33rd Infantry Division "Acqui"

This article is about the World War II Royal Italian Army 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui". For the historic Italian Army brigade, see Motorized Brigade "Acqui". For the currently active Italian Army division, see Division "Acqui".

33rd Infantry Division "Acqui"
33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" insignia
Active1939–1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
RoleInfantry
SizeDivision
12,000 soldiers
Part ofXXVI Army Corps
Garrison/HQMeran
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Ernesto Chiminello
Antonio Gandin
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Acqui Division gorget patches

The 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" (Italian: 33ª Divisione di fanteria "Acqui") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Acqui was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that its artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The division was named for the city of Acqui. The division is notable for having been massacred with remarkable cruelty after surrendering to the Germans on 21 September 1943. The main detachments of the Acqui division in the islands of Cephalonia and Corfu were officially dissolved 25 September 1943.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ "33ª Divisione di fanteria "Acqui"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. ^ Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 272. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Cefalonia". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 December 2023.