17th Infantry Division "Pavia"[1] | |
---|---|
Active | 1939–1942 |
Country | Kingdom of Italy |
Branch | Royal Italian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Part of | Italian XX Corps (1940–1941) Italian X Corps (1941–1942) |
Garrison/HQ | Ravenna |
Engagements | World War II Operation Compass Battle of Agedabia Battle of El Mechili Siege of Tobruk Battle of Gazala Operation Crusader Second Battle of El Alamein |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Pavia Division gorget patches |
The 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" (Italian: 17ª Divisione di fanteria "Pavia") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Pavia was formed in on 27 April 1939 and named after the city of Pavia. The Pavia was classified as an auto-transportable division, meaning it had some motorized transport, but not enough to move the entire division at once. The Pavia had its recruiting area and regimental depots in the Romagna and its headquarters in Ravenna. Its two infantry regiments were based in Cesena (27th) and Ravenna (28th), with the division's artillery regiment based in Ravenna. Shortly after its formation the division was sent to Sabratha in Italian Libya. It participated in the Western Desert campaign and was destroyed during the Second Battle of El Alamein.[2]