The 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" (Italian: 2ª Divisione CC.NN. "28 Ottobre") was an Italian CC.NN. (Blackshirts militia) division raised on 10 May 1935 for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War against Ethiopia. The name "28 Ottobre" ("28 October") was chosen to commemorate the Fascist March on Rome on 28 October 1922. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Bardia in January 1941.
Contents
History
The division was one of six CC.NN. divisions raised in summer 1935 in preparation for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its members were volunteers from the various armed militias of the National Fascist Party's paramilitary wing and came from four regions: the 114th and 116th CC.NN. legions from Lombardy, the 180th CC.NN. Legion from the Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and Piedmont, and the II CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion from Liguria.
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
The division assembled in Italian Eritrea on 18 September 1935 and moved to Senafe on the border with Ethiopia. The division participated in the Second Battle of Tembien. After the war the division was repatriated and then disbanded.
World War II
The division was reformed in Naples in 1939 and sent with three other CC.NN. divisions to Italian Libya. The division took part in the invasion of Egypt in September 1940, reaching Sallum in Egypt by October. Heavily invested by British forces during Operation Compass the division retreated to Bardia, where it was encircled with other Italian units. After a short siege the division was destroyed during the Battle of Bardia on 3–5 January 1941.
Organization
1935
Below follows the division's organization during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions and companies/batteries were raised.
2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre"
114th CC.NN. Legion "Garibaldina", in Bergamo
Command Company
CXIV CC.NN. Battalion, in Bergamo
CXV CC.NN. Battalion, in Brescia
114th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Milan, Lodi and Pavia
114th CC.NN. Artillery Battery, Piacenza (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns)
116th CC.NN. Legion "Alpina", in Como
Command Company
CXVI CC.NN. Battalion, in Como
CXXV CC.NN. Battalion, in Brescia and Monza
116th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Como and Varese
116th CC.NN. Artillery Battery, Milan (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns)
180th CC.NN. Legion "Alessandro Farnese", in Parma
Command Company
CLXXIV CC.NN. Battalion, in Fidenza
CLXXX CC.NN. Battalion, in Parma
180th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company, in Cremona and Casalmaggiore
1940
Below follows the division's organization at the start of the Italian invasion of Egypt and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions were raised:
2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre"
231st CC.NN. Legion, in Sulmona
Command Company
CXXXI CC.NN. Battalion, in Sulmona
CXXXII CC.NN. Battalion, in Avezzano
CXXXV CC.NN. Battalion, in Teramo
231st CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
238th CC.NN. Legion, in Naples
Command Company
CXXXVIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Naples
CXL CC.NN. Battalion, in Salerno
CXLV CC.NN. Battalion, in Castellammare di Stabia
238th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
202nd Artillery Regiment "28 Ottobre" (formed by depot of the 4th Artillery Regiment "Bergamo" in Villa Vicentina)
Command Unit
I Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns)
II Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns; formed by depot of the 3rd Army Corps Artillery Regiment in Cremona)
III Group (100/17 mod. 14 howitzers; formed by depot of the 8th Army Corps Artillery Regiment in Rome)
Commanding officers
During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War:
Generale di Divisione Umberto Somma (1 May 1935 – 1 September 1936)
During the Italian invasion of Egypt:
Generale di Divisione Francesco Argentino (1939 – 5 January 1941, POW)