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==Battle of El Mechili==

==Battle of El Mechili==

The ''Pavia'' Division took part in General Erwin Rommel's first desert offensive (nickhamed ''the Benghazi Derby'' among the retreating British Imperial troops) in late March and early April 1941. Under Major-General Pietro Zaglio, the Pavia attacked via the Balbia coastal road from Agedabia, helping the ''Ariete'' Armoured Division and [[8th Bersaglieri Regiment]] force the Australian, British and Indian divisions to relinquish their gains and fall back to Tobruk. On 3 April, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment with the help of reconnaissance troops from the ''Sabratha'' Division, recaptured Benghazi and advanced to El Mechili, along with the advance elements from the German 5th Light Division. On 8 April, General Gambier-Parry surrendered to General Zaglio and the ''Pavia'' after a breakout attempt was broken up by heavy fire from the ''Fabris'' and ''Montemurro'' Bersaglieri Battalions that had taken up ambush positions around the British fortress under the cover of darkness. Some 3,000 British, Indian and Australian soldiers were captured as a result of the actions of the ''Pavia'' and supporting Bersaglieri.<ref>"The victory must have been especially sweet for the men of the Ariete Division, partly as recompense for past humiliations at British hands, and partly because it was an all-Italian triumph." Tobruk: The Great Siege, 1941-42, William F. Buckingham, Random House, 2010</ref><ref>"On April 8, the Afrika Korps completed the destruction of the 2nd Armoured Division. Major General Michael D. Gambier-Parry, the commander of the 2nd Armoured, and Brigadier Vaughn, the commander of the Indian 3rd Motor Brigade, were captured, along with 3,000 of their men." Rommel's Desert Commanders: The Men who Served the Desert Fox, North Africa, 1941-1942, Samuel W. Mitcham, p. 18, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007</ref>

The ''Pavia'' Division took part in General Erwin Rommel's first desert offensive (nickhamed ''the Benghazi Derby'' among the retreating British Imperial troops) in late March and early April 1941. Under Major-General Pietro Zaglio, the ''Pavia'' attacked via the Balbia coastal road from Agedabia, helping the ''Ariete'' Armoured Division and [[8th Bersaglieri Regiment]] force the Australian, British and Indian divisions to relinquish their gains and fall back to Tobruk. On April 3, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment with the help of reconnaissance troops from the ''Sabratha'' Division, recaptured Benghazi and advanced to El Mechili, along with the advance elements from the German 5th Light Division. On April 8, General Gambier-Parry surrendered to General Zaglio and the ''Pavia'' after a breakout attempt was broken up by heavy fire from the ''Fabris'' and ''Montemurro'' Bersaglieri Battalions that had taken up ambush positions around the British fortress under the cover of darkness. Some 3,000 British, Indian and Australian soldiers were captured as a result of the actions of the ''Pavia'' and supporting Bersaglieri.<ref>"The victory must have been especially sweet for the men of the Ariete Division, partly as recompense for past humiliations at British hands, and partly because it was an all-Italian triumph." Tobruk: The Great Siege, 1941-42, William F. Buckingham, Random House, 2010</ref><ref>"On April 8, the Afrika Korps completed the destruction of the 2nd Armoured Division. Major General Michael D. Gambier-Parry, the commander of the 2nd Armoured, and Brigadier Vaughn, the commander of the Indian 3rd Motor Brigade, were captured, along with 3,000 of their men." Rommel's Desert Commanders: The Men who Served the Desert Fox, North Africa, 1941-1942, Samuel W. Mitcham, p. 18, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007</ref>

With the arrival of the German Afrika Korps, the Pavia and Brescia Divisions help isolate and capture Bardia. The Italian divisions then take part in the Siege of Tobruk, taking up positions in the southern sector of the Axis siege lines.

With the arrival of the German Afrika Korps, the ''Pavia'' and ''Brescia'' Divisions help isolate and capture Bardia. The Italian divisions then take part in the Siege of Tobruk, taking up positions in the southern sector of the Axis siege lines.

In early May 1941, the Australians defending Tobruk counterattack in an attempt to recover several strong-points lost to the Italians from the ''Ariete'' and ''Brescia'' Divisions, but the ''Pavia'', ''Trento'' and Ariete defeat the attacks.<ref>"On the night of 3rd May, the Italian Trento and Pavia Divisions ... repelled an Australian counterattack." The Forgotten Axis: Germany's Partners and Foreign Volunteers in World War II, J. Lee Ready, p. 310, Jefferson, NC, 1987</ref>

In early May 1941, the Australians defending Tobruk counterattack in an attempt to recover several strong-points lost to the Italians from the ''Ariete'' and ''Brescia'' Divisions, but the ''Pavia'', ''Trento'' and Ariete defeat the attacks.<ref>"On the night of 3rd May, the Italian Trento and Pavia Divisions ... repelled an Australian counterattack." The Forgotten Axis: Germany's Partners and Foreign Volunteers in World War II, J. Lee Ready, p. 310, Jefferson, NC, 1987</ref>