The 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo" () was an Italian CC.NN. (Blackshirts militia) division raised on 23 April 1935 for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War against Ethiopia. The name "23 Marzo" ("March 23rd") was chosen to commemorate the founding date of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento on 23 March 1919. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Bardia in January 1941.

History

The division was one of six CC.NN. divisions raised in summer 1935 in preparation for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its members were volunteers from the various armed militias of the National Fascist Party's paramilitary wing and came from two regions: the 135th and 192nd CC.NN. legions, and the I CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion from Tuscany and the 202nd CC.NN. Legion from Umbria.

Second Italo-Ethiopian War

The division arrived in Massawa in Italian Eritrea between 28 August and September 1935. On 3 October the division crossed the Balasa river into Ethiopia. The division participated in the Battle of Amba Aradam and then in the Second Battle of Tembien. After the war the division was repatriated and then disbanded.

Organization

1935

Below follows the division's organization during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions and companies/batteries were raised.

1940

Below follows the division's organization at the start of the Italian invasion of Egypt and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions were raised.

  • 25px 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo"
  • Command Unit
  • I Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns)
  • II Group (75/27 mod. 06 field guns)
  • III Group (100/17 mod. 14 howitzers)
  • 1st Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
  • 201st Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
  • 219th Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns)
  • 233rd Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns)
  • Ammunition and Supply Unit
  • CCI Machine Gun Battalion (Royal Italian Army)
  • CCI Mixed Engineer Battalion (Royal Italian Army)
  • Command Platoon
  • 1x Engineer Company
  • 1x Telegraph and Radio Operators Company
  • 1x Searchlight Section
  • 201st CC.NN. Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
  • 201st CC.NN. Support Weapons Battery (65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns)
  • 201st CC.NN. Mortar Company (81mm mod. 35 mortars)
  • 201st Transport Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 201st Supply Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 201st Medical Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 3x Field hospitals
  • 1x Surgical Unit
  • 701st Carabinieri Section
  • 702nd Carabinieri Section
  • 301st Field Post Office

Attached during the Battle of Bardia:

  • CC.NN. Grouping "23 Marzo"
  • CC.NN. Battalions Group "Valle Scrivia"
  • Command Company
  • V CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Tortona
  • XXXIV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Savona
  • XLI CC.NN. Support Weapons Battalion, in Trento
  • CC.NN. Battalions Group "Leonessa"
  • Command Company
  • XIV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Bergamo
  • XV CC.NN. Assault Battalion, in Brescia
  • XXXVIII Support Weapons Battalion, in Asti

Commanding officers

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War:

  • Generale di Divisione Ettore Bastico (23 April 1935 - 20 October 1935)
  • Generale di Divisione Prince Filiberto, Duke of Genoa (21 October 1935 - 29 February 1936)
  • Generale di Divisione Carlo Carini (1 March 1936 - ?)

During the Italian invasion of Egypt: