| Unit Name: | 1st Libyan Division |
| Dates: | 1939–1941 |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Size: | Division |
| Nickname: | Sibille |
| Battles: | World War II |
The 1st Libyan Division (Italian: 1ª Divisione libica) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. It was commanded by general Luigi Sibille. The division took part in the Italian invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the Battle of Sidi Barrani.[1]
The division's history begins with the Italian Libyan Colonial Division formed in the 1920s with local troops from Italian Libya. The division fought in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.
On 1 March 1940 the 1st Libyan Division and 2nd Libyan Division were formed from existing units in Italian Libya. Both divisions consisted of Italian officers and local non-commissioned officers and troops. By the time Italy entered World War II the division had 7,224 troops and its commanding general was Luigi Sibille.[2]
In September 1940 the 1st Libyan Division participated in the Italian invasion of Egypt. On 13 September the 1st Libyan Division and 1st Paratroopers Regiment "Fanti dell'Aria" attacked Sollum in British Egypt, which was defended by platoons of the Coldstream Guards.[3] The British laid mines in the area and quickly withdrew to Marsa Matruh after suffering 50 casualties.
In December 1940 the 1st Libyan Division was deployed farthest of all Italian division into Egypt. Consequently its camp at Maktila was the first to be attacked during the British Operation Compass. On 10 December 1940, amid a howling sandstorm, the division offered stiff resistance, but by 11 December the division had disintegrated with heavy losses.[4] [5] The division was declared lost on 11 December 1940.[1]
The division's commanding officers were:[1]