Italian resistance to Germans in Greece

[Smert-Fashistam]

I have just seen the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", although the storyline is crap, the historical content is quiet fascinating, I couldnt find any detailed info about Italian resistance to Germans after fall of Mussolini in Greece, does anyone know were to get that info?

[Der Schwarze Ritter]

try comandosupremo.com



-Daniel-

[Lupo Solitario]

very short cause argument is long and largely unknown....

italian forces in greece in september 1943 formed the 11th Army. Notwithstanding orders, army commander surrounded to germans immediately after armistice but many depending units decided different, in particular:
-division "Acqui" on ionian island was crushed by germans in an hard battle in september 1943 and largely slaughtered after battle
-a certain bulk of forces centered on divison "Pinerolo" organized to join greek resistnace in western Macedonia. Unfortunately they rested involved in EAM/ELAS struggle and were disarmed and employed as workers until taken back in italy
-italian forces in Peloponneso and Crete were captured by germans; many perssonel was enlisted by whermacht as HiWi or KaWi, the remnant was deported in germany
-italian forces in Aegean island tried to organize defence with british support but islands were conquered by germans between septmember and november 1943, part of italian garrisons reached to avoid capture and recover in Turkey. Part of captured personnel continued to serve under whermacht

bye

Lupo

[Luca]

Smert
You mean in Cefalonia or in Greece?

PS = why so hard name?

[Smert-Fashistam]

isnt Cefalonia a province in Greece, thanks for the link Der Schwarze Ritter,


oh and name has a meanin'

Regards, AK

[Juha Hujanen]

isnt Cefalonia a province in Greece, thanks for the link Der Schwarze Ritter,


oh and name has a meanin'

Regards, AK

"Death to facism" that is

[Smert-Fashistam]

your transtaltion, Juha Hujanen, is good but not perfect, and we all know on many historical examples of what happens when documents or quotes are misinterpreted

[Luca]

isnt Cefalonia a province in Greece

After 8 September,the situations was very differents in all the places.
What was the situation here change to 10 Miles.What want You know?

[Luca]

"Death to facism" that is

Maybe mean "Dead to fascists" or not?

[Smert-Fashistam]

that is correct Luca, I'm glad you looked it up - its a famous slogan from WW2 poster; oh and I was particularly interested in that Italian divion that tried to resist German reinforcement landing as depicted in the movie

[Custermen]

I have just seen the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin"

I posted a photo of my Italian Officers' uniform on another thread:

Uniforms, Headgear & Insignia : Favorite Uniforms!

Like Captain Correlli's uniform it is an artillery officer's. But my coat only has the artillery collar patch without a divisional patch. The cap has a 9th Artillery Regiment cap device. Check it out.

Custermen

[Lupo Solitario]

....33rd Infantry Division (Mountain) "Acqui"

built December 15th, 1938
formed by
17th Infantry Regiment
18th Infantry Regiment
33rd Artillery Regiment

deployed on french border, partecipate to the short alps campaign of June 1940 after that kept in northenr italy.
Transferred in Albania december 5th, 1940,reinforced with 18th CCNN legion and assigned to Special Corps, distinguished in defence of Valona.
On garrison in Ionian island after conquest of greece. Between 1941 and 1943 nothing rilevant apart illness, no fightings against resitance.
The division receive a third infantry regiment in 1942, the 317th.
At Septmeber 8th 1943, is deployed with 17th, 317th Infantry and the largest part of 33rd Artillery at Cefalonia and with 18th Infantry and remnatn artillery at Corfù.
The division decides to opposite definitely to germans September 15th after some debate and fights hardly unitl September 22nd, after that the slaughter.

Commanders:
gen Sartoris (1939-1940)
gen Mariotti (1940-1941)
gen Mazzini (1941-1942)
gen Chiminiello (1942-1943)
gen Gandin (1943)

[Luca]

after some debate

I think this is the Really most interesting aspect of all the tragedy of Cefalonia.

[Smert-Fashistam]

so after the defeat in 1943, they were executed (massacred) as traitors?

[Custermen]

The Germans intended to round up most of the Italian Royalists and confine them in concentration camps. Many in the Italy mainland met this fate OR choose to join the new Fascists army(RSI). I get the opinion that they were massacred because they resisted with force.

I've read somewhere that an order was given to execute all the Italian officers on the Isle of Corsica. But General Frido von Senger und Etterlin refused this order. This act helped keep him off the partisan's "hit list".

Can anyone provide more details about Corisca??

Custermen