Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, who was at the origins of the creation of the army of the Italian Social Republic, proposed forming twenty-five divisions in its composition, including five tank divisions. However, life made its own adjustments to these plans - the Germans, under whose complete control the Italian Social Republic was, refused to authorize the creation of at least one tank division. As a result, the armored fist of the "Republic of Salo" was reduced to several improvised tank battalions, armed with anything …
The defeat of the German-Italian troops in North Africa in the spring of 1943 led to the fact that the Italian army was left without armored formations - the Ariete and Centauro divisions were defeated. Already in May 1943, the restoration of tank forces began in the vicinity of Rome. One division (135th TD "Ariete II") was formed as part of the Royal Army, while the other unit, according to Mussolini's plan, was to become an analogue of the German SS divisions. It was formed from the personnel of the Volunteer National Security Militia (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale - MVSN) or the Black Shirts, or rather, the M battalions, which were the elite of the Black Shirts. The unit, called the 1st Tank Division "Black Shirts" "M", was created under the guidance of German instructors (both from the SS troops and from the Wehrmacht) and was to receive German weapons. However, after the removal of Mussolini from power, the Germans stopped the supply of equipment, and on August 15, 1943, the division was subordinated to the command of the Royal Army - it became the 136th TD "Centauro II"
In early September 1943, both TDs became part of the Panzer-Motorized Corps under the command of General Giacomo Carboni. By this time, the 135th TD had 48 tanks M 15/42 and assault guns Semovente 75/18, 42 self-propelled guns Semovente 75/32 and 12 Semovente 105/25, as well as 12 light tank destroyers Semovente 47/32 and 43 armored vehicles AB 41 The 136th TD, in addition to 45 Italian M 15/42 tanks, had 36 German vehicles: a dozen Pz. Kpfw tanks each. IV Ausf. H, Pz. Kpfw. III Ausf. M and StuG III Ausf. G. On 9-10 September, units of Carboni's corps tried to resist German forces in the Rome area, but were defeated. Both divisions ceased to exist, and the Germans quickly took over their equipment and weapons. Even obsolete tanks could find use in the Wehrmacht, SS troops and police - for example, training units or occupation forces in the troubled Balkans.
The plan for the creation of the armed forces of the Italian Social Republic (ISR), approved by Hitler in October 1943, provided for the formation of four infantry divisions, but the formation of tank units was not sanctioned by the Germans. Therefore, the command of the ISR army had to resort to improvisation.
Leonessa
Many officers and soldiers of the former 136th TD came from the "black shirts", remained loyal to Mussolini and strove to continue the fight on the side of Nazi Germany. It was these servicemen, many of whom had experience of fighting in East Africa (1935-1939), Greece (1940-1941) and on the Eastern Front (1942-1943), who formed the backbone of the first tank unit of the ISR. The date of its foundation is considered September 21, 1943, and this became possible thanks to the initiative from below. Several dozen soldiers and officers, languishing with idleness in the Mussolini barracks in Rome, declared themselves the 4th Panzer Regiment and threw a cry over the Roman radio - everyone who wanted to join them. Soon the unit changed its name, becoming the battalion "Leonessa" (it. - "lioness").
The battalion was initially led by Lieutenant Colonel Fernardino Tezi, but on October 15, 1943, he was assigned to the Department of Armaments of the Ministry of Economy of the ISR. Tezi was replaced by Major Priamo Switch, with the appointment of a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Leonessa battalion was not formed as part of the ISR military, but in the National Republican Guard (Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana - GNR). This formation was an analogue of the MVSN (disbanded after the dismissal of Mussolini at the end of July 1943), that is, the "black shirts", but, unlike it, was subordinate not to the party, but to the state.
The main problem that the Leonessa command had to face was the almost complete absence of armored vehicles. The GNR leadership in October 1943 even considered the possibility of reorganizing the battalion into an infantry one. The Leonessa's commander organized several small groups that scattered across northern Italy in search of tanks and armored vehicles. They visited warehouses in Bologna, Vercella, Verona, Siena and other cities - the main problem was getting the consent of the Germans to transfer at least some equipment. Everything that they managed to get was taken to Montichiari - this town near Brescia became the seat of the battalion. Here, under the leadership of Lieutenant Giuseppe Soncini, a repair shop was organized. The efforts of the military bore fruit: at the beginning of 1944, the Leonessa had 35 medium tanks M 13/40, M 14/41 and M 15/42, five light L 6/40, one Semovente 47/32 tank destroyer, 16 CV tankettes 33 and CV 35, 18 armored vehicles AB 41 and AB 43 and one armored vehicle "Lynche". There were also several dozen cars of various brands and even its own artillery battery with four 75-mm guns "75/27" and eight artillery tractors SPA 37.
On February 1, 1944, the Leonessa battalion with all its equipment marched through the streets of Brescia. The event was attended by GNR commander Renato Ricci, who praised the efforts of the officers and soldiers of the battalion to supply the unit with equipment. On February 9, the personnel of the Leonessa were sworn in. Everyone expected the battalion to be sent to the front, but the GNR command judged in its own way, and on March 1, "Leonessa" was sent to Turin. The battalion's tanks and armored vehicles were supposed to support counter-guerrilla operations in Piedmont.
Since March 21, 1944, armored vehicles AB 41 and tanks M 13/40 and M 14/41 of the Leonessa battalion interacted with the Italian SS Debica battalion (named after the Polish city of the same name, where it was trained), which fought the Garibaldi 4- 1st partisan brigade "Pisacane" north of Milan. At first, the tankers moved forward very cautiously, fearing that the enemy had anti-tank weapons. The threat turned out to be exaggerated, and Leonessa's units began to act more decisively. The most fierce battles broke out in the vicinity of the town of Pontevecchio: here the battalion lost two armored vehicles (the crew of one was killed, the other was captured by the partisans).
In April-May 1944, Leonessa's units, from platoon to company, operated in various areas - in the vicinity of Milan, Leccio, Como, Cassano d'Adda. The most powerful detachment fought in Strambino-Romano, on the territory of the "partisan region" - the "Inkria Liberated Zone". Tankers supported parts of the GNR, "black brigades", as well as German units. Anti-guerrilla operations continued in the summer - one of the most interesting episodes took place in July in the city of Piacenza. Here the guerrillas tried to attack the local arsenal, but the Leonessa unit managed to repel the attack. After that, the tankers decided that the partisans could repeat the raid, and profited from the property stored in the arsenal: a couple of dozen machine guns, a large amount of ammunition and fuel. In addition, their "trophy" was the M 14/41 tank in the commander's version (without a cannon, but with powerful radio equipment).
In April-May 1944, Leonessa's units, from platoon to company, operated in various areas - in the vicinity of Milan, Leccio, Como, Cassano d'Adda. The most powerful detachment fought in Strambino-Romano, on the territory of the "partisan region" - the "Inkria Liberated Zone". Tankers supported parts of the GNR, "black brigades", as well as German units. Anti-guerrilla operations continued in the summer - one of the most interesting episodes took place in July in the city of Piacenza. Here the guerrillas tried to attack the local arsenal, but the Leonessa unit managed to repel the attack. After that, the tankers decided that the partisans could repeat the raid, and profited from the property stored in the arsenal: a couple of dozen machine guns, a large amount of ammunition and fuel. In addition, their "trophy" was the M 14/41 tank in the commander's version (without a cannon, but with powerful radio equipment).
On August 7, 1944, the Leonessa battalion was included in the Etna Air and Anti-Tank Division (Divisione Contraerea e Contracarro "Etna"). This became a purely nominal act - as before, the battalion's units were scattered throughout northern Italy, taking an active part in counter-guerrilla operations. Not least thanks to the support of tankers in August 1944, the ISR forces managed to clear the Aosta valley of partisans, unblocking several garrisons that had been surrounded for a long time. The 2nd company, which had five M 13/40 and M14 / 41 tanks, as well as a dozen AB 41 armored vehicles, took part in an operation in the Ossola valley in September-October. On November 2, this unit, together with the Venezia Giulia bicycle battalion and the Cristina Black Brigade, drove the partisans out of the city of Alba. The 3rd Company, formed in the fall of 1944, operated in the Emilian Apennines, guarding the communications between Parma, Piacenza and Trebbia. Finally, the 4th company was entrusted with the task of protecting the oil fields in Montecino. But if the tankers could still resist the attacks of the partisans, then they were powerless against the raids of enemy aircraft. In the spring of 1945, the oil fields were systematically destroyed.
On the night of April 19-20, the last oil transport departed from Montecino, and with it the 4th company, which joined the 3rd company of the Leonessa in Piacenza. Together with other units of GNR, the Italian SS Legion and German units, they fought off partisan attacks until April 28, when the advance units of the American 36th Infantry Division approached the city. The 3rd and 4th companies withdrew to Turin, joining the rest of the Leonessa's units. The retreat continued in the direction of the Aosta Valley. Here on the evening of May 5, the Leonessa battalion surrendered to the Americans along with other Italian units.
Leoncello
The second tank unit in the ISR armed forces appeared only a year after the Leonessa. The battalion, called "Leonecello" (Italian - "lion cub"), was formed on September 13, 1944 at the initiative of Captain Giancarlo Zuccaro, an experienced cavalryman and veteran of the Eastern Front. After Italy's surrender, he served for some time in the Wehrmacht, and then transferred to the ISR army, where he taught at the cadet school in Modena, and then in Tortona. In the summer of 1944, an uprising broke out in the town, which was decisively suppressed under the leadership of Zuccaro. After that, the gallant captain received a personal order from Mussolini to form a tank guard battalion of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the ISR, located in the town of Polpenazza on Lake Garda.
Organizationally, the battalion consisted of three companies: medium tanks "M" (four tanks M 13/40 and three M 15/42); light tanks "L" (twelve CV 33 tankettes); headquarters, which had four armored vehicles AB 40 and AB 41, as well as one self-propelled gun Semovente 105/25. In addition, the battalion had a dozen vehicles of various types and four 20-mm anti-aircraft guns "20/77". The number of personnel of "Leoncello" by the end of September 1944 was 122 people (10 officers, 20 sergeants and 92 privates).
With the formation of the Leoncello battalion, the idea arose to combine it with the Leonessa in a tank regiment, but Captain Zuccaro strongly opposed this, saying that he would “never wear a black shirt”. The battalion continued its relatively quiet garrison service, being engaged in combat training. Leoncello entered his first (and, as it turned out, last) battle at the very end of the war. By order of the command, the battalion went to the Brescia area to support the units of the 10th MAS division that were fighting there. On the outskirts of the city, the tankers were surrounded by partisans from the Fiamme Verdi brigade. In the battle, which lasted several hours, the battalion suffered heavy losses - using captured Panzerfaust, the partisans knocked out most of its tanks. Ten Leoncello soldiers were killed. On April 28-29, 1945, his units surrendered: company "M" - on the way to Milan; Company "L" - in Lonigo; the headquarters company is in Polpenazza.
San Giusto
In addition to Italy itself, a significant number of Italian troops as of September 1943 were stationed in the Balkans. After the surrender, confusion and vacillation were also observed here: many officers and soldiers tried to continue the struggle on the side of Germany. One of them was Captain Agostino Tonegutti, who commanded the San Giusto light tank company attached to the 153rd Infantry Division Maserata, which was stationed in northwestern Croatia. After Italy's surrender, he led like-minded people who announced their intention to fight on the side of the Third Reich. The unit, which had several tankettes, became part of the consolidated group of General Gastone Gambar, who defended Fiume (now Rijeka) from the Yugoslav partisans who tried to take advantage of the confusion of the Italian command. Subsequently, the unit, which was already called a battalion, was transferred to Istria, and in early February 1944 arrived in the Italian city of Gorizia and became part of the ISR regular army. The battalion was entrusted with the task of supporting the units defending the Adriatic coast.
Armament "San Giusto", like other tank units of the ISR, was very variegated. In February 1944, the battalion had five medium tanks М 13/40 and М 14/41, 16 tankettes CV 33 and CV 35, six different self-propelled guns (one Semovente М42 75/34 and М41 75/18, two Semovente М42 75/18 and two Semovente L6 47/32), as well as four armored vehicles AB 41. The number of personnel ranged from 120-170 people.
The main tasks of the San Giusto battalion were to escort the columns between the cities of Trieste, Udine and Gorizia, as well as to fight the Italian and Yugoslav partisans operating here. It was not always without losses. So, on May 31, 1944, a subdivision of the San Giusto battalion, accompanying a German convoy, was attacked by partisans between the towns of Dobraule and Titine. The attack was repulsed, but the Italians lost the M 14/41 tank and two AB 41 armored cars. On December 6, as a result of a mine explosion, another armored car was destroyed, its entire crew (five people) died. The total irrecoverable losses of the San Giusto battalion for the entire period of participation in hostilities were relatively small and amounted to 15 people. With the equipment, the situation was much worse - by April 1945, only eight tankettes, three medium tanks and two self-propelled guns remained in the battalion. The San Giusto ceased to exist on April 27, 1945, surrendering to the British. According to other sources, the surrender took place only on May 3 (perhaps we are talking about the surrender of various divisions of the battalion).
Other tank units
In addition to the Leonessa, Leoncello and San Giusto, the ISR's armed formations had several more tank units. In particular, the Anti-Partisan Group (Raggruppamento Anti Partigiani - RAP) formed in the summer of 1944 had a two-company tank battalion. Initially, it was armed with seven tankettes, two light tanks L 6/40, one medium M 13/40, two Semovente M42 75/18 self-propelled guns and one AB 41 armored car. Since September 1944, the RAP operated in Piedmont, fighting against the partisans. Tankers took part in this "Italian-Italian" war until April 28, 1945.
For some time there was a supernumerary assault guns division with nine Semovente 75/18 self-propelled guns in the 1st Bersaglier "Italia" division. A group of Apennine rangers (Raggruppamento Cacciatori degli Appennini) used four Semovente M42 75/18 self-propelled guns and six AB 41 armored vehicles. Several tanks and tankettes each served in a number of units of the ISR army, the National Republican Guard and the Black Brigades.
Summing up our story, we note several features inherent in the tank units of the ISR. First, all of them, without exception, were impromptu formations created outside of any states. The organizational structure of these parts was built depending on the available equipment. Secondly, all the tank units of the ISR were not intended for use at the front, but for ensuring internal security and participating in counter-guerrilla operations. It is no coincidence that the largest and most efficient of them - the Leonessa tank battalion - was not part of the army, but the National Republican Guard. Thirdly, the support system for tank units was absent as such: all the worries of supplying equipment and maintaining it in a combat-ready condition fell entirely on the shoulders of battalion and company commanders.
