6th Infantry Division Cuneo


The 6th Infantry Division Cuneo was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Division was formed on 24 May 1939 in Milan, largely from the parts of 58th Infantry Division Legnano. The Cuneo Division was part of the III Corps, First Army that took part in the Italian invasion of France and the 26th Corps during Greco-Italian War.

Action

During the Italian invasion of France, the Cuneo division was assigned to the Limone Piemonte area 10 June 1940, advancing to Tende by 21 June 1940, but the armistice of 24 June 1940 happened before the division could take any action. After the fall of Himarë to Greece on 22 December 1940, the Cuneo division was tasked to re-capture the town. For this purpose, it landed in Vlorë on 28 December 1940, but failed to reach the assault positions. The Cuneo division fought a defensive battle at LLogara pass from 29 December 1940 until 31 January 1941, in appalling conditions of mountain winter, with resulting frequent deaths due exposure. The units of the Cuneo division were dispersed in February, 1941 among others, participating in combat from Vuno to Berat. On 29 March 1941 the Cuneo division was withdrawn from the front line to the west bank of Drin river in Albania, to counter the threat of the Yugoslavian army after the pro-axis coup in Yugoslavia has collapsed. The Cuneo division reinforced the gap in between the 41st Infantry Division Firenze and the 9th Corps in defensive lines at the Yugoslav border. After Germany entered the war against Greece on 6 April 1940, the Cuneo Division moved to its original positions and started an offense toward Himarë on 14 April 1941. The Greek defence line collapsed on 16 April 1941. On 17 April 1941, the Cuneo Division advanced through Himarë and Porto Palermo. On 19 April 1941 the Cuneo Division had captured a Piqueras village in Lukovë municipality, then Sarandë town by combined land and amphibious assault, and captured the southernmost Albanian town of Konispol on 23 April 1941. The Cuneo Division remained in Greece as an occupying force, first in Igoumenitsa and Paramythia, later in Missolonghi and finally on Cyclades - garrisoning the islands of Naxos and Icaria, Samos, Andros, Santorini and Syros, until the Italian surrender on 8 September 1943. It held off the German counter-attack until 21 November 1943, but was evacuated to Kuşadası in Turkey after the positions had become untenable. At the end of war, the remnants of Cuneo Division were interned by the Allies in Bureij, Gaza Strip.
The names of three Italian men attached to the Cuneo Division can be found in the CROWCASS list established by the Anglo-American Allies of the individuals wanted by Greece for war crimes.

Order of battle