15th Infantry Division Bergamo


The 15th Infantry Division Bergamo was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed 24 May 1939 in Opatija.

History

Initial deployment

From 10 June 1940, the Bergamo division was assigned to border guard duty in Rijeka-Brešca-Klana sector.
The Bergamo division was part of the Italian V Corps that took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia. 6 April 1941, Bergamo division has received orders to advance. By 11 April 1941, it broken through Yugoslavian defences at Veli Vrh summit near Drenova, Rijeka, and captured the Kastav the same day. By 12 April 1941 it has reached the Bakar, continuing to advance to the south. 16 April 1941, the Bergamo division has captured Žuta Lokva village. After the invasion it was stationed in Dalmatia, in particular in city of Makarska, towns of Livno, Sinj, Ljubuški, Imotski and on the Brač island.

Fighting the partisans

From 22 July 1941 to 25 July 1941, the Bergamo division has fought the Yugoslavian partisans near the town of Drvar. Another large surge of fighting with partisans trying to infiltrate Croatia has happened from 9 October 1941 to 9 November 1941, across Croatian-Yugoslavian border. Afterward, the main duties of Bergamo has become the coastal defence, protection of roads and peacekeeping between the Yugoslavian and Croatian communities. In June 1942, it has suppressed a major revolt in Lika region. The Bergamo Division took part in Operation Alba which was an anti Partisan operations in Croatia carried out on 12 August to 2 September 1942, to destroy partisan groups in the Biokovo area 40 to 50 kilometres east of Split. Italian forces burned down 10 villages and killed and arrested several hundred people. In 1943, increasingly bloody skirmishes with partisans were fought until 8 September 1943.

The defeat

After the Italian surrender in September 1943, it resisted the German forces but was defeated and some of the division's officers were executed by order of the German XV Mountain Corps, others evaded capture and joined the Yugoslav Partisans.

C.R.O.W.C.A.S.S.

The names of three Italian commanders attached to the Bergamo Division can be found in the CROWCASS list established by the Anglo-American Allies of the individuals wanted by Yugoslavia for war crimes.

XV Mountain Corps war diary

Daily Report from Commander in Chief Southeast

Commander

General Pietro Belletti

Order of battle