41st Infantry Division "Firenze"

The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Firenze" established in Florence in March 1915 in preparation for Italy's entry in World War I. The brigade consisted of the 127th and 128th infantry regiments and fought on the Italian front. After the war the brigade was disbanded in February 1920.[1][3][4]

On 15 September 1939 the 41st Infantry Division "Firenze" was activated in Florence and received its two reactivated namesake infantry regiments and the newly raised 41st Artillery Regiment "Firenze". The division's units were raised by the regimental depots of the 19th Infantry Division "Venezia", which had been transferred to Albania in spring 1939.[1][5]

On 7 June 1940 the Firenze division moved from Tuscany to Piedmont, as part of the reserve for the planned Italian invasion of France. The division assembled in Carmagnola, Poirino, Villanova d'Asti and was not engaged in the invasion of France.[1]

In preparation for the Invasion of Yugoslavia the division moved in March 1941 to Albania. On 27 March 1941 the Firenze assembled north-west of Lake Ohrid near Librazhd. On 1 April 1941 the division moved to the border with Yugoslavia to the North of Stëblevë. The division was assigned to cover the right flank of the planned advance through the Rapuni river valley and therefore the Firenze prepared defensive positions around the Shkumbin river valley.

On 8 April 1941 Yugoslav forces tried to attack a mountaintop position of the division at Mali i Gjinovecit. On 9 April 1941 the Firenze counter-attacked to the North and South of the Dibër plain and captured the Vogël pass by evening. With the part of the Yugoslav forces surrounded, detachments of the Firenze advanced to the Black Drin river bridge and encountered heavy resistance on the way. By 11 April 1941 the Yugoslav forces in the Dibër plain were eliminated with the fall of Shupenzë. Subsequently, the Firenze advanced South and captured Maqellarë and Debar on 12 April 1941, without encountering much resistance. On 14 April 1941 the division started to prepare defensive positions at Kovashicë, Stushaj, and Bllacë. The same day German forces advancing from Gostivar and Kičevo linked up with the Firenze, ending the fighting.[1]

The Firenze remained in Macedonia and Montenegro as occupation force, establishing initially garrisons at Debar, Struga, Izvor and Volko Legalo. Starting from July 1941, the division was split in numerous detachments for road patrols and small garrisons. By January 1943 the Firenze's units were operating mostly in Gostivar, Peshkopi, Burrel, Debar, Struga, Mogorče, Elbasan, Librazhd and Qukës.[1]

Following the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the Firenze attempted to gather its units and retreat from Macedonia to Albania. The re-assembled division under General Arnaldo Azzi moved to Krujë in Albania via the mountain pass of Qafa e Shtamës. In Krujë the Firenze was opposed by German units and skirmished with Albanian partisans. Unable to proceed to the coast the Firenze retreated to Qafa e Shtamës and started negotiations with the Yugoslav partisans. After coming to an agreement with the Yugoslav partisans the division joined the Albanian National Liberation Army. On 28 September 1943 the Firenze was split into four brigade-sized Military Zone Commands, which operated alongside Yugoslav and Albanian partisans in the area from Qafa e Shtamës to Debar.[1]