The 209th Coastal Division () was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

division of the

Royal Italian Army The Royal Italian Army () (RE) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy, established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manfredo Fanti signed a decree c ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate

materiel Materiel or matériel (; ) is supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commerce, commercial supply chain management, supply chain context. Military In a military context, ...

. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.Jowett p 6

History

The division was activated on 20 April 1943 in

Bari Bari ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia Regions of Italy, region, on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It is the first most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. It is a port and ...

by expanding the IX Coastal Brigade. The division was assigned to IX Army Corps and had its headquarter in

Noicattaro Noicattaro (, Barese: ; known as Noja until 1862) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia, southern Italy. The Mother Church (''Chiesa Madre'') dates to the 12th–13th centuries and is built in Apulian- Ro ...

. The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of northern

Apulia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...

between the river Saccione and Torre Testa del Gallico near

Brindisi Brindisi ( ; ) is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, the city has played an essential role in trade and culture due to its strategic position ...

. After the

Armistice of Cassibile The Armistice of Cassibile ( Italian: ''Armistizio di Cassibile'') was an armistice that was signed on 3 September 1943 by Italy and the Allies, marking the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies during World War II. It was made public ...

was announced on 8 September 1943 the division immediately fought German forces and then surrendered on 11 September to the British 1st Airborne Division. On 15 September the Allies reactivated the division, which joined the

Italian Co-belligerent Army The Italian Co-belligerent Army (Italian: ''Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano''), or Army of the South (''Esercito del Sud''), were names applied to various of the now former Royal Italian Army during the period when it fought alongside the Alli ...

and for the rest of the Italian campaign performed rear area security and work duties as 209th Division for the British Eighth Army. The division was disbanded in autumn 1945.

Organization

* 209th Coastal Division, in

** 112th Coastal Regiment *** 3x Coastal battalions ** 15th Coastal Regiment *** 3x Coastal battalions ** 41st Coastal Artillery Grouping *** 4x Coastal artillery groups ** IX Machine Gun Battalion ** 209th Mixed Engineer Company ** 264th Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 432nd Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 434th Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 209th

Carabinieri The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign poli ...

Section ** 185th Field Post Office ** Division Services Attached to the division: * Harbor Defense Command Bari, in

** XIX Garrison Battalion ** XLI Bersaglieri Battalion ** CXXXV Coastal Battalion ** CXCVI Coastal Artillery Group ** CXCVII Coastal Artillery Group ** LXXXIX Coastal Artillery Group ** 15th Anti-tank Company ( 47/32

anti-tank gun An anti-tank gun is a form of artillery designed to destroy tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, normally from a static defensive position. The development of specialized anti-tank munitions and anti-tank guns was prompted by the appearance ...

s) ** 692nd Machine Gun Company ** 4th Airfield Defense Grouping, at Bari Air Base ( Royal Italian Air Force) *** XI Airmen Battalion *** VIII Anti-aircraft Artillery Group *** 3x Anti-aircraft artillery batteries * CCLIII CC.NN. Battalion

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were: * Generale di Brigata Luigi Amato (20 April 1943 - ?) *

Generale di Divisione Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps g ...

Roberto Olmi (1945)

References

* * {{Italian Divisions World War II Coastal divisions of Italy Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II