Ariete Armored Division

The Ariete Armoured Division was formed in Milan in February 1939 and designated the 132nd. It was initially made up of the 8th Bersaglieri (motorised infantry) regiment, the 32nd tank regiment (equipped with L3/35 light tanks and a few M11/39 medium tanks), the 132nd artillery regiment, and additional divisional support units. The division was moved to the French border at the outbreak of World War II, but it was kept in reserve during the short campaign on that front.

Later, some battalions of the 32nd Tank Regiment (the I and II M11/39 Medium tank battalions and the III and V M13/40 Medium tank battalions) were moved to Libya to become part of the Special Armoured Brigade belonging to General Rodolfo Graziani’s 10th Army. From December 1940 to February 1941 the British Western Desert Force overran the 10th Army, occupying the whole of Cyrenaica and endangering the Italian presence in Northern Africa.

It was then decided to employ the whole Ariete Division on that front line, and on the 24 January 1941 the first echelons of the Division disembarked at Tripoli. From February 1941 to November 1942 the Ariete Division took part to Northern Africa campaign attached to the 20th Motorised Corps, beside Rommel's Deutsche Afrika Korps.

In particular, reinforced in 1941 with the 132nd Tank Regiment (which later completely replaced the 32nd, disbanded on mid-1942) it took part in the first German – Italian counteroffensive to re-conquer the Cyrenaica, and the siege of Tobruk. With this Regiment, its battalions (initially the VII, VIII and IX, the former two later replaced by the X and XIII), now equipped with M13/40 and/or M14/41 medium tanks, and starting in early 1942 the V and VI battalions, equipped with M40 75/18mm semoventi (assault gun) from the 132nd Artillery Regiment, the Division continued its exceptional operational performance in the deserts of Libya and Egypt. It later took part, during the 2nd counteroffensive, in the invasion of Egypt and the three battles of El Alamein.

During the last of these battles it consciously immolated the whole of its about 120 obsolete tanks in the attempt to counter the enemy offensive and cover the withdrawal of the Army, gaining once again the praise of both enemies and allies. On 4 November at about 15:30, the few surviving tanks, surrounded by an overwhelmingly superior enemy, broadcast their last message, quoting:

Enemy tanks broke through South of ARIETE Division. ARIETE thus surrounded, located 5kms northwest of Bir-el-Abd. ARIETE tanks keep on fighting!.

Then they were destroyed to the last tank.

On 21 November, 1942, following the unfavourable wartime events on Northern African Theatre, the Division was disbanded, and its name kept by a Task Force gathering up its remnants, which kept fighting throughout the retreat and subsequent battle of Tunisia, and was later forced to surrender along with the whole of Axis Army in Northern Africa.

On 1 April, 1943, as a tribute to a name that in such a short time had become a synonym of honour and bravery (the Division was the most quoted unit in the War Bulletin), it was ordered the re-constitution of 135th ARIETE II Armoured Cavalry Division, made up of cavalry regts. The division was located in North Eastern Italy, and organized on the following subordinate units:

* "Montebello lancers" Armoured Reconnaissance Group;
* "Vittorio Emanuele II’s Lancers" Armoured Cavalry Regiment;
* "Lucca light horse" Motorised Cavalry Regiment;
* 135th Artillery Regiment;
* 235th semoventi artillery Regiment;
* antitank battalion, equipped with 75/34mm semoventi;
* minor Divisional Support Units.

The Division was moved to Central Italy following the fall of Mussolini Government and took part to the defence of Rome from 8th to 10th September 1943, counterattacking German Panzergrenadier and Paratroops units, and performing a last stand at St. Paul's Gate. The Division once again distinguished itself for its outstanding performance and discipline, at a time when everything seemed uncertain and difficult. Because of the will by Supreme Headquarters to avoid unnecessary sacrifices and losses the Division received the order of surrendering while still holding back the enemy, and was then disbanded.