Waterloo 1815 AP002 Folgore Division Infantry 1942

Parachute Division Folgore (owned by the 1st Divisione Paracadutisti, from summer 1942 - 185. Divisione Paracadutisti Folgore) was formed in September 1941 on the basis of parachute battalions that had already existed in the Italian armed forces before. At the time of its formation, the division consisted of three parachute infantry regiments of 3 infantry battalions each. Each regiment also included a staff unit and an anti-tank artillery company. In addition, the division included, among others, an artillery regiment and a battalion of sappers. It is worth adding that the division was very well equipped with machine weapons - both light and heavy, and had a relatively strong artillery component for this type of formation. Originally, the unit was formed to take part in Operation Hercules, which was aimed at the capture of the island of Malta by the Axis countries. However, after the operation was canceled, the division was transferred to North Africa, where it took part mainly in the Second Battle of El Alamein (October-November 1942). During this battle, the soldiers of the formation fought with great courage and extremely effectively, turning out to be a very difficult opponent for the advancing British troops. However, in the course of these fights, the division suffered very heavy losses, as a result of which it was officially disbanded at the end of 1942, and its remnants were formed in 285 Folgore Parachute Battalion.