Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna

25th Infantry Division Bologna
25th Infantry Division Bologna Insignia
Active	1939–1943
Country	Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	infantry
Size	Division
Part of	Italian XXI Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Naples
Nickname(s)	Bologna
Engagements	World War II

The 25th Infantry Division Bologna (Italian: 25 Divisione Autotrasportabile "Bologna") was an auto-transportable Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was stationed in Tripolitania and was sent to Libya for the Italian invasion of Egypt. It fought in North Africa until it was destroyed in the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Garrisoned in Naples, it was made up almost entirely of residents of the city. From 1926 to 1934, it as called 25th Territorial Division of Naples. In 1934 the division was renamed to 25th Volurno Infantry Division and again renamed in 1939 to 25th Infantry Division Bologna. The Bologna was classified as an auto-transportable division, meaning staff and equipment could be transported on cars and trucks, although not simultaneously.

At the beginning of Italian invasion of France 10 June 1940, the Bologna division has stayed at the Libya-Tunisia border. After the conclusion of hostilities in Europe in the end of June, 1940, it was ordered occupation duties in the Bir al-Ghanam town south of Tripoli. In the beginning of 1941, majority of infantry have quartered in Gharyan while artillery regiment with some support troops was sent to the front line between Derna, Libya and Mechili. After overcoming an initial Allied resistance 23–25 January 1941, it was ferried by sea, landing in eastern Libya, and advanced rapidly on the Marj-Benghazi-Qaminis route, reaching destination 5 February 1941. In March, 1941, it together with the elements of 17th Infantry Division Pavia have performed a security duties at Sirte. The Bologna division was called for the siege of Tobruk in the late May, 1941.