Italian Forces

CIL paratroopers

CIL (Italian Liberation Corp, also known as Italian co-belligerant army) paratroopers embarking to start the operation Herring, april 1945. Note that they wear British uniforms with Italian patches and are armed with MAB 38s. HS 6/792 Operation HERRING Brief for Commander ISAS (Italian Special Air Service), 29 March 1945 “QUATTROCASE (fr. di Poggiorusco Mantova) and MAGNACAVALLO (Mn) areas. Working mainly by night, with the special object of creating traffic jams which might make favourable targets for the air forces next day. 1. You have been nominated by HQ SOMTO to command a force of Italian parachute troops being raised by HQ Eight Army for Operation HERRING. 2. Outline of scheme: The force will consist of F.(folgore) RECCE SQN and volunteers from the NEMBO Regt. of the FOLGORE Gruppo organised as a company. All operational personnel will be volunteers and have already received parachute training. The number of volunteers likely to be available is not yet known. 3. For political reasons, these two sub-units will retain their identity and be self- supporting. A small BRITISH HQ which you will command, is being formed for the equipment administration, training and planning of the force. This HQ is purely temporary and will exist for a period of not more than six weeks or two months. No establishment exists for it against which promotions or increases of pay could be authorised. 4. The force is being formed by Eighth Army, which has delegated responsibility to 13 Corps. When formed it will come under command 15 ARMY GROUP for all purposes, though a call may be made on Army for any special assistance. 5. Operational Tasks: Outline plans for alternative tasks for this force are being submitted to Army Group by Armies. A copy of the Eighth Army outline plan will be given to you as soon as possible. 6. In general, the proposals are that the forces shall be dropped in small parties of three or four men behind the enemy lines when he is withdrawing in disorder after a major defeat at the hands of 15 ARMY GROUP. Tasks of these parties will be to harass and delay the enemy’s withdrawal by all possible means. It is accepted that, once dropped, parties must exist and operate without any further assistance living on and fighting with the equipment they take with them, and whatever they can find in the country. Parties would not be dropped unless the battle is fluid and there would be a reasonable expectation of their being over-run by our own troops within a few days.” DVX