Italian 2nd Eritrean Division

The Italian 2nd Eritrean Division, also called the Second Eritrean Division or II Division Indigeni, was a colonial infantry formation of the Italian armed forces during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935–1936. It was organized in Italian Eritrea from Eritrean Ascari serving in the regular native battalions of the Italian colonial military. Unlike a commercial brand, the division was a temporary military organization whose identity derived from its administrative designation, component units, and role in Italy’s campaign against the Ethiopian Empire. The division was commanded initially by General Achille Vaccarisi and later by General Lorenzo Dalmazzo. Its field structure included two mixed brigades, each combining several Eritrean native battalion groups with mountain artillery. The 2nd Mixed Brigade contained the 3rd and 7th Native Battalion Groups, while the 4th Mixed Brigade contained the 4th and 8th Native Battalion Groups. The formation’s artillery elements operated 65/17 Mod. 13 mountain guns, equipment suited to the difficult terrain in which the Italian campaign was fought. The X and XXV native battalions were detached from the division. The division participated in the Italian advance into Ethiopia and sustained severe losses during the Battle of Maychew. At that engagement, Eritrean troops faced repeated attacks by the Ethiopian Imperial Guard, an elite force of the Ethiopian army. The battle formed part of the final phase of organized Ethiopian resistance in the northern theater, and the division’s losses reflected the intensity of the fighting and the exposed role of colonial troops in Italian operations. After the hostilities ended and Italian control over Ethiopia was consolidated, the division was dissolved in 1936. Its short existence therefore corresponds closely to the operational requirements of the war rather than to a permanent peacetime establishment. The division is historically significant as an example of the Eritrean Ascari formations recruited, organized, and deployed by Fascist Italy in its colonial conquest of Ethiopia, while the available reference material provides limited information about its subsequent institutional legacy.

The Italian 2nd Eritrean Division was created in 1935 as an Italian colonial infantry formation for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its personnel came primarily from Eritrean Ascari, the regular indigenous troops recruited and maintained by the Italian colonial authorities in Eritrea. These units formed a substantial part of Italy’s military presence in the Horn of Africa and were used in combat, reconnaissance, security, and logistical roles during the Ethiopian campaign. The division was designated the 2nd Eritrean Division, or II Division Indigeni, and was also referred to as the 2nd Natives Division. General Achille Vaccarisi served as its initial commander. The organization was divided into the 2nd Mixed Brigade under Brigadier General Lorenzo Dalmazzo and the 4th Mixed Brigade under Brigadier General Gustavo Pesenti. The brigades incorporated native battalion groups and mountain artillery units. The 2nd Mixed Brigade included the 3rd Native Battalion Group, comprising the V Ameglio and XXI Fulmine battalions, and the 7th Native Battalion Group, comprising the IV Toselli, XIX Cafaro, and XXII battalions. It also had a 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion equipped with 65/17 Mod. 13 mountain guns. The 4th Mixed Brigade included the 4th Native Battalion Group, made up of the IX Guastoni, XII, and XVII Nebri battalions, and the 8th Native Battalion Group, made up of the VIII Gamerra and XX battalions. Its artillery component was the 4th Mountain Artillery Battalion, also equipped with 65/17 Mod. 13 guns. The X and XXV native battalions were detached from the division. This structure gave the formation a combination of infantry and mobile mountain artillery adapted to the rugged terrain of northern Ethiopia. The division took part in the Italian campaign as Italian forces advanced into Ethiopian territory. Its most prominent recorded engagement was the Battle of Maychew in 1936. At Maychew, Ethiopian forces launched attacks that included the Imperial Guard, an elite formation associated with Emperor Haile Selassie’s army. The fighting caused heavy losses among the division’s troops. The engagement was a major confrontation during the final stage of the Ethiopian defense in the north and preceded the collapse of organized Ethiopian resistance in the area. Vaccarisi commanded the division from 1 May 1935 until 24 January 1936. On that date, Lorenzo Dalmazzo succeeded him and remained in command until 26 April 1936. Following the end of the hostilities, the division was dissolved in 1936. Its history was consequently limited to the wartime period, although its existence illustrates the central role assigned to Eritrean colonial troops in Italy’s military operations in Ethiopia. The available reference material does not establish a separate postwar successor formation or a continuing institutional identity.

• 1936

  Command transferred to Lorenzo Dalmazzo

  [1]Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  General Lorenzo Dalmazzo replaced Vaccarisi as commander on 24 January 1936.

• 1936

  Battle of Maychew

  [1]Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Maychew while resisting attacks by the Ethiopian Imperial Guard.

• 1936

  Dissolution

  [1]Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division was dissolved after the end of hostilities.

• 1935

  Formation of the division

  [1]Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Italian 2nd Eritrean Division was formed in Italian Eritrea from Eritrean Ascari and organized for service in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

• 1935

  Achille Vaccarisi assumes command

  [1]Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  General Achille Vaccarisi became the division’s commanding officer on 1 May 1935.

A wartime Italian colonial infantry division built around Eritrean Ascari and organized for operations in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

• 1935Second Italo-Ethiopian War

  Italian Eritrea and Ethiopia

  The division was deployed as an Italian colonial infantry formation during Italy’s invasion and conquest of Ethiopia. Its constituent Eritrean Ascari battalions operated within a structure supported by mountain artillery.

  Outcome. The war ended with Italian victory and the division’s dissolution in 1936.

  Source

• 1936

  Dissolution after the campaignOther

  Background

  The division was a wartime formation created for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

  Action taken

  Italian authorities dissolved the division after hostilities ended.

  Aftermath

  The formation ceased to exist as a distinct division; the available source does not identify a direct successor.

  Source

1. 1Italian 2nd Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org