The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Treviso" established in March 1915 with the 115th and 116th infantry regiments. The brigade fought on the
Italian front in
World War I. The brigade and its regiments were disbanded on 11 November 1917 after they were annihilated in the
Battle of Caporetto. The brigade and its two regiments were reformed on 28 February 1918 in
Recoaro by renaming the 99th and 100th infantry regiments. The brigade returned to the front on 4 April 1918 and was disbanded after the war's end. On 9 May 1937 the 62nd Infantry Division "Marmarica" was activated in
Derna in
Libya. On 15 May of the same year the division received the 115th Infantry Regiment "Treviso" from the
102nd Motorized Division "Trento". On 18 July 1937 the 116th Infantry Regiment "Treviso" was reactivated in
Racalmuto in
Sicily and transferred on 17 September to Libya. The 116th Infantry Regiment had already been active from 15 July 1935 to 1 November 1936 and had deployed with the 102nd Motorized Division "Trento" to Libya during the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War. In 1937 the 44th Artillery Regiment was reactivated in Italy and then transferred to Libya to join the Marmarica. The division's major units were: •
62nd Infantry Division "Marmarica", in
Derna • 115th Infantry Regiment "Treviso", in Derna • 116th Infantry Regiment "Treviso", in
Tobruk • 44th Artillery Regiment, in Derna In 1939 the division's three regiments were renamed "Marmarica".
World War II After Italy's entry into
World War II on 10 June 1940 the Marmarica moved to
Bardia near the border with
British Egypt. From 14 June 1940 to 23 July 1940 the division skirmished with British forces in the area of
Fort Capuzzo. From 9 September 1940 the Marmarica participated in the
Italian invasion of Egypt, with the division covering the
10th Army's right (inland) flank during the advance to
Sidi Barrani. On 13 September 1940, the division passed the
Halfaya Pass and was ordered to stop and prepare for the defense. As the Allied forces advanced, several large Italian units were surrounded, cut off from supplies, and defeated. After some hard fighting, one position after another surrendered. The Australians captured
Bardia on 5 January, taking 36,000 prisoners and 462 guns for a loss of 130 dead and 326 wounded of their own. Whenever the Italians choose to fight, the fighting was fierce. An Australian historian later wrote that "in parts their defense was most efficient and often extremely brave." But the majority of Italian units surrendered without fight, their morale sapped by hunger, thirst,
lice and
dysentery. == Organization ==