131st Armored Division "Centauro"

This article is about the historic Royal Italian Army 131st Armored Division "Centauro". For the historic Royal Italian Army namesake division, see 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro". For the historic Italian Army division and later brigade, see Armored Brigade "Centauro".
131st Armored Division "Centauro"
131st Armored Division "Centauro" insignia
Active20 April 1939 - 18 April 1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeArmored
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQSiena
EngagementsWorld War II
Greco-Italian War
Invasion of Yugoslavia
Tunisian Campaign
Insignia
Identification
symbol
WWII Centauro gorget patches

The 131st Armored Division "Centauro" (Italian: 131ª Divisione corazzata "Centauro") was an armored division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in April 1939 by expanding the I Armored Brigade (Italian: I Brigata Corazzata). The division's name came from the mythological race of half human-half horse creatures named Centaurs. The division participated in the invasion of Albania, Greco-Italian War, and invasion of Yugoslavia. In August 1942 the division was sent to Libya to participate in the Western Desert Campaign. After the Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein the division retreated with the German-Italian Panzer Army to Tunisia, where the division participated in the Tunisian Campaign. On 18 April 1943 the division was disbanded due to the losses suffered in the Battle of El Guettar.[1]

  1. ^ Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 327. Retrieved 23 November 2021.