H ITALIAN PARATROOPERS (WWII)

The first Italian parachute units (incl. Paracadutisti) underwent specialist training and were formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II in Castel Benito, near Libyan Tripoli. It is worth adding that the first units, i.e. the two infantry battalions parachute units were formed from regular infantry units stationed in then Italian Libya. The first use of one of these battalions can be dated to 1941, when it was used in combat during the North African campaign. During World War II, two full airborne divisions named Folgore and Nembo were formed in the Italian army. It was also planned to create one, or perhaps two more divisions of this type in the Italian army, but these plans were not implemented. Without a doubt, the most deserving Italian parachute division was the Folgore division, formed in 1941 and initially trained to take control of Malta. When plans to invade the island were unsuccessful, the division was transferred to North Africa and fought as regular infantry. There, it took part in both battles of El-Alamein in 1942, suffering not only great losses, but also showing very high combat value, courage on the battlefield and the initiative of even rank-and-file soldiers. The division, as a result of losses and extreme exhaustion of soldiers related to the lack of water, was forced to capitulate to the British.