Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:26 am by Abel Ravasz
Hi all,
parallel to an up-and-running thread at the Feldgrau forum, I'd like to start a new topic here to discuss the Italian forces that were present at the defense of the vital city.
Chertkovo (or Tschertkowo, Cerkovo, whatever) played an important role in the establishing of a new defensive line after the Little Saturn offensive. The city held out in encirclement for almost a full month, and the garrison, led by the German 298. Infanterie Division, broke through to the west and survived this ordeal.
Appart from the numerous German units present in the city, there was a high number of Italian troops from a plethora of units. I'd like to discuss them one by one.
----------------------------
52. Divisione Autotransportabile Torino
Movement
This division was part of the XXIX. German Armekorps on the Don. After the breakthroughs both to the left and the right of the division, it eventually retreated to the south and on 20/12 joined the so-called Blocco Nord, or else called the 298. I.D.'s column, and made its way to Chertkovo.
Commander
The divisional commander was Generale di Divisione Roberto Lerici. Another general, Generale di Brigata Cesare Rossi, leader of the divisional infantry was also present with the grouping. Soon enough, Lerici was in command of all Italian forces at Chertkovo.
Composition
The full division was present at the city, compromising the 81. and 82. "Torino" infantry regiments, as well as the 52. motorized artillery regiment.
Questions:
- I'd need a more accurate listing of the sub-units of the division.
- what was the approximate strength of the division before the retreat?
- was the full staff in command of the Italian forces in Chertkovo? Or was the Comando delle Truppe Italiane in linea a Tcertkovo formed from another staff, with Lerici becoming the commander?
9. Divisione Autotransportabile Pasubio
Movement
Was part of the XXXV. Italian Corps on the Don. Suffered heavily 17/12 from the Russian attacks, and its positions were broken through. Was supported by the CCNN Raggruppamento 3 Gennaio. On 19/12 unit started the retreat to the south, joining themselves to the 298. I.D. On 20/12 parts of the division are cut off at Popovka, and end up joining the Blocco Sud, including the divisional HQ and the bulk of the 79. "Roma" infantry regiment under the command of colonel Mazzocchi. The bulk of the division followed the 298. I.D., and ended up at Chertkovo. Was attached to the command of General Lerici.
Commander
Divisional commander Generale di Divisione Guido Boselli was cut off from the division at Popovka. I assume command passed to the commander of the 80. infantry regiment, Tenente Colonnello G.B. Casassa.
Composition
Appr. half of the division made its way to Chertkovo; most of the 80. "Roma" infantry regiment, the 3. motorized artillery regiment and most of the divisional units, but not the 79. regiment and the divisional staff.
Questions:
- who was the commander of the Pasubio grouping at Chertkovo?
- when did the division pass under general Lerici's control?
- could any one describe what exactly happened at Popovka?
Gruppo Capizzi
Movement
Formed 17/12 from parts of the Ravenna Division to cover the left flank of the 298. I.D., to which they are immediately subordinated, and follow the division until Chertkovo.
Commander
Generale di Brigata Manlio Capizzi, divisional infantry commander of the Ravenna Division. Stays with the troops until the breakthrough as the only general to do so besides Lerici.
Composition
Mainly made up of elements of the 37. "Ravenna" infantry regiment, and support units.
Questions:
- does anyone have a more clear composition of this grouping?
-when did the group finally return to its parent division?
Raggruppamento CCNN "3 Gennaio"
Movement
Was a direct attachment to the XXXV. Italian Corps on the Don. From the early days of December, the group was sent to assist the Division Pasubio and suffered heavy casualties there. Joined the division in the retreat, albeit parts of the unit were cut off at Popovka with the Mazzocchi regiment. Formed the core of the Italian armies at Chertkovo
Commander
Luogotenente Generale Filippo Diamanti
Composition
Gruppo Battaglioni CCNN "Montebello"(VI., XXX., XII.), Gruppo Battaglioni CCNN "Tagliamento" (LXIII., LXXIX., LXIII. support). Some parts of Tagliamento not present at Chertkovo.
Questions:
- what parts of the grouping were cut off at Popovka? As far as I know, parts of the LXIII. and LXXIX. bns ended up with Mazzocchi column. Can anyone confirm this?
- when was the group assigned to the Pasubio?
- where was the group assigned at Chertkovo? To the Pasubio, or to Lerici directly?
Gruppo Manari
Movement
This grouping of bersaglieris arrived from the area of Meskov, where their regiment was destroyed. They avoided destruction, and ended up at Chertkovo as the garrison there.
Commander
Tenente Colonnello Virginio Manari, who fell on 1/1/43 and was replaced by Major Cesare Massone.
Composition
Fragments from the 3. Bersaglieri Regiment, reinorced from bits and pieces of every available unit in the vicinity of Chertkovo.
Questions:
- as far as I know, these units arrived at the city from the area of Meskov. But Corti suggests they came from Italy via train. Which version is correct?
- when did this group arrive at Chertkovo? Was it the 23/12?
- any hint on the strength of this unit?
- was the designation "garrison commander of Chertkovo" used by Corti a real name or just a made up one?
And now to the smaller units.
Raggruppamento CCNN "23 Marzo"
Several sources mention a contingent of this unit present at Chertkovo. Any hint on who these men were, who their commander was and how did they get there? Maybe with Capizzi?
201. Reggimento Artiglieria Motorizzato
Parts of this unit are quoted to be part of the Blocco Nord. Corti also confirm this. But what parts, and from where?
9. Raggruppamento Artiglieria d'Armata
The same applies here. Parts of the unit were deployed with the XXXV. Corps and might have ended up at Chertkovo. Any data on this?
30. Raggruppamento Artiglieria di Corpo d'Armata
Organic part of the XXXV. Corps. Might have been present at Chertkovo, informations needed.
---------------------------
People! Any info, corrections, other units, bits and pieces... Everything is welcome! Your help would be very much appreciated, thanks in advance!
Hi all,
parallel to an up-and-running thread at the Feldgrau forum, I'd like to start a new topic here to discuss the Italian forces that were present at the defense of the vital city.
Chertkovo (or Tschertkowo, Cerkovo, whatever) played an important role in the establishing of a new defensive line after the Little Saturn offensive. The city held out in encirclement for almost a full month, and the garrison, led by the German 298. Infanterie Division, broke through to the west and survived this ordeal.
Appart from the numerous German units present in the city, there was a high number of Italian troops from a plethora of units. I'd like to discuss them one by one.
----------------------------
52. Divisione Autotransportabile Torino
Movement
This division was part of the XXIX. German Armekorps on the Don. After the breakthroughs both to the left and the right of the division, it eventually retreated to the south and on 20/12 joined the so-called Blocco Nord, or else called the 298. I.D.'s column, and made its way to Chertkovo.
Commander
The divisional commander was Generale di Divisione Roberto Lerici. Another general, Generale di Brigata Cesare Rossi, leader of the divisional infantry was also present with the grouping. Soon enough, Lerici was in command of all Italian forces at Chertkovo.
Composition
The full division was present at the city, compromising the 81. and 82. "Torino" infantry regiments, as well as the 52. motorized artillery regiment.
Questions:
- I'd need a more accurate listing of the sub-units of the division.
- what was the approximate strength of the division before the retreat?
- was the full staff in command of the Italian forces in Chertkovo? Or was the Comando delle Truppe Italiane in linea a Tcertkovo formed from another staff, with Lerici becoming the commander?
9. Divisione Autotransportabile Pasubio
Movement
Was part of the XXXV. Italian Corps on the Don. Suffered heavily 17/12 from the Russian attacks, and its positions were broken through. Was supported by the CCNN Raggruppamento 3 Gennaio. On 19/12 unit started the retreat to the south, joining themselves to the 298. I.D. On 20/12 parts of the division are cut off at Popovka, and end up joining the Blocco Sud, including the divisional HQ and the bulk of the 79. "Roma" infantry regiment under the command of colonel Mazzocchi. The bulk of the division followed the 298. I.D., and ended up at Chertkovo. Was attached to the command of General Lerici.
Commander
Divisional commander Generale di Divisione Guido Boselli was cut off from the division at Popovka. I assume command passed to the commander of the 80. infantry regiment, Tenente Colonnello G.B. Casassa.
Composition
Appr. half of the division made its way to Chertkovo; most of the 80. "Roma" infantry regiment, the 3. motorized artillery regiment and most of the divisional units, but not the 79. regiment and the divisional staff.
Questions:
- who was the commander of the Pasubio grouping at Chertkovo?
- when did the division pass under general Lerici's control?
- could any one describe what exactly happened at Popovka?
Gruppo Capizzi
Movement
Formed 17/12 from parts of the Ravenna Division to cover the left flank of the 298. I.D., to which they are immediately subordinated, and follow the division until Chertkovo.
Commander
Generale di Brigata Manlio Capizzi, divisional infantry commander of the Ravenna Division. Stays with the troops until the breakthrough as the only general to do so besides Lerici.
Composition
Mainly made up of elements of the 37. "Ravenna" infantry regiment, and support units.
Questions:
- does anyone have a more clear composition of this grouping?
-when did the group finally return to its parent division?
Raggruppamento CCNN "3 Gennaio"
Movement
Was a direct attachment to the XXXV. Italian Corps on the Don. From the early days of December, the group was sent to assist the Division Pasubio and suffered heavy casualties there. Joined the division in the retreat, albeit parts of the unit were cut off at Popovka with the Mazzocchi regiment. Formed the core of the Italian armies at Chertkovo
Commander
Luogotenente Generale Filippo Diamanti
Composition
Gruppo Battaglioni CCNN "Montebello"(VI., XXX., XII.), Gruppo Battaglioni CCNN "Tagliamento" (LXIII., LXXIX., LXIII. support). Some parts of Tagliamento not present at Chertkovo.
Questions:
- what parts of the grouping were cut off at Popovka? As far as I know, parts of the LXIII. and LXXIX. bns ended up with Mazzocchi column. Can anyone confirm this?
- when was the group assigned to the Pasubio?
- where was the group assigned at Chertkovo? To the Pasubio, or to Lerici directly?
Gruppo Manari
Movement
This grouping of bersaglieris arrived from the area of Meskov, where their regiment was destroyed. They avoided destruction, and ended up at Chertkovo as the garrison there.
Commander
Tenente Colonnello Virginio Manari, who fell on 1/1/43 and was replaced by Major Cesare Massone.
Composition
Fragments from the 3. Bersaglieri Regiment, reinorced from bits and pieces of every available unit in the vicinity of Chertkovo.
Questions:
- as far as I know, these units arrived at the city from the area of Meskov. But Corti suggests they came from Italy via train. Which version is correct?
- when did this group arrive at Chertkovo? Was it the 23/12?
- any hint on the strength of this unit?
- was the designation "garrison commander of Chertkovo" used by Corti a real name or just a made up one?
And now to the smaller units.
Raggruppamento CCNN "23 Marzo"
Several sources mention a contingent of this unit present at Chertkovo. Any hint on who these men were, who their commander was and how did they get there? Maybe with Capizzi?
201. Reggimento Artiglieria Motorizzato
Parts of this unit are quoted to be part of the Blocco Nord. Corti also confirm this. But what parts, and from where?
9. Raggruppamento Artiglieria d'Armata
The same applies here. Parts of the unit were deployed with the XXXV. Corps and might have ended up at Chertkovo. Any data on this?
30. Raggruppamento Artiglieria di Corpo d'Armata
Organic part of the XXXV. Corps. Might have been present at Chertkovo, informations needed.
---------------------------
People! Any info, corrections, other units, bits and pieces... Everything is welcome! Your help would be very much appreciated, thanks in advance!