Battle of Mechilli-Derna January 1941

[jbroshot]

Not a book, a Master of Military Art and Science Thesis from the CARL site

Fallen eagles: the Italian 10th Army in the opening campaign in the western desert, June 1940 - December 1940.​

Master of Military Art and Science Theses

The Italian Army developed a sound and unique combined arms doctrine for mechanized warfare in 1938. This new doctrine was called the “War of Rapid Decision.” It involved the use of mechanized warfare in the Italian version of the blitzkrieg. This doctrine evolved from the lessons learned in the...

cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org

 

[jbroshot]

Happy to have been of assistance

And FWIW

The volumes of official Italian Army history of the war in North Africa can be found on ISSUU, you can read them but not download them.

le operazioni in africa settentrionale – Search for publications on ISSUU

Search Page

issuu.com

Part One of the first volume

LE OPERAZIONI IN AFRICA SETTENTRIONALE VOL I SIDI EL BARRANI - PARTE PRIMA

Autore: Mario Montanari, periodo storico dal giugno 1940-febbraio 1941, Edizione Ufficio Storico SME, 1990

issuu.com

And an English translation (probably by machine, and not very good) is available at Internet Archive (along with all the others, as best as I can tell)

Italian Army Official History Operations In North Africa Book 1 : Robert Denny II : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Italian Amy Operations in North Africa in WW2

archive.org

 

[jwsleser]

Jim has provided several good sources. Note that all of them are incomplete, leaving many unanswered questions.

The Australian official histories are located HERE . The first Army vol To Benghazi covers the period in question.

The first vol of the UK official, Mediterranean & Middle East vol. I is HERE .

Jim provided the links to the Montanari Italian official history. The better source for this period is the earlier Italian officials which sadly are not available on the web.

Maurizio and I are working on a book covering this period of the campaign in A.S. (Jun 40–Feb 41). It has been slow going, but hope to have it finished by early 2025.

Pista! Jeff

 

[David Wormell]

Yes, and put me down for the second copy!

 

[Oasis]

Wadi Derna (southern portion of the Derna line): 2nd Battalion, 86th Inf. Rgt., Sabratha Division, Depot infantry battalion from 115th Inf. Rgt, Marmarica Division, 17th Machinegun Battalion from Brescia Division.

The correct number for the Brescia Machinegun Battalion is XXVII, involved on the Derna line on 25-29 january 1941.
Toni

 

[jwsleser]

Toni

While the XXVII is the correct number for the btg. mitr. from the d. f. «Brescia», that battalion wasn't at Derna. The btg. mitr. at Derna was the XVII btg. mitr. from the «Pavia».

Both of the Italian histories have confused the two units. I believe this started as a typo (XVII and XXVII) and never corrected. I discuss this issue in detail in Infantrymen of the Air, p.89 fn.18.

Pista! Jeff

 

[Oasis]

Toni

While the XXVII is the correct number for the btg. mitr. from the d. f. «Brescia», that battalion wasn't at Derna. The btg. mitr. at Derna was the XVII btg. mitr. from the «Pavia».

Both of the Italian histories have confused the two units. I believe this started as a typo (XVII and XXVII) and never corrected. I discuss this issue in detail in Infantrymen of the Air, p.89 fn.18.

Pista! Jeff

jwsleser
Thanks for the information.
In reality I have news that the XXVII btg MG (Brescia) is surrounded and destroyed north of Agedabia, and I was convinced that it had also participated in the defense on the Derna line.
Toni