25th Infantry Division "Bologna"

The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 14 November 1926 the brigade assumed the name of XXV Infantry Brigade with the 15th Infantry Regiment "Savona", 31st Infantry Regiment "Siena", and 40th Infantry Regiment "Bologna". The brigade was the infantry component of the 25th Territorial Division of Naples, which also included the 10th Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 25th Infantry Division "Volturno". On 27 April 1939 the division transferred the 15th Infantry Regiment "Savona" to the newly activated 55th Infantry Division "Savona" and the 31st Infantry Regiment "Siena" to the newly activated 51st Infantry Division "Siena" and received the 39th Infantry Regiment "Bologna" from the 23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara". On the same date the XXV Infantry Brigade was dissolved and the two regiments came under direct command of the division, which changed its name to 25th Infantry Division "Bologna".[1][4][5]

After the outbreak of World War II the Bologna was sent to Libya, where it was garrisoned in Bir al-Ghanam south-west of Tripoli. During the Italian invasion of France from 10-25 June 1940 the Bologna was deployed along the French Tunisian-Libyan border. After the signing of the Franco-Italian Armistice on 24 June 1940 the Bologna returned to its garrison in Bir al-Ghanam.[1]

After the British Western Desert Force had crushed the 10th Army in Eastern Libya during Operation Compass in late 1940 the Bologna's 10th Artillery Regiment "Bologna" and some of its support troops were sent in early January 1941 to shore up the new Italian frontline at Derna and Mechili. The 10th Artillery Regiment fought on the Mechili-Derna line on 25–29 January 1941. After attempts to stop the British offensive failed the Italian forces, including the remnants of the 10th Artillery Regiment, retreated through Marj and Benghazi, but were encircled and destroyed north of Ajdabiya on 5 February 1941.[6][1] In April 1941 the division received the newly raised 205th Artillery Regiment "Bologna" as replacement for the destroyed 10th Artillery Regiment "Bologna".[1]

In March 1941 the Bologna and elements of the 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" moved to Sirte and in late May 1941, after the Axis' successful offensive Operation Sonnenblume the Bologna advanced to Tobruk in Eastern Libya.

The Italian troops during the Siege of Tobruk were the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" and 101st Motorized Division "Trieste" of the Italian XX Army Corps, and the 17th Infantry Division "Pavia", the Bologna division, and the 27th Infantry Division "Brescia" of the XXI Army Corps. However all attempts to take the city during the months-long siege failed.[1]

During the British offensive Operation Crusader the Bologna repulsed on 21 November 1941 an attempt by the 70th Infantry Division (2nd/King’s Own, 2nd/Black Watch, 2nd/Queen’s, and 4th Royal Tank Regiment with Matilda tanks) to overrun its positions at Sidi Rezegh.

On 23 November the Bologna withstood another British attack at Bir Garsa, which aimed to break through to Sidi Rezegh. The Bologna's success bought sufficient time to allow the 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" to mount a counter-attack and defeat the British assault. The Bologna's front now extended some 8 miles and on 25 November the thinly spread-out division was assaulted at Balhamed by British forces, which were supported by 50 tanks. The British managed to break through the Bologna's line and were able to establish contact with the besieged forces in Tobruk. The continued British pressure forced the Bologna gradually back to the "Leopard strongpoint", with the division covering its retreat with mines and machine-gun nests. The Bologna's commander ordered a retreat and the division's units cut off to the east of Tobruk broke through British lines towards Al ‘Adam (now Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base). On 5 December 1941 the Bologna began to retreat to Gazala and then to Derna, where the division arrived on 11 December. From there the division retreated to Ajdabiya and El Agheila, over 400 km from Tobruk.[1]

During the first half of 1942 the Bologna was deployed at Ajdabiya and around Qārat al Ghazālah. During the First Battle of El Alamein the Bologna was summoned to the El Alamein front on 15 July 1942. Lacking vehicles, the division was forced to march some 400 miles, being reviewed by Mussolini on the way. On 18 July the division entered Egypt. During the night of 25–26 August, the Bologna came under heavy artillery attack, and the New Zealand Māori Battalion, under the cover of darkness, breached part of the Bologna's perimeter. The Māori later reported that there were 100 Italian, dead, wounded or captured during the attack, for 25 killed, wounded and missing New Zealand troops. On 30 August 1942 the Bologna participated in the Battle of Alam el Halfa, during which the division and the German 433rd Infantry Regiment attacked several Indian, South African and New Zealand units on Ruweisat Ridge, and managed to capture Point 211 with the Italians reporting 70 British POWs.[7] but the attackers were later driven back by a counterattack.[8] The division then was stopped by British counter attacks, which continued until 7 September.[1]

During the initial phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein allied forces subjected the Bologna between 23 and 31 October 1942 o repeated air and ground attacks. On 2 November the Bologna retreated to the western edge of Deir el Beida and after a further resistance on 4 November the division tried to escape the allied forces, which were about to encircle it. The retreat failed and the division's units were overtaken, surrounded by motorized British units and then annihilated one-by-one. Remnants of division fought on 5 November 1942, in Ra’s al Ḩikmah, and on 6 November in Fukah and then in Mersa Matruh, where they were all defeated by 21 November 1942. The Bologna was officially dissolved on 25 November 1942. Some of the Bologna's remaining units were attached to other divisions, which were retreating towards Tunisia, but by February 1943 all of the Bologna's remaining units had been disbanded.[1]