Italian invasion of France
| Italian invasion of France | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Date | June 10-25, 1940 | |
| Location | French-Italian border | |
| Victor | N/A | |
| Combatants | ||
| Armée des Alpes | Gruppo d' Armate Ovest | |
| Commanders | ||
| René-Henry Orly General, French Army |
Umberto di Savoia Crown Prince of Italy | |
| Strength | ||
| 200,000 | 300,000 | |
| Casualties | ||
| 390 Killed: 42 Wounded: 84 Captured or missing: 264 |
3,880 Killed: 631 Wounded or frostbitten: 2,631 Captured or missing: 1,757 | |
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940, also called the Italo-French War, was the first Italian military campaign during the Second World War. The Italian invaders attacked the French Alps and town of Menton. The French defenders resisted fiercely, but had to surrender ultimately territory to the Cosseria Division.
Background
On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on France and Britain. With the French Armed Forces collapsing in the face of a German invasion, the Italian Fascist Regime under Benito Mussolini saw a good opportunity in seizing disputed territory through a short invasion. Mussolini had interest in the annexation of Mentone, Sardinia and Corsica.
Italian Divisions attacked through the Little Saint Bernard Pass in the French Alps, but encountered stiff resistance. The Italians suffered major losses but prevailed in the week-long battle, capturing Menton and Briançon in house-to-house combat, and Lablachère on the Riviera Road, after having finally broken through the French Defences at three points on the Isère Valley in the final stages of the operation.
Battle
The invasion commenced on the morning of 21 June. The Italian troops advanced through the so-called "No-Man’s-Land" on the French side but were not able to penetrate the French defence lines. Along the coast the Italiians sent forward three armoured trains armed with four 120 mm guns to bombard the French coastal batteries. But even on the coast no progress was made.
On 22 June, infantry from the Sforzesca Division penetrated into Bois de Sestriéres and Bois de Prairia together with a platoon of Carabinieri and supporting light tanks. The invaders conquered Montgenèvre and la Crete de Chaussard in this action.
On 23 June 23, Fort Chenillet was captured by Arditi Guastatori, a Carabinieri platoon and infantry from the Assietta Division advancing under heavy French artillery fire. The French were also forced to abandon the fort of Trois Tetes, but continued to resist well all along the rest of the fort line.
The next day, 200 soldiers of the Guardia Alla Frontiera supported by a column of light tanks attacked Moncenisio and conquered Fort Arcellins , Cima della Nunda but the French Chasseurs Alpins checked the Italian advance at le Petit Turra.
