The 214th 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 1 July 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 ...

and received units from the 212th Coastal Division and XXXI Coastal Brigade. The division was assigned to XXXI Army Corps and had its headquarter in

Santa Severina Santa Severina () is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Crotone, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). Name The name derives from ancient Siberine (῾� ...

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

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea (, ; or , ; , ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and the Salento peninsula to the west, ...

coast of Calabria between Botricello and Lido Sant'Angelo. In early September the division prepared to fight the British XIII Corps, which had landed on 3 September 1943 in southern Calabria in

Operation Baytown Operation Baytown was an Allied amphibious landing on the mainland of Italy that took place on 3 September 1943, part of the Allied invasion of Italy, itself part of the Italian Campaign, during the Second World War. Planning The attack wa ...

and was advancing towards the 214th Coastal Division's positions. 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 remained at its positions and surrendered to the British XIII Corps. Afterwards the division 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 ...

, but did not participate in the Italian campaign. The division was dissolved in summer 1944.

Organization

* 214th Coastal Division, in

** 103rd Coastal Regiment (transferred from the 212th Coastal Division) *** CCCXLII Coastal Battalion *** VI Dismounted Squadrons Group/

Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service, or specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted in one ...

** 148th Coastal Regiment *** 3x Coastal battalions ** CCCXCVI Coastal Battalion ** XXVII Coastal Artillery Group ** LV Coastal Artillery Group ** LXXXI Coastal Artillery Group ** CXL Coastal Artillery Group ** 403rd Mortar Company ( 81mm mod. 35

mortar Mortar may refer to: * Mortar (weapon), an indirect-fire infantry weapon * Mortar (masonry), a material used to fill the gaps between blocks and bind them together * Mortar and pestle, a tool pair used to crush or grind * Mortar, Bihar, a village i ...

s) ** 702nd Mixed Engineer Company ** 178th Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 312th Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 443rd Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 447th Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 451st Anti-paratroopers Unit ** 214th

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 ** Field Post Office ** Division Services Attached to the division: * Armored Train 152/3/T, in

Crotone Crotone (; ; or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Calabria, Italy. Founded as the Achaean colony of Kroton ( or ; ), it became a great Greek city, home of the renowned mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras amongst other famous citizens, and one ...

(4x 152/40 naval guns, 4x 20/77 Scotti anti-aircraft guns; transferred from the 212th Coastal Division)

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were: * Generale di Brigata

Carlo Lama Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Char ...

(1 July 1943 - ?)

References

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