60th Infantry Division "Sabratha"

During the Italian invasion of France from 10-25 June 1940 the Sabratha was deployed along the French Tunisian-Libyan border. After the signing of the Franco-Italian Armistice signed on 24 June 1940 the Sabratha returned to its base in Gharyan south of Tripoli.[1]

When the British Western Desert Force started to crush the Italian 10th Army during Operation Compass in late 1940 the Sabratha deployed to defensive positions south of Derna. In late January 1941 the division fought a series of delaying battles against superior British forces, which were advancing through the Derna-Al Qubbah region. On 30 January 1940, as the danger of encirclement became apparent, the Sabratha division retreated through Sulunţah, Marj and Benghazi, and arrived in Qaminis on 5 February 1941. The already heavily degraded division was almost completely destroyed during the Battle of Beda Fomm on 6-7 February 1941.[2] Afterwards the remnants of the Sabratha retreated on the Ajdabiya-Sirte route, and were then assigned for coastal defense in the Al Khums region in Western Libya. In May 1941 the replenished division was ordered to defensive positions inland, to cover the Gharyan-Nalut front, with most units covering the approach to Gharyan south of Tripli. By September 1941 the reformed Sabratha returned to the front in the east near Tobruk.[1]

After the return to the front the Sabratha met with mixed fortune during continuing Western Desert campaign. Initially, the Sabratha was covering the Sallum area in Egypt, but soon the British Operation Crusader began to overrun the Axis' positions and the division was forced into another arduous retreat through Minqār ‘Ayn al Ghazālah, Derna, Al Qubbah and Mechili. On 23 December 1941 the division made a stand on the coastal road at Brega blocking further Allied advances.[1]

On 23 January 1942 the Sabratha started to advance again, partially enveloping Ajdabiya from the north-east. In May 1942 during the Battle of Gazala the Sabratha played an important role in the capture of 6,000 prisoners at Gazala after the 101st Motorized Division "Trieste" and 15th Panzer Division had defeated the British 2nd and 4th Armoured Brigades.[6] By 20 June 1942 the division was located east of Acroma. After the Fall of Tobruk on 21 June 1942, the Sabratha accelerated its movement, passing in quick succession through Bardia, Sollum and Sidi Barrani, reaching the vicinity of El Alamein on 1 July 1942.[1]

Before the positions to the West of El Alamein were adequately fortified, the Australian 26th Brigade attacked. On 10 July 1942 the Sabratha was routed under a heavy artillery barrage, with over 1,500 Italians made prisoner. The Italians reacted vigorously and a battalion of the 102nd Motorized Division "Trento" was ordered to retake the position.[7] While the Italian counterattack failed to achieve its objective, it bought time to allow the Italian XXI Army Corps to rush in a battalion of the 101st Motorized Division "Trieste", the III Tank Squadrons Group of the "Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" and Major Gabriele Verri's XI Tank Battalion to stabilize the sector and stop the Australian advance. In the meantime the Sabratha had recovered from the initial blow and Colonel Angelozzi's I Battalion/ 85th Infantry Regiment "Sabratha" launched a counterattack against Tell-el-Eisa on 14 July supported by Italian tanks. The attack succeeded to pierce the enemy line on the Tell-el-Eisa Ridge. Under fierce pressure the Australian troops were forced to withdraw from their forward positions, but their main defenses remained largely intact. On 25 July 1942 the survivors of Sabratha were incorporated into the 61st Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" of the Trento division and the Sabratha was officially declared dissolved on 13 August 1942.[2][1]