184th Paratroopers Division Nembo
184ª Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo", literally the 184th Parachutists' Division "Nembo", but also known in English as the 184th Paratroopers' Division "Nembo" was an airborne division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was often known simply as la "Nembo" (The "Nembo").
| 184th Paratroopers Division Nembo | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942-1943 |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Airborne |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Nembo |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Insignia | |
| Nembo Division collar insignia |  |
The "Nembo" Division was formed in December 1942 from the 185th Parachutists' Regiment (which has been detached from the 185ª Divisione Paracadutisti Folgore. To the 185th were added the 183rd and 184th Parachutists' Regiments.
While fighting Allied forces in North Africa, the 183rd Regiment was destroyed. The 185th Regiment was sent to fight Yugoslav partisans, and afterwards fought against the Allied landings in Sicily. It also fought on the mainland after being evacuated from Sicily. The rest of the division was sent to Sardinia in June 1943.[1]
After Italy came to terms with the Allies and formation of the Allied-aligned Italian Co-belligerent Army, the main part of the "Nembo" continued to fight on the Axis side as part of the National Republican Army. Following the collapse of the rump fascist state, former members of the "Nembo" became the basis of the 4th Fallschirmjäger Division.[2]
History
The Nembo was sent to Yugoslavia in the spring of 1943, on anti-partisan operations near the Italian border city of Gorizia.[1] In June 1943, the 183 and 184 Parachute Regiments were sent to Sardinia to defend the island against what was expected to be the main Allied landing. The 185 Parachute Regiment was sent to Calabria.[1]
When the Allies landed in Sicily in July 1943, the 185 was sent to reinforce the island but it arrived too late to affect the outcome. It was selected to form the rear guard and protect the withdrawing Italian and German forces, which were evacuating to the mainland. After the allied landings in Southern Italy the division engaged the British 8th Army in the Aspromonte massif, with a notable battle fought against Canadian troops on 8 September 1943.
After the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces the 12 Parachute Battalion of the 184 regiment and the majority of the 3 Parachute Battalion of the 185 regiment sided with the retreating Germans and formed part of the new 4th Fallschirmjäger Division, while the rest of the division joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Army.[3][4] Some of the "Nembo" parachutists who joined the Allies later participated in Operation Herring, the war's final airborne combat drop over Europe.
In January 1944, the Allies launched Operation Shingle, and the division fought against them in the landings at Anzio.
Order of battle
- 183rd Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo"
- 10. Parachute Battalion
- 15. Parachute Battalion
- 16. Parachute Battalion
- 184th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo"
- 12. Parachute Battalion
- 14. Parachute Battalion
- 23. Parachute Battalion
- 185th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo"
- 3. Parachute Battalion
- 8. Parachute Battalion
- 11. Parachute Battalion
- 184th Artillery Regiment "Nembo"
- 184. Guastatori Engineer Battalion [1]
See also
- Paracadutisti
- Folgore Parachute Brigade present day Italian Airborne Brigade
References
Bibliography
- George F. Nafziger, Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)
Notes
- Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- Garland and Smyth, Sicily and the Surrender of Italy, pp. 534–535.
- http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/storia/CIL_184.asp Italian Army: 184° reggimento paracadutisti "Nembo". Accessed 2009-04-19. Archived 2009-05-03.
- "185° reparto autonomo paracadutisti "Nembo"". Archived from the original on 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2009-04-19.