214th Coastal Division
Active	1943 – 1944
Country	Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Royal Italian Army
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Santa Severina
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
Identification symbol	214th Coastal Division gorget patches

The 214th Coastal Division (Italian: 214ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.^[1] Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.^[2]

History

The division was activated on 1 July 1943 in Bari and received units from the 212th Coastal Division and XXXI Coastal Brigade.^[3] The division was assigned to XXXI Army Corps and had its headquarter in Santa Severina.^[1] The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of the Ionian Sea coast of Calabria between Botricello and Lido Sant'Angelo.^[3]

In early September the division prepared to fight the British XIII Corps, which had landed on 3 September 1943 in southern Calabria in Operation Baytown and was advancing towards the 214th Coastal Division's positions. After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the division remained at its positions and surrendered to the British XIII Corps. Afterwards the division joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army, but did not participate in the Italian campaign. The division was dissolved in summer 1944.^[3]

Organization

• 214th Coastal Division, in Santa Severina^[3][1]
  • 103rd Coastal Regiment (transferred from the 212th Coastal Division)
    • CCCXLII Coastal Battalion
    • VI Dismounted Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Lancieri di Novara"
  • 148th Coastal Regiment
    • 3x Coastal battalions
  • CCCXCVI Coastal Battalion
  • XXVII Coastal Artillery Group
  • LV Coastal Artillery Group
  • LXXXI Coastal Artillery Group
  • CXL Coastal Artillery Group
  • 403rd Mortar Company (81mm mod. 35 mortars)
  • 702nd Mixed Engineer Company
  • 178th Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • 312th Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • 443rd Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • 447th Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • 451st Anti-paratroopers Unit
  • 214th Carabinieri Section
  • Field Post Office
  • Division Services

Attached to the division:^[3]

• Armored Train 152/3/T, in Crotone (4x 152/40 naval guns, 4x 20/77 Scotti anti-aircraft guns;^[4] transferred from the 212th Coastal Division)

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were:^[1]

• Generale di Brigata Carlo Lama (1 July 1943 - ?)

References

• Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.
• Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.