Division "Vittorio Veneto"

The Division "Vittorio Veneto" Italian: Divisione "Vittorio Veneto" is one of three active divisions of the Italian Army. The division is based in Florence in Tuscany and part of the Operational Land Forces Command. The division carries on the name and traditions of the Cold War Italian Army Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto". Brigade and division were named for the decisive Italian World War I victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.

Division "Vittorio Veneto"
Divisione "Vittorio Veneto"
Coat of Arms of the "Vittorio Veneto" Division
Active	1 July 2019 - present
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Part of	Operational Land Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Florence

History

In 2002 the Italian Army raised three division commands, with one of the three always readily deployable for NATO missions. The army decided that each division should carry on the traditions of one of the divisions that served with distinction during World War II. Therefore, on 31 December 2002 the 2nd Italian Division based in Vittorio Veneto was renamed Division Command "Mantova".

In the 2013 the army began a reform, which included the plan to merge the Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" into the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli". As the "Friuli" was one of the most distinguished units of the Italian Co-belligerent Army the army transferred the Division Command "Mantova" from Vittorio Veneto to Florence on 16 July 2013 concurrently renamed it as Division "Friuli", with the division receiving all the honors and traditions of the name "Friuli".

However, due to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 the army's reform plans were reversed and an expansion of the army's forces began. As the Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" was no longer scheduled to merge into the Pozzuolo del Friuli the army renamed the Division "Friuli" as Division "Vittorio Veneto" on 1 July 2019, and on the same date all the honors and traditions of the name "Friuli" reverted to the brigade.

Organization

Division "Vittorio Veneto" organization until 2022 (click to enlarge)

Until 2022 the Division "Vittorio Veneto" commanded the following units in Northern Italy:

• Division "Vittorio Veneto", in Florence
  • Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Vittorio Veneto", in Florence
  • Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli", in Gorizia
  • Armored Brigade "Ariete", in Pordenone
  • Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore", in Livorno

Since 2022 the division's only subordinate unit is the 78th Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Lupi di Toscana" in Florence. In 2023 the division joined the Operational Land Forces Command.

• Division "Vittorio Veneto", in Florence
  • 78th Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Lupi di Toscana", in Florence
    • Command Company
    • Tactical and Logistic Support Battalion
      • Deployment Support Company
      • Transport Company

External links

• Italian Army Homepage: Division "Vittorio Veneto"