Army Group South (Italy)

Army Group South (Italian: Gruppo d'Armate Sud) was a headquarters formation of the Royal Italian Army during the Second World War. It was created in Rome on 8 June 1940, at a time when Italy was operating across several Mediterranean and Balkan theaters. In its first form, the army group exercised authority over the 3rd Army in continental southern Italy, the XII Army Corps in Sicily, the XIII Army Corps in Sardinia, the XXVI Army Corps in Albania, and additional smaller formations. Its initial existence was brief. Following the conclusion of the German campaign in western Europe and the defeat of France, the command was dissolved on 10 July 1940, only about one month after its establishment. The formation was re-established on 15 April 1942 as Italy prepared for a renewed and more demanding phase of the war. In its second incarnation, the headquarters directed the 5th, 6th, and 7th Armies in central and southern Italy. Its responsibilities included the organization and coordination of Italian forces across the peninsula and its major islands, although the wider military situation was heavily influenced by Germany's strategic and operational presence in the Mediterranean theater. The army group's most consequential wartime episode followed the Allied invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. Italian and German forces contested the island for approximately forty days before the Axis evacuation and abandonment of Sicily. Fighting then moved to Calabria and the Italian mainland. The situation changed decisively with the Armistice of Cassibile, announced on 8 September 1943. After the armistice, German forces carried out Operation Achse, disarming and taking control of Italian military formations. Army Group South's command was officially dissolved on 10 September 1943. The formation therefore did not function as a commercial brand, product company, or continuing institution. It was a temporary military command whose identity derived from the Royal Italian Army's wartime structure. Its historical significance lies in its two short periods of existence, its coordination of forces across southern Italy and the surrounding islands, and its dissolution during the collapse of Italian military authority after the 1943 armistice.

Army Group South was a temporary senior command of the Royal Italian Army during the Second World War. Its first establishment took place in Rome on 8 June 1940. The command was designed to coordinate several geographically dispersed formations associated with Italy's southern and peripheral territories. Its initial order of battle included the 3rd Army in continental southern Italy, the XII Army Corps in Sicily, the XIII Army Corps in Sardinia, the XXVI Army Corps in Albania, and smaller units. This first command existed only briefly. After the German campaign in western Europe concluded and France was defeated, Army Group South was dissolved on 10 July 1940. The short duration of this phase reflected changes in Italy's wartime command requirements rather than the creation of a permanent institutional structure. The army group was formed again on 15 April 1942. During its second period, its headquarters controlled the 5th, 6th, and 7th Armies operating in central and southern Italy. Headquarters locations associated with this period included Sessa Aurunca and, later, Anagni. The command was led by Umberto di Savoia, Marshal of Italy and Crown Prince of Italy. The second formation became directly involved in the defense of Italy during the Allied invasion of Sicily, which began on 10 July 1943. The island was contested for roughly forty days before it was abandoned by the Axis forces. The fighting subsequently continued in Calabria as the war moved onto the Italian mainland. The Armistice of Cassibile, announced on 8 September 1943, ended Italy's formal alignment with Germany and produced a rapid breakdown of the existing Italian military command system. German forces responded with Operation Achse, disarming Italian formations and taking control of military positions throughout Italy. In this context, Army Group South ceased to have an effective independent role and its command was formally dissolved on 10 September 1943. The formation's history thus consists of two distinct and short-lived periods: an initial command created in 1940 and dissolved the same year, followed by a larger command re-established in 1942 and terminated during the Italian military collapse of September 1943.

• 1943

  Allied invasion of Sicily

  [1]Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org

  The Allied invasion began on 10 July 1943, leading to approximately forty days of fighting and the subsequent abandonment of Sicily by the Axis forces.

• 1943

  Dissolution after the armistice

  [1]Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org

  After the Armistice of Cassibile and the German disarmament of Italian forces under Operation Achse, Army Group South was officially dissolved on 10 September 1943.

• 1942

  Second establishment

  [1]Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org

  The command was re-established on 15 April 1942 with authority over the 5th, 6th, and 7th Armies in central and southern Italy.

• 1940

  Initial establishment

  [1]Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org

  Army Group South was established in Rome on 8 June 1940 and assigned responsibility for formations in southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Albania, and surrounding areas.

• 1940

  First dissolution

  [1]Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org

  The first Army Group South command was dissolved on 10 July 1940 after the end of the German western campaign and the defeat of France.

A wartime operational headquarters within the command structure of the Royal Italian Army.

• 1943Defense of Sicily

  Sicily

  Army Group South's second-period command structure was involved in the Italian defense associated with the Allied invasion of Sicily beginning on 10 July 1943. The island was contested for about forty days before the Axis forces abandoned it.

  Outcome. Sicily was abandoned by the Axis forces, and the fighting shifted to Calabria and the Italian mainland.

  Source
• 1943Calabrian and southern Italian operations

  Calabria · Southern Italy

  After the fighting in Sicily, combat continued in Calabria as the Allied campaign moved onto the Italian mainland.

  Outcome. Operations were overtaken by the Armistice of Cassibile and the subsequent German disarmament of Italian forces.

  Source

• 1943

  Dissolution after Operation AchseOther

  Background

  The Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 ended Italy's wartime alignment with Germany and triggered German operations against Italian military formations.

  Action taken

  After the German disarmament of Italian forces under Operation Achse, the Army Group South command was formally dissolved on 10 September 1943.

  Aftermath

  Army Group South ceased to exist as a command formation during the collapse of the wartime Royal Italian Army structure.

  Source

• 1942

  Re-establishment of the army groupStrategy

  Background

  Changing wartime conditions led Italy to recreate a senior command for central and southern Italy.

  Action taken

  Army Group South was re-established on 15 April 1942 and assigned control of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Armies.

  Aftermath

  The command operated through the Sicilian and Calabrian fighting of 1943 before being dissolved after the Italian armistice.

  Source

• 1940

  Establishment of a southern army-group commandStrategy

  Background

  The Royal Italian Army created a senior headquarters to coordinate forces across southern Italy and several strategically important islands and overseas territories.

  Action taken

  Army Group South was established in Rome on 8 June 1940 with control over multiple armies and army corps.

  Aftermath

  The first command was dissolved on 10 July 1940.

  Source

1. 1Army Group South (Italy)en.wikipedia.org