The XXV Army Corps () was an infantry 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 ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by Fascist Italy, Italy against Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Albania in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

, and the

Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian campaign in Greece, Italian invasion of Greece, and War of '40 in Greece, took place between Italy and Greece from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. This conflict began the Balk ...

and the subsequent

Italian occupation of Greece The occupation of Greece by the Axis Powers () began in April 1941 after Nazi Germany invaded the Kingdom of Greece in order to assist its ally, Italy, in their ongoing war that was initiated in October 1940, having encountered major strategic ...

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 ...

History

The XXV Corps was first established in

Mortegliano Mortegliano () is a (municipality) in the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italy, Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 60 km northwest of Trieste and about 14 km southwest of Udine. ...

on 10 April 1917, until its disbandment on 5 January 1919. On 24 October 1940, in preparation for the

Italian invasion of Greece Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

on the 28th, the Army Corps of the Ciamuria, which operated in the

Chameria Chameria (; , ''Tsamouriá'') is a term used today mostly by Albanians to refer to parts of the coastal region of Epirus in southern Albania and Greece, traditionally associated with the Albanian ethnic subgroup of the Chams.Elsie, Robert and Be ...

region (), was activated in Italian-occupied Albania. The Army Corps consisted of the 23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara", 51st Infantry Division "Siena",

131st Armored Division "Centauro" The 131st Armored Division "Centauro" () was an armored division of the Royal Italian Army (1940–1946), Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in April 1939 by expanding the I Armored Brigade (). The division's name came fro ...

, and Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide". It was assigned the western (right) half of the Italian front, and on the start of the war advanced into Greek territory until it was stopped in the

Battle of Elaia–Kalamas The Battle of Elaia–Kalamas () took place in Epirus on 2–8 November 1940. The battle was fought between the Greeks and the Italians during the initial stage of the Greco-Italian War in World War II. The Royal Italian Army, deployed on the Gr ...

. Following the start of the Greek counteroffensive on the Italian left, covered by XXVI Army Corps, it was forced to retreat. On 17 November 1940 it was redesignated as XXV Army Corps. On 7 December it abandoned

Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in Southern Albania, southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë moun ...

, on 18 December

Porto Palermo Porto Palermo Castle ( Albanian: ''Kalaja e Porto Palermos'') is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of Himarë along the Albanian Riviera. The area together with Llamani ...

, and on 20

Himarë Himarë ( sq-definite, Himara; , ''Chimara'' or Χειμάρρα, ''Cheimarra'') is a Municipalities of Albania, municipality and region in Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality has a total area of and consists of the administrative ...

. To shorten its front, the corps was assigned in mid-December to the sector around

Tomorr Tomorr is a mountain chain in the region of Berat and Skrapar, in Albania. It reaches an elevation of above sea level at the Çuka e Partizanit, which is the highest peak in central Albania. Mount Tomorr is one of Albania's biggest water-col ...

and the That e Progonat lines, where the Greek offensive was stopped. On 20 January 1941 it launched spoiling attacks in the

Vjosa The Vjosa (; indefinite form: ) or Aoös () is a river in northwestern Greece and southwestern Albania. Its total length is about , of which the first are in Greece, and the remaining in Albania. Its drainage basin is and its average dischar ...

sector to relieve pressure on the Italian left, which was facing the final, unsuccessful Greek push towards

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...

. In February, the corps was deployed from Shëndelli to Kurvelesh, and opposed the Greek attacks in the

Mount Trebeshinë Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...

–Mount Shëndelli area. On 8 March the corps was placed in defence of

Tepelenë Tepelenë ( sq-definite, Tepelena) is a city and a municipality in Gjirokastër County, in the south of Albania. The town is on the left bank of the Vjosa River, about three kilometres downstream from its union with the Drino. Until the abolition ...

, while on the next day it took part in the unsuccessful Italian Spring Offensive (9–18 March). Following the

German invasion of Greece The German invasion of Greece or Operation Marita (), were the attacks on Kingdom of Greece, Greece by Kingdom of Italy, Italy and Nazi Germany, Germany during World War II. The Italian invasion in October 1940, which is usually known as the Gr ...

on 6 April, the Italian forces in the Albanian front began their own advance against the retreating Greeks; the corps occupied Trebeshinë on 14 April and the

Klisura Pass Klisura, a South Slavic word of Greek origin (''kleisoúra''), for "pass", "gorge" or "canyon", may refer to: Albania *Këlcyrë, a Byzantine town, now in Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina *Klisura (Višegrad), a village in the municipality of Viš ...

the next day, arriving at

Derviçan Derviçan ( sq-definite, Derviçani; , also known as Derviçian) is a settlement in the former Dropull i Poshtëm municipality, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform, it became part of the municipality Dropull. ...

and

on 19 April. After the Greek capitulation and the

Axis occupation of Greece The occupation of Greece by the Axis Powers () began in April 1941 after Nazi Germany Battle of Greece, invaded the Kingdom of Greece in order to assist its ally, Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Italy, in their Greco-Italian War, ongoing war that w ...

, the corps was disbanded on 31 July and its units transferred to XXVI Corps. XXV Corps was reconstituted in Albania on 16 December 1941 with its seat at

Vlorë Vlorë ( ; ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, third most populous city of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surr ...

. It comprised the

33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" The 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" () was an infantry Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Acqui was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that its artillery was moved by pack mules i ...

and 49th Infantry Division "Parma", in coastal defence and anti-partisan duties. The corps was disbanded on 12 September 1943 following the

Italian armistice 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 ...

Commanders

* ''

Generale di corpo d'armata An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional gene ...

'' Carlo Rossi (1940.12.10 – 1941.07.31) * ''

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 ...

'' Alessandro Gloria (interim) * ''

Giovanni Vecchi Giovanni Vecchi was a general in the Royal Italian Army who commanded the XIV Corps during the World War II Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. Biography Vecchi fought in the Italian-Turkish War and in World War I. Between 1 July 1937 and ...

(1941.12.05 – 1943.02.12) * ''

Umberto Mondino Umberto Mondino, also known as Uberto Mondino (Rome, 11 February 1883 – Parma, 22 July 1964) was an Italian general during World War II. Biography He was born in Rome on 11 February 1883, the son of Piedmontese general Pier Oddone Mondin ...

(1943.02.12 – 1943.09.08)

References

{{Large formations of Italy in World War II Army corps of Italy in World War I Army corps of Italy in World War II Albania in World War II Italian military units and formations of the Greco-Italian War Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1943