Italian Libyan Colonial Division

The Libyan Division (Italian: "Divisione Coloniale Libia Italiana" or "Divisione Coloniale Libia") was a formation of colonial troops raised by the Italians in their colony in Libya, following the invasion of 1911. It participated in the invasion of Ethiopia in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War by the orders of Benito Mussolini in October 1935. Following the capture of Addis Ababa in May 1936, King Vittorio Emanuele III was proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia (Imperatore d'Etiopia), following the proclaimation of Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana). The formation was reorganized into the 1st Libyan Division by the beginning of Italy's entry into World War II. In September 1940, the 1st Libyan Division, together with its sister-division 2nd Libyan Division, participated in the Italian invasion of Egypt. By December, the division was dug in at Maktila and was forced to surrender during Operation Compass.

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