17th Motorised Division Pavia 17th Motorised Division Pavia or 17° Divisione Autotrasportabile Pavia ( Italian ) was a North African type infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II . The " Pavia " was formed in October 1939 and sent to Libya . It was never completely motorised but despite this limitation , it was considered to have fought well in North Africa . It was almost completely destroyed during the Second Battle of El Alamein . History . The Pavia Brigade was born during the Risorgimento on 1 March 1860 , and was formed of two Infantry Regiments ( the 27th and 28th ) . The Brigade participated in the Third Italian Independence War ( 1866 ) , the First Italo - Ethiopian War ( 1896 ) and the First World War , when it was awarded the Ordine Militare d ' Italia . In 1926 it become the XVII Pavia Infantry Brigade and in August 1939 was transformed into the 17th Pavia Division ( reinforced with the 26th Artillery Regiment " Artiglieria a Cavallo " ) . Until 1939 , the headquarters of the Division were in Ravenna , while the 27th Regiment had its barracks in Cesena . In 1940 the Division was deployed in Tripolitania and moved to Cyrenaica belonging to the Italian XX Corps . It participated in the final phases of Operation Compass , retreating from Sabratha to Agedabia . In 1941 - 1942 it fought in North Africa until it surrendered at El Alamein . After the Second World War the 28th Infantry Regiment was reorganized with its headquarters in Pesaro . The Regiment is still in existence and is now specialized in PsyOps . The North Africa Campaign . The " Pavia " Division took part in the Axis counterattack of March – April 1941 . Under Major - General Pietro Zaglio it attacked via the Balbia coast road from Agedabia on 31 March 1941 , driving the Australian rearguards back to Mechili ; on the 6th the town was surrounded . The " Fabris " and " Montemurro " Bersaglieri Motorised Battalions came up in support , along with the advance elements of the German 5th Light Division . On the 8th of April General Gambier - Parry surrendered to General Zaglio , commanding the Pavia , after an unsuccessful breakout attempt that was largely broken up by the Bersaglieri . Some 3 , 000 British , Indian and Australian soldiers were captured . The division continued to advance and helped to isolate the garrison in Tobruk . It then took part in the siege of Tobruk , stationed in the southern sector of the lines . On 23 November 1941 , during the Operation Crusader , the British 70th Infantry Division , supported by 60 tanks broke through part of the 25 Semi - Motorised Division Bologna . The Italians rallied and the " Pavia " went over to the counterattack , sealing off the enemy breakthrough . On the night of 25 – 26 November , the British 70th Division attacked again , but the 9th Bersaglieri Regiment of the " Trieste " Division counterattacked and checked this British advance . However , on the 27th , the 19th Battalion spearheading the 6th New Zealand Brigade , finally linked up with part of the British 70th Division at El Duda . On December 1 , the 101 Motorised Division Trieste counterattacked and severed this link with Tobruk . But on 4 December , Rommel ordered a withdrawal to the Gazala Line which entailed giving up Tobruk . During the withdrawal , the " Pavia " served as a rearguard at El Adem where , according to the " Official Australian History of the Second World War " , the " Pavia " put up a tenacious defence before being overcome , delaying the advance for over three hours and allowing Axis forces to withdraw . On 15 December , the " Pavia " Division held its ground on the Gazala Line against the attacking 2nd New Zealand Division and Polish Brigade , allowing a strong Italo - German armoured force , including the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment to counterattack and overrun the 1st British Battalion , " The Buffs " . During the Battle of Gazala , after the " Trieste " and 15th Panzer Division had defeated the British 2nd and 4th Armoured Brigades in an action south of Knightsbridge , the " Pavia " played an important role in the capture of 6 , 000 Allied prisoners on June 16 , 1942 . The division was also at the First battle of El Alamein as part of the Italian X Corps , where along with the " Brescia " Division it successfully defended the main strongpoints on Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14 / 15 July 1942 , allowing German armoured and motorized infantry units to assemble and arrive in the daylight hours to deliver a devastating counterattack , overrunning the attacking New Zealand infantry and supporting British armour . Captain Amalio Stagni and Corporal Ugo Vaia from the Pavia would each posthumously win the Silver Medal of Military Valor for their leadership during the night action on Ruweisat . During the initial phase of the El Alamein fighting " Pavia " served as a rearguard for the " Ariete Division " where , according to US historian Conrad H . Lanza , the division repulsed the advance of the Maoris from the New Zealand 23rd Battalion with a night counter attack . Corporal Pasquale Franchi from the " Pavia " would posthumously win the Silver Medal of Military Valor for his role in the counterattack . Finally , during the Second Battle of El Alamein , the " Pavia " Division ( and the other two divisions of the Italian X Corps ) was abandoned without transport by the rest of the Axis Forces as they retreated from Alamein to Fuka on the 4th November 1942 . Thus abandoned , they had no option but to surrender . Order of Battle . from June 1942 was added