Italian units at Giarabub

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91474D
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Joined: 16 Jul 2020, 20:21
Location: United States

Italian units at Giarabub

#1

Post by 91474D » 04 Mar 2021, 04:45

Hello,

I’m doing some reasearch on a deceased relative that was captured by the Austrialians in the Siege of Giarabub. Does anyone know which Italian units were stationed at Giarabub during the siege of 40-41?

Thanks!

gttf
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Posts: 136
Joined: 26 Oct 2009, 23:16

Re: Italian units at Giarabub

#2

Post by gttf » 08 Mar 2021, 19:51

Hello,
data in the following are drawn from the book "La difesa di Giarabub" (ed. Longanesi & C, Milano, 1967) by col. Salvatore Castagna, who was the CO of the Giarabub garrison for the whole duration of the siege.
The Giarabub area included also the outposts of Uescechet el Heira and Garn ul Grein, approx 50 and 100 km N of Giarabub (names are reported as they can be found in the book).
The units depending upon the command of Giarabub included at the beginning of the war (june, 1940)
- 2^ compagnia automitragliatrici libica (MG mounted on truck)
- 14^ compagnia mitraglieri libica
- 15^ compagnia mitraglieri libica
- 18^ compagnia mitraglieri libica
- 19^ compagnia mitraglieri libica
- compagnia genio libica
- guardie di finanza (customs guards), 2 men
- carabinieri (military police, 10 men)
- magazzino sussistenza (ordnance store)

for a total of 21 officers, 17 NCOs, 85 italian soldiers and 764 lybian soldiers
The main armament included 2 65/17 infantry guns, 56 HMG (old Schwarzlose, austrian preys of WW1) and 12 Breda LMG.
More will follow

Hope this helps

Fabrizio


gttf
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Posts: 136
Joined: 26 Oct 2009, 23:16

Re: Italian units at Giarabub

#3

Post by gttf » 08 Mar 2021, 21:45

at the end of september 1940, after strenghtening in men and weapons and their redistribution in various ouposts, the situation was the following:

Maddalena, 350 men
- one coy of 150. CCNN (Blackshirts) Btl
- one battery with 75/27 guns of 204. Artillery Regiment
- two platoons of GAF (Guardia alla Frontiera - Frontier Guards) with 4 AT 47/32 guns
- two sections of 27^ Battery with 4 Breda 20 mm cannons

Garn Ul Grein, 229 men
- one coy of 150. CCNN (Blackshirts) Btl
- two platoons of GAF (Guardia alla Frontiera - Frontier Guards) with 4 AT 47/32 guns
- two sections of 19^ Battery with Breda 20 mm cannons

Giarabub garrison (550 italians + 750 lybians)
- 2^ compagnia automitragliatrici libica
- one coy of 150. CCNN (Blackshirts) Btl
- two platoons (one italian, one lybian) with 2 and 4 AT 47/32 guns
- two sections of 19^ Battery with 4 Breda 20 mm cannons
- one section of "Marmarica" infantry division with 2 Breda 20 mm cannons
- 14^, 15^, 18^, 19^ compagnia mitraglieri libica
- one lybian engineers platoon
- one transmission platoon
- 9 carabineri
- 2 custom guards
- ordnance store

Sceferzen, 350 men
- one coy of 150. CCNN (Blackshirts) Btl
- one battery with 75/27 guns
- two sections of 27^ Battery with 4 Breda 20 mm cannons

(continued)

gttf
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Posts: 136
Joined: 26 Oct 2009, 23:16

Re: Italian units at Giarabub

#4

Post by gttf » 08 Mar 2021, 22:09

In mid-february 1941, after the substitution of CCNN and other units with GAF units, the defense war reorganized in observation posts, barrage posts, resistance area (with 6 strongholds) and a reserve which supplied the soldiers and weapons to the observation and barrage posts.

The resistance area included 3^, 1^, 10^ and 7^ GAF coys, 15^ and 18^ compagnia mitraglieri libica with 11 AT 47/32 guns and 11 Breda 20 mm cannons.
The reserve included 2^compagnia automitragliatrici, 14^ and 19^ compagnia mitraglieri libica and a engineers platoon. The reserve supplied men and weapons to the observation and barrage posts.
2 further AT 47/32 and 2 20 mm cannons were available for mobile units; 2 20 mm and 2 MG defended the landing strip.
The artillery had One 77/28 battery and 2 65/17 infantry guns available.
Hope this helps

regards
Fabrizio

91474D
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Posts: 4
Joined: 16 Jul 2020, 20:21
Location: United States

Re: Italian units at Giarabub

#5

Post by 91474D » 10 Mar 2021, 00:25

Fabrizio,

Thank you very much, it’s been challenging to find any information about the Italian side of this conflict, this is extremely helpful.

I had a chance to talk with my relative 15 years ago before he died and he told the story that during the battle his rifle was jammed from the sand and he was using a rock to try and release the bolt when they were surrounded by Australians and surrendered. Apparently he forgot he had a grenade on him that wasn’t found when he was searched and had to dispose of it by rolling it down his pant leg and burying it in the sand while in formation. He was eventually sent to a POW camp in England for the remainder of the war.

Thanks again for the info!

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