7th Infantry Division "Lupi di Toscana"

The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 3 November 1916 during the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo the brigade took the Dosso Fáiti hill, for which the brigade's two regiments were awarded each a Gold Medal of Military Valour. On 30 September 1926 the brigade assumed the name of VII Infantry Brigade and received the 50th Infantry Regiment "Parma" from the disbanded Brigade "Parma". The brigade was the infantry component of the 7th Territorial Division of Brescia, which also included the 30th Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 7th Infantry Division "Leonessa". On 15 December 1938 the division dissolved the VII Infantry Brigade and changed its name to 7th Infantry Division "Lupi di Toscana"; the same name change applied also to the 77th and 78th infantry and 30th artillery regiments. On 12 September 1939 the division ceded the 50th Infantry Regiment "Parma" to the newly activated 49th Infantry Division "Parma".[4][5][6]

Coat of Arms of the 77th Infantry Regiment "Lupi di Toscana", 1939

The Lupi di Toscana took part in the Italian invasion of Albania landing in Durrës on 19 April 1939. Within 15 days, it assumed occupation duties in the Pogradec-Korçë-Ersekë area until 20 December 1939. After returning to Italy the Lupi di Toscana was part of the Army reserve during the Italian invasion of France in June 1940.[4]

During the Greco-Italian War the Lupi di Toscana was sent as reinforcement to Albania arriving in early January 1941. An initial attack on Greek positions was made on 8 January 1941 near Taronine, Përmet District. The Lupi di Toscana held nearby peaks until 12 January 1941, after which it started to disintegrate. One of the infantry regiments was surrounded and annihilated on 15 January 1941, while other units were shattered, and the remaining soldiers fled toward Qafa e Bubesit on 18–21 January 1941. The Lupi di Toscana was relieved of front-line duty on 26 January 1941 and sent to Karbunare to regroup. The division returned to the front-line on 2 March 1941 and was sent to protect the Dragot bridge east of Tepelenë on 12 March 1941, under command of XXV Army Corps. The division was then assigned to the reserve of the 11th Army, guarding the area of Lepenicë on 18 March 1941. From 19 March 1941, until 26 March 1941 it fought a defensive battle south-east of Tepelenë. On 13 April 1941, the Lupi di Toscana was back on the offensive, capturing Mezigoran and Peshtan villages. Then it continued to advance toward Sopik in Gjirokastër District, reaching the Greek-Albanian border on 21 April 1941. From 24 April 1941 the Lupi di Toscana stayed near Kerásovo in the Epirus region in Greece.[4]

In October 1941 the Lupi di Toscana returned to Italy. In February 1942 the Lupi di Toscana was transferred to Cosenza, Catanzaro, Nicastro and Reggio Calabria in Calabria, where it performed coastal defence duties. In August 1942 the division was transferred to Liguria, between Genoa and Alassio. On 3–9 November 1942 the division participated in Case Anton the Axis invasion of Vichy France. Afterwards the division remained on garrison duty in occupied France; initially between Menton and Nice and then in Grasse and Cagnes-sur-Mer, and finally in Fuveau-Rousset, Bouches-du-Rhône-Châteauneuf-le-Rouge. The division performed coastal defense duties at Ollioules until 3 September 1943 when it was ordered to Rome. Between 6-8 September three infantry battalions and some minor units of the division arrived in Lazio. The battalions were ordered to defend the airfields at Furbara and Cerveteri, where the Italian government hoped the American 82nd Airborne Division would land to support the Royal Italian Army's defense of Rome once the Armistice of Cassibile would be announced. After the armistice was announced on 8 September 1943 the Lupi di Toscana resisted invading German forces until 12 September.[2][4]