The XIX Army Corps () was a corps 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 ...
between 1942 and 1943.
History
The XIX Army Corps was created on 3 March 1942 in
Bolzano
Bolzano ( ; ; or ) is the capital city of South Tyrol (officially the province of Bolzano), Northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third largest in historical Tyrol. The ...
.
On 1 May 1943 it was transferred to
Campania
Campania is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy located in Southern Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islan ...
where it was tasked with coastal defense.
When 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 signed, the Corps commander
Riccardo Pentimalli took no action to prevent the German takeover of the area under his control, and even fled in civilian clothes together with
Ettore Deltetto, leaving his subordinates without orders. As a consequence, the XIX Corps was disarmed by the Germans and dissolved on 11 September 1943 at
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, in southern Italy.
Though it is not connected with the ''Civitas Capuana'', the town is a medieval place and its proximity to the Roman amphit ...
.
Composition (1943)
*
9th Infantry Division "Pasubio" (Carlo Biglino)
*
222nd Coastal Division (
Ferrante Vincenzo Gonzaga - KIA)
* XXXII Coastal Brigade (Carlo Fantoni).
* Territorial Defense of Naples (
Ettore Deltetto)
Commanders
* Gen. D. Arturo Taranto (interim) (1942.03.03 – 1942.03.08)
* Gen. C.A.
Gastone Gambara (1942.03.08 – 1942.06.10)
* Gen. C.A.
Ugo Santovito (1942.06.10 – 1942.09.05)
* Gen. C.A.
Benvenuto Gioda (1942.09.05 – 1943.02.25)
* Gen. C.A. Arturo Taranto (1943.02.25 - 1943.03.15)
* Gen. C.A.
Enea Navarini (1943.03.15 – 1943.08.15)
* Gen. C.A.
Riccardo Pentimalli (1943.08.15 – 1943.09.11)
generals.dk
/ref>
References
Army corps of Italy in World War II
{{Italy-mil-stub