136th Armoured Division Centauro II


The 136th Armoured Division Centauro II was an Armoured Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division had a number of different titles before settling on 136th Armoured Division Centauro II. It was formed in 1942 and started as the 1 Blackshirt Armoured Division M was re designated 136th Armoured Division M then 136th Legionary Armoured Division Centauro and finally Centauro II. In September 1943 it was in training near Rome and fought the Germans as part of the Corpo d'Armata Motocorazzato before surrendering.

History

The division was the only CCNN armoured formation, and as such it was composed of hand-picked fanatical Blackshirts, most having already seen heavy action in the Soviet Union and Libya. The division was mobilised in 1942 with the intention of deploying to the Soviet Union as part of the Italian 8th Army. The Axis defeat on the Don river and during the Battle of Stalingrad however delayed their transfer. As they were originally intended to be a heavy division for use against the Soviet Union, the unit received German Panzers, Panzer IIIs, Panzer IVs and Stugs, along with German instructors, just before the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy.
The division was then purged by the Fascist personnel and used to reform the Centauro Division in the Royal Army, and remained loyal to the king.

Order of battle