Italian Somali Divisions

The Italian Somali Divisions were the 101st Somali Division and the 102nd Somali Division, two formations of the Regio Esercito's Royal Corps of Colonial Troops. They were raised in Italian Somaliland after Italy entered the Second World War in June 1940 and were intended to provide large, locally recruited infantry formations for the defence and expansion of Italian East Africa. Their personnel came initially from colonial brigades that had participated in Italy's 1936 conquest of Ethiopia and the 1940 campaign against British Somaliland. Additional recruits were then enlisted to bring the formations toward the size expected of a standard Italian division, approximately 7,000 soldiers each. The divisions were created during a period when Italian East Africa was strategically isolated from Italy and increasingly threatened by British and Commonwealth forces operating from Sudan, Kenya, British Somaliland and the Red Sea region. Training was conducted by Italian non-commissioned officers, but preparations were incomplete. The construction of a small Decauville railway between Villabruzzi and the Ethiopian frontier interrupted training and logistical arrangements. Consequently, although Italian Somaliland reportedly contained more than 20,000 Somali soldiers at the beginning of the war, many of the troops assigned to the two divisions lacked the preparation and equipment needed for sustained conventional combat. The 101st Somali Division, initially commanded by Brigadier-General Italo Carnevali, was deployed toward the Juba River in western Italian Somaliland in anticipation of a British offensive from Kenya. Its organization included two colonial brigades, infantry battalions, artillery groups, cavalry squadrons, engineer companies, field hospitals and supply columns. The division headquarters and major elements operated around the Jilib, Baidoa, Bardera, Lugh Ferrandi and Dolo areas. The 102nd Somali Division, commanded initially by Brigadier-General Santini, was first held near Mogadishu as a reserve before moving toward Gelib and the lower Juba region in February 1941. It included the XCII Colonial Brigade and associated infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineer, medical and supply units. The British and Commonwealth offensive against the Juba front began in early February 1941. The 101st Division, reinforced by elements of the 102nd, fought heavily but suffered severe losses and disintegration as it withdrew toward Ethiopia. Carnevali was wounded and became ill, after which Colonel Alfredo Baccari took command. Conflicting withdrawal orders, air attacks, battlefield pressure and the collapse of communications contributed to the formation's breakdown. By the time remnants reached Dolo and subsequently Harar, the 101st's headquarters had lost its Somali personnel and much of its original fighting capacity. The division was effectively dismantled on 7 March 1941, although some Italian officers later continued fighting in the Gondar Redoubt until its fall in November. The 102nd Division also retreated into Ethiopia after British forces crossed the Juba River. Its troops fought around Gelib and took part in an attack near Jumbo on 18 February 1941, where a battalion-sized force encountered intense fire from South African defenders. The division was eventually dismantled in the Ogaden. Some surviving personnel, particularly Italian officers, withdrew toward Passo Marda south of Addis Ababa, where they made a final stand. The two divisions were therefore short-lived wartime formations rather than enduring institutions. Their history illustrates both the scale of Italy's colonial military mobilization in East Africa and the limitations imposed by inadequate training, logistical isolation, air inferiority and the rapid collapse of Italian defensive positions in 1941. They ceased to exist as coherent divisions during the East African Campaign.

After Italy declared war on the Allies in June 1940, the Italian Army formed two Somali divisions in Italian Somaliland: the 101st Somali Division and the 102nd Somali Division. The formations were part of the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops and drew their first personnel from colonial brigades that had fought in Ethiopia in 1936 and British Somaliland in 1940. New recruits were added to approach the manpower level of a regular Italian division, but training was incomplete and disrupted by railway construction between Villabruzzi and the Ethiopian frontier. The 101st Division, under Brigadier-General Italo Carnevali, was sent to the Juba River sector to meet a possible British attack from Kenya. The 102nd, under Brigadier-General Santini, initially remained near Mogadishu before moving to the Gelib area in February 1941. The 101st deployed infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineering, medical and supply units across positions including Jilib, Baidoa, Bardera, Lugh Ferrandi and Dolo. The 102nd was centered on the XCII Colonial Brigade and operated in the lower Juba region. British and Commonwealth forces attacked the Juba front in early February 1941. The 101st, supported by elements of the 102nd, was heavily damaged in the fighting and began a withdrawal into Ethiopia. Carnevali was wounded and became ill, and Alfredo Baccari assumed command. The retreat was disrupted by changing orders, bombing, communications problems and the loss of Somali personnel. The division was effectively dismantled when its remaining brigades reached Harar on 7 March. Some Italian officers from the former division later fought in the Gondar Redoubt until November 1941. The 102nd also retreated after the British crossed the Juba River. Its forces fought around Gelib and participated in a costly attack near Jumbo on 18 February. After further withdrawal, the division was dismantled in the Ogaden. Survivors, especially Italian officers, moved toward Passo Marda south of Addis Ababa for a final resistance effort. Both divisions disappeared as organized formations during the 1941 East African Campaign.

• 1941

  British offensive against the Juba line

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  British and Commonwealth forces attacked the Juba front, forcing the Somali divisions into a difficult retreat toward Ethiopia.

• 1941

  Dismantling of the 101st Division

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  The remnants of the 101st reached Harar after severe losses and the division was effectively dismantled on 7 March.

• 1941

  Dismantling of the 102nd Division

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  After fighting around Gelib and retreating through the Ogaden, the 102nd Division ceased to exist as a coherent formation.

• 1941

  End of associated resistance in East Africa

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  Some former divisional personnel, mainly Italian officers, continued resistance at locations including the Gondar Redoubt and Passo Marda.

• 1940

  Formation of the two Somali divisions

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  Following Italy's entry into the Second World War, the Regio Esercito raised the 101st and 102nd Somali Divisions in Italian Somaliland.

• 1940

  Deployment of the 101st to the Juba front

  [1]Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org

  The 101st Division was sent westward to defend the Juba River sector against a potential British advance from Kenya.

Colonial military formations created by the Italian Royal Army to organize Somali troops for the defence of Italian Somaliland and participation in the East African Campaign.

• Colonial military division · 1940

  101st Somali Division

  The 101st Somali Division was the larger and more extensively deployed of the two formations. Commanded initially by Brigadier-General Italo Carnevali, it defended the Juba River sector and included the XX and XCI Colonial Brigades, colonial infantry battalions, artillery groups, cavalry squadrons, engineer companies, field hospitals and supply columns. It suffered heavy losses during the February 1941 British offensive and was effectively dismantled after withdrawing into Ethiopia.

• Colonial military division · 1940

  102nd Somali Division

  The 102nd Somali Division was formed primarily from newer recruits and initially served as a reserve around Mogadishu before moving toward Gelib. Its organization centered on the XCII Colonial Brigade, supported by infantry, artillery, cavalry, engineering, medical and supply units. It fought around the Juba River and Jumbo, then retreated into the Ogaden and was dismantled during the 1941 campaign.

• 1941East African Campaign

  Italian Somaliland · Ethiopia · East Africa

  Both divisions participated in the Italian defence of East Africa against British and Commonwealth forces. The main action described for them occurred along the Juba River, around Gelib and during the subsequent retreat into Ethiopia.

  Outcome. The divisions were defeated and dismantled during the British advance.

  Source

• 1941

  Withdrawal from the Juba frontStrategy

  Background

  The British offensive broke through Italian positions in the Juba region and placed the Somali divisions under severe pressure.

  Action taken

  Italian command ordered the 101st and 102nd formations to withdraw toward Ethiopia, with elements redirected toward locations including Harar and Neghelli.

  Aftermath

  The retreat resulted in the disintegration and eventual dismantling of both divisions.

  Source

• 1940

  Creation of two Somali colonial divisionsStrategy

  Background

  Italy needed locally based forces to defend Italian Somaliland and its wider East African possessions after entering the war.

  Action taken

  The Royal Corps of Colonial Troops organized the 101st and 102nd Somali Divisions from existing colonial personnel and new recruits.

  Aftermath

  The formations entered combat before their training and logistical preparation were complete.

  Source

1. 1Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)en.wikipedia.org