3rd CC.NN. Division "21 Aprile"

The division arrived in Massawa in Italian Eritrea on 18-23 September 1935 and immediately began to train for the upcoming war. The division also build roads to facilitate the movement of the II Army Corps, which was earmarked to strike Adwa.[1]

The division entered combat on 3 December 1935 at Gulà Gulè and then advanced towards Darò Miscellan-Amba Berach, reaching Addì Ghebetà on 12 and Axum on 15 December. The division covered the advance of the 19th Infantry Division "Gavinana" and on 20 December returned to Axum, where it build a defensive position. On 29 February 1936 the division took part in the Battle of Shire, covering the left flank of II Army Corps. On 2 March the division's 230th CC.NN. Legion "L'Aquila" defeated Ethiopian forces near Amba Adi Malech. The next day the continues its advance to Af Gaga and Cobò Nebrit. At the war's conclusion the division moved to the Tacazzè area, where it resumed the building of roads. The division was then repatriated and disbanded.[1]

The division was reformed in 1939 and sent with three other CC.NN. divisions to Italian Libya. This time the members of the division came from four regions: the 181st CC.NN. Legion from the Emilia-Romagna and Umbria, and the 203rd CC.NN. Legion from Umbria, the Marche and Campania. The division was disbanded in May 1940 and its troops used to bring the other three CC.NN. divisions to full strength. The Royal Italian Army units were used to bring the forming 64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro" to full strength.[2]

Below follows the division's organization during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions were raised; the legion's machine gun companies and artillery batteries were raised in the same cities as the legions.[1]

• 3rd CC.NN. Division "21 Aprile"
  • 230th CC.NN. Legion "L'Aquila", in L'Aquila
    • Command Company
    • CCXXX CC.NN. Battalion, in L'Aquila
    • CCXXXVI CC.NN. Battalion, in Chieti
    • 230th CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
    • 230th CC.NN. Artillery Battery (65/17 infantry support guns)
  • 252nd CC.NN. Legion "Acciaiata", in Lecce
    • Command Company
    • CCLII CC.NN. Battalion, in Lecce
    • CCLVI CC.NN. Battalion, in Potenza
    • 252nd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
    • 252nd CC.NN. Artillery Battery (65/17 infantry support guns)
  • 263rd CC.NN. Legion "Tommaso Gulli", in Reggio Calabria
    • Command Company
    • CCLXIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Reggio Calabria
    • CCLXIV CC.NN. Battalion, in Catanzaro
    • 263rd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
    • 263rd CC.NN. Artillery Battery (65/17 infantry support guns)
  • III CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion, in Ascoli Piceno
  • III Artillery Group (65/17 infantry support guns, Royal Italian Army)
  • III Mixed Transport Unit (Royal Italian Army)
  • III Supply Unit (Royal Italian Army)
  • 2x CC.NN. replacement battalions
  • 3rd Special Engineer Company (Mixed CC.NN. and Royal Italian Army)
  • 3rd Medical Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 3rd Logistic Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 3rd Carabinieri Section

The supply unit had 1,600 mules and the mixed transport unit 80 light trucks. The division engaged in war crimes in Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[3]

Below follows the division's organization during its time in Italian Libya and the cities, in which its CC.NN. battalions were raised.[2]

• 3rd CC.NN. Division "21 Aprile"
  • 181st CC.NN. Legion, in Ravenna
    • Command Company
    • LXXI CC.NN. Battalion, in Faenza
    • LXXXI CC.NN. Battalion, in Ravenna
    • CII CC.NN. Battalion, in Perugia
    • 18st CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
  • 203rd CC.NN. Legion, in Foligno
    • Command Company
    • CIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Foligno
    • CX CC.NN. Battalion, in Ascoli Piceno
    • CXLIII CC.NN. Battalion, in Benevento
    • 203rd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company
  • 203rd Motorized Artillery Regiment (Royal Italian Army)
    • Command Unit
    • I Group (100/17 howitzers)
    • II Group (75/27 field guns)
    • III Group (75/27 field guns)
    • 2x Anti-aircraft batteries (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
    • Ammunition and Supply Unit
  • CCIII Machine Gun Battalion (Royal Italian Army)
  • CCIII Mixed Engineer Battalion (Royal Italian Army)
    • Command Platoon
    • 1x Engineer Company
    • 1x Telegraph and Radio Operators Company
    • 1x Searchlight Section
  • 203rd CC.NN. Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)
  • 203rd CC.NN. Support Weapons Battery (65/17 infantry support guns)
  • 203rd CC.NN. Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
  • 203rd Transport Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 203rd Supply Section (Royal Italian Army)
  • 203rd Medical Section (Royal Italian Army)
    • 3x Field hospitals
    • 1x Surgical Unit
  • 705th Carabinieri Section
  • 706th Carabinieri Section
  • 303rd Field Post Office