two lost positions. On 4 December 1941, as the Afrika Korps prepared to retreat to the Gazala Line, the Savona was ordered to cover the Axis withdrawal by tying up Commonwealth forces on the Sollum-Bardia-Halfaya line for as long as possible. During December 1941 the Savona's supply situation deteriorated, with food, water and ammunition becoming scarce. Bardia was lost 2 January 1942 and the Savona was encircled. Due to the lack of food and water and the impossibility to continue supplying the division by air the Italian Comando Supremo allowed the remnants of the Savona division in Sollum, Halfaya and Cirener to surrender. The division was officially declared lost on 17 January 1942. Organization 55th Infantry Division "Savona", in Salerno 15th Infantry Regiment "Savona", in Caserta (switched base with the 39th Infantry Regiment "Bologna" in Salerno in April 1939) Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns) Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars) 16th Infantry Regiment "Savona", in Cosenza Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns) Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars) 12th Artillery Regiment "Savona", in Salerno Command Unit I Group (100/17 howitzers) II Group (75/27 field guns) III Group (75/27 field guns) 2x Anti-aircraft batteries (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) Ammunition and Supply Unit VIII Machine Gun Battalion (replaced by the CLV Machine Gun Battalion in spring 1941) LV Mixed Engineer Battalion 55th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company 1x Engineer Company 1x Searchlight Section LV Replacements Battalion 55th Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns) 55th Medical Section 2x Field hospitals 1x Surgical unit 55th Supply Section 155th Transport Section 1x Bakers section 72nd Carabinieri Section 127th Carabinieri Section 55th Field Post Office Attached to the division in November 1941: IV Machine Gun Squadrons Group/ Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" Battaillonstab z.b.V. 300 "Oase" (German staff unit coordinating the Afrika Korps' oasis guard and water foraging units) Commanding officers The division's commanding officers were: Generale di Divisione Pietro Maggiani (1 September 1939 - 3 November 1941) Generale di Divisione Fedele De Giorgis (4 November 1941 - 17 January 1942, POW) Notes References Infantry divisions of Italy in World War II Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942