ITALIAN WW2 LEONESSA TANK GROUP “M” NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GUARD

LEONESSA TANK GROUP

The origins of the unit can be found in the desire of Benito Mussolini to create a new, and more important, ideologically and politically loyal to the regime tank unit and called First Tank Division Black Shirts “M” born on June 25, 1943 by the survivors of the battalions ” M “of the MVSN. Following the fall of the fascist regime, it was renamed 136th Tank Division Centauro II until its disarmament by the German Army following the events of September 8, 1943. It was at the end of September that some officers decided to recreate the unit as a Tank Group Leonessa and who will be placed in the wider organization of the GNR, Republican National Guard. He will end his career between April 30 and May 5 1945 with the Lioness’ men who surrendered prisoners to the Americans.