The 51st Infantry Division "Siena" () was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Siena was formed on 15 September 1939 and named for the city of Siena. The division was a Campanian unit and it's men were almost entirely from Naples. After fighting in the Greco-Italian War the division was sent to Crete as garrison unit. There the division was disbanded by invading German forces after the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943. History The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Siena" established by order of the Provisional Government of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany of 2 July 1859 with the 3rd and 4th infantry regiments. On 25 March 1860 the Brigade "Siena" entered the Royal Sardinian Army three days after the Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the United Provinces of Central Italy, which included the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Already before entering the Royal Sardinian Army the brigade's two infantry regiments had been renumbered on 30 December 1859 as 31st Infantry Regiment and 32nd Infantry Regiment. World War I The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 9 December 1926 the brigade command and 32nd Infantry Regiment "Siena" were disbanded, while the 31st Infantry Regiment "Siena" was transferred to the XXV Infantry Brigade. On 15 September 1939 the 51st Infantry Division "Siena" was activated in Naples. On the same date the 31st Infantry Regiment "Siena" and the newly raised 51st Artillery Regiment "Siena" joined the division. On 24 September 1939 the 32nd Infantry Regiment "Siena" was reactivated in Caserta joined the division. World War II On 10 June 1940 the Siena was transferred to Piedmont as reserve unit during the Italian invasion of France. In October 1940 the Siena arrived in Albania for the Greco-Italian War, which began on 28 October 1940. Initially the Siena was deployed in the Delvinë-Konispol region as part of VIII Army Corps, covering the border from the coast to Mal Stugarë, where the 23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara" was deployed. The division participated in the Italian offensive towards the Greek city of Ioannina, but failed to cross the Thyamis river until 6 November 1940 due to heavy Greek resistance. On 6 November 1940 a beachhead across the Thyamis was established, but the division immediately had to turn to a defensive stance because of the rapid pace of Greek reinforcements arriving. On