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{{Short description|Infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name='''1st Libyan Division'''
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1939–1941
|country= [[Italy]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)|Italian Army]]
|type=[[Infantry]]
|role=
|size= [[Division (military)|Division]]
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_2=

|nickname= ''Sibille''
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= [[World War II]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}

The '''1st Libyan Division''' ({{lang-it|1ª Divisione libica}}) was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[Royal Italian Army]] during [[World War II]]. It was commanded by general Luigi Sibille. The division took part in the [[Italian invasion of Egypt]] and was destroyed during the [[Battle of Sidi Barrani]].<ref name="Ufficio Storico">{{cite book |title=Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002 |date=2002 |publisher=Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico |location=Rome |page=355 |url=https://issuu.com/rivista.militare1/docs/bollettino-ii-n.3-4-2002-testo |access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
The division's history begins with the [[Italian Libyan Colonial Division]] formed in the 1920s with local troops from [[Italian Libya]]. The division fought in the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War]].

On 1 March 1940 the 1st Libyan Division and [[2nd Libyan Division (Italy)|2nd Libyan Division]] were formed from existing units in [[Italian Libya]]. Both divisions consisted of Italian officers and local non-commissioned officers and troops. By the time Italy entered [[World War II]] the division had 7,224 troops and its commanding general was [[Luigi Sibille]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://niehorster.org/019_italy/40_organ/div_libica_40.html|title=Divisione libica, 10.06.40|website=niehorster.org|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref>

In September 1940 the 1st Libyan Division participated in the [[Italian invasion of Egypt]]. On 13 September the 1st Libyan Division and [[1st Paratroopers Regiment "Fanti dell'Aria"]] attacked [[Sallum|Sollum]] in [[British Egypt]], which was defended by platoons of the [[Coldstream Guards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsmilitaris.org/pubblicazioni/deserto.pdf|title=Delusione nel deserto - Dall'entrata in guerra (10-6-1940) alla vigilia del contrattacco inglese (9-12-1940)|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref> The British laid mines in the area and quickly withdrew to [[Marsa Matruh]] after suffering 50 casualties.

In December 1940 the 1st Libyan Division was deployed farthest of all Italian division into Egypt. Consequently its camp at [[Maktila]] was the first to be attacked during the British [[Operation Compass]]. On 10 December 1940, amid a howling sandstorm, the division offered stiff resistance, but by 11 December the division had disintegrated with heavy losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptstudycircle.org.uk/Articles/p280QC223.pdf|title=The Italian Army in Egypt during World War II|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref>Walker, Ian W. (2003). Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini's elite armoured divisions in North Africa. Marlborough: Crowood. {{ISBN|1-86126-646-4}}.</ref> The division was declared lost on 11 December 1940.<ref name="Ufficio Storico"/>

== Organization ==
* '''1st Libyan Division'''<ref name="Ufficio Storico"/>
** 1st Libyan Infantry Grouping
*** VIII Libyan Infantry Battalion "[[Bardia]]"
*** IX Libyan Infantry Battalion "[[Ajdabiya|Agedabia]]"
*** X Libyan Infantry Battalion "[[Nofaliya|Nufilia]]"
** 2nd Libyan Infantry Grouping
*** XI Libyan Infantry Battalion "[[Derna, Libya|Derna]]"
*** XII Libyan Infantry Battalion "[[Marj|Barce]]"
*** XIII Libyan Infantry Battalion "Zezem"
** 1st Libyan Artillery Grouping
*** VI Libyan Artillery Group ([[8 cm FK M. 5|77/28]] field guns)
*** VII Libyan Artillery Group (77/28 field guns)
*** 6th Libyan Anti-aircraft Battery ([[Breda Model 35|20/65 Mod. 35]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s)
*** 7th Libyan Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns)
** I Libyan Mixed Engineer Battalion
*** 1x Libyan engineer company
*** 1x Libyan telegraph and radio operators company
** 1st Libyan Anti-tank Company ([[Cannone da 47/32|47/32]] [[anti-tank gun]]s)
** 1st Libyan Transport Group
** 1x Medical section
** 1x Supply section
** 26th Field Post Office

== Commanding officers ==
The division's commanding officers were:<ref name="Ufficio Storico"/>

* [[Military ranks of the Kingdom of Italy#Ranks during the Second World War|Generale di Brigata]] [[Luigi Sibille]] (1 March 1940 - 8 July 1940)
* Generale di Brigata [[Giovanni Cerio]] (9 July 1940) - 11 December 1940, [[Prisoner of War|POW]])

== See also ==
* [[Italian Libyan Colonial Division]]
* [[2nd Libyan Division (Italy)|2nd Libyan Division]]
* [[Maletti Group]]
* [[History of Libya as Italian Colony]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book|title=A Military History of Italy|author=Paoletti, Ciro|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2008|isbn=978-0-275-98505-9}}



{{Italian Divisions World War II}}
{{Italian colonial empire}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II, Libya in World War II, Italy–Libya relations, Military units and formations established in 1939, Military units and formations disestablished in 1940, Divisions of Italy of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, 1939 establishments in Italy
|description=
}}

[[Category:Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II]]
[[Category:Libya in World War II]]
[[Category:Italy–Libya relations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1939]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940]]
[[Category:Divisions of Italy of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in Italy]]

1st Libyan Division Italy - Revision history

MetaBOT at 16:12, 8 July 2023