Italian Military Parade in Greece

Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. Standing in the podium are General der Gebirgstruppe Franz Böhme (saluting, Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps) and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division). Italian officer in the helmet is Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (21 June 1885 - 13 December 1953). In 1941 he was the divisional commander of the "Brennero" division in Greece, while in 1942 he took command of the "Sassari" in Yugoslavia. In this picture, he is wearing the collar patch of "Brennero" (the vertically separated yellow/red as in the photo below).

Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (21 June 1885 – 13 December 1953). In September 1940 he was given command of the 11th Infantry Division Brennero, which he led during the Greco-Italian War. After the Armistice of Cassibile (1943) he served the new Allied-aligned Badoglio Government as the Chief of Staff of what remained of the Royal Italian Army, now fighting alongside the Allies.

Italian and German troops deployed on the Acropolis of Athens in spring 1941.



Italian and German troops lined up on the Acropolis of Athens in the spring 1941.

Flag-raising ceremony for the Italian troops on the Acropolis of Athens in the spring 1941.

The Italian and Reich flags fly on the Acropolis of Athens in the spring 1941.

Troops at the Italian flag raising ceremony on the Acropolis of Athens in the spring 1941.

German and Italian military officials during the Italian flag-raising ceremony on the Acropolis in Athens, spring 1941. In the center is General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), while saluting at right is Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division). The Italian officer with helmet at left is Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the 11th Infantry Division "Brennero").



German and Italian military officials during the Italian flag-raising ceremony on the Acropolis in Athens, spring 1941. The two Wehrmacht officers at left are, from left to right: General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps) and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division).



General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (saluting, Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps) inspecting German troops in Athens in spring 1941, accompanied by Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (center) from Italian Brennero Division. Other German officer at left of Berardi is Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division).

German and Italian military officials inspecting the ruins of Acropolis in Athens, spring 1941. Walking at front, from left to right: Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division), General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero").

German and Italian military officials inspecting the ruins of Acropolis in Athens, spring 1941. Walking at front, from left to right: Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division), General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero").



German and Italian military officials inspecting the ruins of Acropolis in Athens, spring 1941. Walking at front, from left to right: Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero"), General der Infanterie Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division).

Parade of Italian troops through the streets of Athens in the spring 1941.

Parade of Italian troops through the streets of Athens in the spring 1941. In the background is Hotel Grande Bretagne.

Italian military officers paying homage to the Tomb of the Greek Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, Athens, after the fall of Greece, spring of 1941.

Italian military officers paying homage to the Tomb of the Greek Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, Athens, after the fall of Greece, spring of 1941.

Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. Three officers standing on the podium flanked by men in whites are, from left to right: Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero"), General der Gebirgstruppe Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division). The tractor is a Pavesi type P4/100, an Italian wheeled artillery tractor from the interwar period and World War II. The first military examples of this vehicle appeared in the late 1920s, and serial production continued in 1927-1942. The drive was provided by a single 4.7 liter engine and a power of 57 HP.



Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. Three officers standing on the podium flanked by men in whites are, from left to right: Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero"), General der Gebirgstruppe Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division).



Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. Three officers standing on the podium flanked by men in whites are, from left to right: Generale di divisione Paolo Berardi (Commander of the Italian 11th Infantry Division "Brennero"), General der Gebirgstruppe Franz Böhme (Kommandierender General XVIII. Gebirgskorps), and Generalmajor Ferdinand Schörner (Kommandeur 6. Gebirgs-Division).

Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. The tractor is a Pavesi type P4/100, an Italian wheeled artillery tractor from the interwar period and World War II. Pavesi P4 / 100 was originally produced by La Mottomecanica Brevetti, but in 1926 it was taken over by Fiat based in Turin. The originator of this vehicle was the Italian engineer Ugo Pavesi, who also developed its plans and put it into production. The tractor was built of de facto two articulated but independent parts of the hull, built on two separate frames, which allowed it to turn not only horizontally, but also vertically - along the axis of the vehicle. Very large diameter cast rubber wheels were also used, which were often equipped with special spurs for driving on difficult terrain. Thanks to such design solutions, the vehicle was characterized by great off-road characteristics and was very well suited, for example, for service in mountainous conditions. Vehicles of this type were used as artillery tractors primarily in the Italian armed forces. However, they also served in the Greek, German and Hungarian armies.

Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941. The vehicle is a Bianchi Miles type, a medium truck with an optional electric start, with or without battery and starter. The Bianchi Miles saw a lot of action in WW2, with a total of 20,000 estimated being produced between Italy and German which shared manufacturing. It was mostly used on the eastern front, precisely because of its batter-powered starter well suited for winter conditions.

Italian military parade in front of German and Italian officials in Greece, spring 1941.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Image-No.: 50108893)
https://9gag.com/gag/aV0W4r2
https://www.elgrancapitan.org/foro/viewtopic.php?t=23504&start=30
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=238546&sid=9f38ef4150e09ff5bc202a644306480f&start=60
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/g8as48/italian_officers_paying_homage_to_the_tomb_of_the/
https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Gun-tractor-Pavesi-P4-100-model-30A.html
https://www.televignole.it/foto-storie-guerra-43/