The 50th Infantry Division "Regina" () was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Regina was formed on 1 March 1939 in the Italian Islands of the Aegean and entitled to the Queen (). After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile between Italy and the Allies on 8 September 1943 the division fought Wehrmacht forces in the Battle of Rhodes. The majority of the division surrendered on 11 September 1943, while the III Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment "Regina" resisted the Germans on Leros until 16 November 1943. History The division's lineage begins with the Brigade of the Queen () established in 1815, which on 25 October 1831 split to form the 1st and 2nd infantry regiments under the brigade's command. On 4 May 1839 the two regiments were re-numbered as 9th and 10th infantry regiments. World War I The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 30 September 1926 the brigade assumed the name of XXIII Infantry Brigade and received the 47th Infantry Regiment "Ferrara" from the disbanded Brigade "Ferrara". The brigade was the infantry component of the 23rd Territorial Division of Bari, which also included the 14th Artillery Regiment. Since 1924 the 9th Infantry Regiment "Regina" was based in Rhodes in the Italian Islands of the Aegean. The regiment's commanding officer doubled as commander of the Royal Army Troops Command Italian Islands of the Aegean (). In 1934 the 9th Infantry Regiment "Regina" left the division and was assigned to the newly formed Armed Forces Command Italian Islands of the Aegean. The same year the division changed its name to 23rd Infantry Division "Murge". On 7 April 1937 the 10th Infantry Regiment "Regina" left the division and moved to Rhodes, where it was assigned to the Aegean Military Command. On 1 March 1939 the 50th Infantry Division "Regina" was activated in Rhodes and received on the same date its two namesake infantry regiments and the newly formed the 50th Artillery Regiment "Regina". The division was complemented with minor units and assigned to the World War II On 10 June 1940, the day Italy entered World War II, the Regina had garrisons on the islands of Rhodes, Leros, Kos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Stampalia, and Patmos, with small detachments dispersed on other islands. On 1 August 1940 the division was reinforced by the 201st CC.NN. Legion. On 20 November