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17th "Pavia" Infantry Division (view source)
Revision as of 13:33, November 11, 2016
, 13:33, November 11, 2016→Operation Crusader
On 23 November 1941, the British 70th Infantry Division with 60 supporting tanks overruns part of the defenses of the 25th ''Bologna'' Infantry Division, but the ''Pavia'' counterattacks, restoring the broken lines.<ref>"After a sudden artillery concentration the garrison of Fortress Tobruk, supported by sixty tanks, made an attack on the direction of Bel Hamid at noon, intending at long last unite with the main offence group. The Italian siege front around the fortress tried to offer a defence in the confusion but was forced to relinquish numerous strong points in the encirclement front about Bir Bu Assaten to superior enemy forces. The Italian “Pavia” Division was committed for a counterattack and managed to seal off the enemy breakthrough.” Generalmajor Major Alfred Toppe (et al), German Experiences in Desert Warfare During World War II, in 2 volumes, Combat Studies Institute/Combined Arms Research Library, 1952</ref>
On 23 November 1941, the British 70th Infantry Division with 60 supporting tanks overruns part of the defenses of the 25th ''Bologna'' Infantry Division, but the ''Pavia'' counterattacks, restoring the broken lines.<ref>"After a sudden artillery concentration the garrison of Fortress Tobruk, supported by sixty tanks, made an attack on the direction of Bel Hamid at noon, intending at long last unite with the main offence group. The Italian siege front around the fortress tried to offer a defence in the confusion but was forced to relinquish numerous strong points in the encirclement front about Bir Bu Assaten to superior enemy forces. The Italian “Pavia” Division was committed for a counterattack and managed to seal off the enemy breakthrough.” Generalmajor Major Alfred Toppe (et al), German Experiences in Desert Warfare During World War II, in 2 volumes, Combat Studies Institute/Combined Arms Research Library, 1952</ref>
On 4 December, the ''Pavia'' and ''Trento'' recapture the British-held ‘Plonk and ‘Doc’ strong-points outside Tobruk.<ref>[http://www.comandosupremo.com/bologna-division.html/5 Italians passed to counter-attack along the whole line]</ref>
On 5 December, the ''Pavia'' Division from positions at El Adem covers the German withdrawal from Tobruk, delaying the advance of the 1st Battalion from the ''Durham Light Infantry'' in chaotic night-fighting lasting over three hours.<ref>"The operation proceeded without opposition until the 1/Durham Light Infantry had advanced some 5,000 yards. Here the Pavia Division had established a rearguard position which was tenaciously defended but overcome after midnight by an attack made in conjunction with tanks of the 32nd Army Tank Brigade." Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Volume 3, Barton Maughan, p. 509, Australian War Memorial, 1966</ref>
==References==
==References==