Changes

==Operation Crusader==

==Operation Crusader==

On November 21st 1941, the ''Bologna'' Division brought to a halt a strong British advance through its positions as part of [[Operation Crusader]].<ref>"The front was a series of strongpoints and not continuous trench lines. One was the Tugun position held by the Bologna infantry division, anything but an elite formation. The New Zealand Official History states, "The more elaborate attack on Tugun went in at 3 p.m. and gained perhaps half the position, together with 250 Italians and many light field guns; but the Italians in the western half could not be dislodged and the base of the break-out area remained on this account uncomfortably narrow." The Official History goes on to comment on the "...strong Italian opposition at Tugun as part of the reason for the decision to halt the sortie at this time." Rommel's North Africa Campaign: September 1940-November 1942, Page 110, Jack Greene & Alessandro Massignani, Combined Books, 1994</ref> The British forces involved (2nd/King’s Own, 2nd/Black Watch, 2nd/Queen’s and 4th RTR with Matilda tanks) overran part of the ''Bologna'' defences, but the attacks were eventually stopped by the Italian defenders. In summing up the experience of the 2nd Battalion ''The Black Watch'' in the attack, the ''Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War'' noted that:{{cquote|The superlative élan of the Black Watch in the attack had been equalled by the remarkable persistence of the defence in the face of formidable tank-and-infantry pressure.<ref>The Relief of Tobruk, W. E. Murphy, Pg 93, War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1961</ref>}}

On November 21st 1941, the ''Bologna'' Division brought to a halt a strong British advance through its positions as part of [[Operation Crusader]].<ref>"The front was a series of strongpoints and not continuous trench lines. One was the Tugun position held by the Bologna infantry division, anything but an elite formation. The New Zealand Official History states, "The more elaborate attack on Tugun went in at 3 p.m. and gained perhaps half the position, together with 250 Italians and many light field guns; but the Italians in the western half could not be dislodged and the base of the break-out area remained on this account uncomfortably narrow." The Official History goes on to comment on the "...strong Italian opposition at Tugun as part of the reason for the decision to halt the sortie at this time." Rommel's North Africa Campaign: September 1940-November 1942, Page 110, Jack Greene & Alessandro Massignani, Combined Books, 1994</ref> The British forces involved (2nd/''King''’s Own, 2nd/''Black Watch'', 2nd/''Queen''’s and 4th Royal Tank Regiment with Matilda tanks) overran part of the ''Bologna'' defences, but the attacks were eventually stopped by the Italian defenders. In summing up the experience of the 2nd Battalion ''The Black Watch'' in the attack, the ''Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War'' noted that:{{cquote|The superlative élan of the Black Watch in the attack had been equalled by the remarkable persistence of the defence in the face of formidable tank-and-infantry pressure.<ref>The Relief of Tobruk, W. E. Murphy, Pg 93, War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1961</ref>}}

On November 23rd, the ''Bologna'' Division again withstood another strong British attack from Tobruk aimed at penetrating into the area of Sidi Rezegh, and the defenders bought sufficient time to allow the [[17th ''Pavia'' Infantry Division]] to mount an effective counter-attack and derail the British advance, as a German narrative later recorded:{{cquote|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. <ref>German Experiences in Desert Warfare During World War II, Generalmajor Major Alfred Toppe (et al), Combat Studies Institute/Combined Arms Research Library, 1952</ref>}}

On November 23rd, the ''Bologna'' Division again withstood another strong British attack from Tobruk aimed at spilling into the area of Sidi Rezegh, and the defenders bought sufficient time to allow the [[17th Pavia Infantry Division]] to mount an effective counter-attack and derail the British advance, as a German narrative later recorded:{{cquote|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. <ref>German Experiences in Desert Warfare During World War II, Generalmajor Major Alfred Toppe (et al), Combat Studies Institute/Combined Arms Research Library, 1952</ref>}}

The ''Bologna'' defences now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25th, the thinly spread-out division was assaulted by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German ''Böttcher'' Group had inflicted considerable losses on the British tanks. The British advance had been hours earlier derailed by the timely arrival of Italian reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the ''Trieste'' Division.<ref>"When the New Zealanders attacked again after the onset of darkness, they were able to take Balhamed in the course of the night. Early in the morning of 26 November, a portion of the Tobruk garrison, supported by 50 tanks, broke out once again. A crisis arose when El Duda fell. It was only through a bitter and bravely conducted immediate counterattack by the Bersaglieri of the Trieste Division that the positions in the north could be held." Das Afrika Korps: Erwin Rommel and the Germans in Africa, 1941-43, By Franz Kurowski, pg. 117, Stackpole Books, 2010</ref>

The ''Bologna'' defences now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25th, the thinly spread-out division was assaulted again by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German ''Böttcher'' Group had inflicted considerable losses on the British tanks. The British advance had been hours earlier derailed by the timely arrival of crack Italian reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the ''Trieste'' Division.<ref>"When the New Zealanders attacked again after the onset of darkness, they were able to take Balhamed in the course of the night. Early in the morning of 26 November, a portion of the Tobruk garrison, supported by 50 tanks, broke out once again. A crisis arose when El Duda fell. It was only through a bitter and bravely conducted immediate counterattack by the Bersaglieri of the Trieste Division that the positions in the north could be held." Das Afrika Korps: Erwin Rommel and the Germans in Africa, 1941-43, By Franz Kurowski, pg. 117, Stackpole Books, 2010</ref>

The ''Bologna''defenders were gradually pushed back to the ''Leopard'' strongpoint, covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among the British commanders.  

The ''Bologna''defenders were gradually pushed back to the ''Leopard'' strongpoint, covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among the British commanders.  

Despite the Elite German 90th Light Division withdrawing early from the Tobruk sector on December 4th, the ''Bologna'' Division held out over the next week when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support under the cover of darkness of December 8th.

Despite the Elite German 90th Light Division withdrawing early from the Tobruk sector on December 4th, the ''Bologna'' Division held out over the next week when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support under the cover of darkness of December 8th.

A further assault, this time by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK) supported by tanks and artillery, was required against the Italian forward defences of the ''Brescia'' Division on the White-Knoll stronghold, before the siege of Tobruk was finally lifted on December 10th.

A further assault, this time by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK) supported by tanks and artillery, was required against the stubborn Italian defenders in the form of the rearguard of the ''Brescia'' Division dug in on the White-Knoll, before the Axis siege of Tobruk was finally declared over on December 10th.

During Operation Crusader, 24 year-old Corporal Reginaldo Rossi of the 39th Bologna Infantry Regiment, won posthumously the ''Medaglia d’Argento al Valore Militare'', Italy’s second-highest military decoration. His Silver Medal for Valour citation reads:{{cquote|As an anti-tank gunner, he was an example to all for his discipline and the care and maintenance he took of the units weapons. In the bloody and arduous combat that took place against numerous armoured vehicles, he showed complete and total disregard to the danger present and with absolute calmness, he stuck to his gun that he refused to abandon, even when he found himself surrounded by the enemy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110815092044/www.comandosupremo.com/bologna-division.html Hit by German and Italian anti-tank guns]</ref>}}

During Operation Crusader, 24 year-old Corporal Reginaldo Rossi of the 39th Bologna Infantry Regiment, won posthumously the ''Medaglia d’Argento al Valore Militare'', Italy’s second-highest military decoration. His Silver Medal for Valour citation reads:{{cquote|As an anti-tank gunner, he was an example to all for his discipline and the care and maintenance he took of the units weapons. In the bloody and arduous combat that took place against numerous armoured vehicles, he showed complete and total disregard to the danger present and with absolute calmness, he stuck to his gun that he refused to abandon, even when he found himself surrounded by the enemy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110815092044/www.comandosupremo.com/bologna-division.html Hit by German and Italian anti-tank guns]</ref>}}