27 Motorised Division Brescia

27th Infantry Division Brescia
27th Infantry Division Brescia Insignia
Active	1939–1943
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	infantry
Size	Division
Part of	Italian XXI Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Catanzaro
Nickname(s)	Brescia
Engagements	World War II Siege of Tobruk Battle of Gazala Second Battle of El Alamein

The 27th Infantry Division "Brescia" (Italian: 27° Divisione Autotrasportabile "Brescia") was an auto-transportable Infantry Division formed 1 January 1935 as 27th Infantry Division Sila and reorganized to the 27th Infantry Division "Brescia" 24 May 1939.
It was made up of draftees from Calabria. The Brescia was classified as an auto-transportable division, meaning staff and equipment could be transported on cars and trucks, although not simultaneously.

The division was part of the Italian XXI Infantry Corps in the North Africa. along with the 17 Motorised Division Pavia and the 25 Motorised Division Bologna together they took part in the Siege of Tobruk, the Battle of Gazala, the Battle of Mersa Matruh, the First Battle of El Alamein and the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Already in Ethiopia in October, 1935, the division Sila have participated first in the capture of Mek'ele. From 4 November 1935, it has stationed in the Adigrat. In December, 1936, some local fighting has happened at the line Ādī K’edawīt - Passo Doghea line. Also, reconnaissance raids were carried to Ziban Debrī Bota and Celecot. 19 January 1936, the Sila division have broken through the Ethiopian defences, capturing several towns in the Tembien Province. It did not participate in the nearby First Battle of Tembien though and acted only in the final stages of Battle of Amba Aradam, capturing Āmba Ālagē 26 February 1936. In March, 1936, the Sila division has spread to Finarwa - Sek'ot'a region where it stayed until the end of war.