of the 21st and 22nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Artillery Regiment and the XC CCNN Battalion Pisa.

During the Italian invasion of France 10 June 1940, the Cremona division was stationed in second echelon near Ventimiglia behind 5th Infantry Division Cosseria, under command of Italian XV Army Corps. The Cremona provided some fire support during hostilities. In March, 1941, the division received orders to transfer to Sardinia for garrison duty. When Italy and Germany occupied Vichy France in Operation "Anton" after the Allied landings in French North Africa the division was ferried to Southern Corsica on 8 November 1942 to occupy the island, while the 20th Infantry Division Friuli occupied Northern Corsica. On Corsica, the Cremona came under command of the Italian VII Army Corps.

From 9 September 1943, in the aftermath of the Armistice of Cassibile, the Cremona started fighting German Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS and 90th Panzergrenadier Division and the Italian 12 Parachute Battalion of the 184 Parachute Regiment,. On the Cremona side were 20th Infantry Division Friuli and French Partisans. On 13 September elements of the Free French 4th Moroccan Mountain Division were landed in Ajaccio to support the Italian efforts to stop the 30,000 retreating German troops. The Cremona division fought in Zonza and Quenza, pushing north to Golo river and Sorbo-Ocagnano. During the entire fight German forces lost 700 men and 350 were captured. The evacuation of German forces during the night of 3 to 4 October from Bastia put an end to the fight.