The 3. Blackshirt Division 21 Aprile (3. Divisione CCNN 21 Aprile) was formed in 1935 for service in the Italo-Ethiopian War and was disbanded after the end of that war in 1936.

A new 3. Blackshirt Division 21 Aprile was formed in 1939 and was sent to Libya in the summer of 1940. It took part in the invasion of Egypt and was destroyed during the retreat to Libya in December 1940.

Honor title

It was named 21 Aprile (21 April) in the honor of the traditional date for the founding of Rome.

Order of battle

181. CCNN Legion
-   71. Manfreda CCNN Battalion
-   81. A. di Barbiano CCNN Battalion
-   102. Cacciatori del Tevere CCNN Battalion
203. CCNN Legion
-   103. Clitunno CCNN Battalion
-   110. Picena CCNN Battalion
-   143. Clino Ricci CCNN Battalion
203. Artillery Regiment

Sources used

Piero Crociani & Piero Paolo Battistelli - Italian Blackshirt 1935-45
George F. Nafziger - Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)
Rex Tyre - Mussolini's Afrika Korps: The Italian Army in North Africa 1940-1943

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -