page_title: 102nd Motorised Division Trento
section_title: Second Battle of El Alamein
hierarchical_section_title: 102nd Motorised Division Trento / North Africa / Second Battle of El Alamein
caption_attribution_description: Second Battle of El Alamein: 9th Australian, 2nd New Zealand, 1st Armoured, 7th Armoured and 10th Armoured attack: 7am November 4th, 1942. 1st Armoured and 10th Armoured break through and drive towards the coast. 2nd New Zealand Division moves toward Fuka destroying the remnants of Bologna and Trento Divisions on its way. 7th Armoured Divisions encircles Ariete Division, which is destroyed. Axis forces flee.
context_page_description: The 102nd Motorised Division Trento was a motorised infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939 and kept in reserve in Italy until it was moved to North Africa in February 1941. It took part in Axis attacks across North Africa, following the Allied Operation Compass and suffered heavy losses at Tobruk. The division was then reformed and took part in all of the major battles of the Western Desert Campaign until it was destroyed during the Second Battle of El Alamein.
context_section_description: Before the start of the Second Battle of El Alamein the Trento was positioned along the Miteirya Ridge. On 24 October they came under attack from the 2nd New Zealand Division supported by 10th Armoured Division. By 25 October the Allies had broken through the minefields and were positioned on top of the Miteiriya Ridge. Italian casualties from incessant artillery and air attack had been heavy, particularly in the north. The Trento had lost half its infantry and most of its artillery. According to author Walter S. Zapotoczny (a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeant Majors' Academy), the 61st and 62nd Infantry Regiments of the Trento Division had fought well, including the anti-tanks gunners of Captain Vigano and engineers of Colonel Randi that were attached to the division. On 2 November Rommel ordered the X and XXI Italian Corps and 90th Light Afrika Division to stand firm while the Afrika Korps would withdraw approximately six miles west during the night of 3 November, with XX Italian Corps and the Ariete Division conforming to their position.
caption: Allied forces break through:7am 4 November; Trento', Bologna and Ariete Divisions destroyed- Axis forces flee
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