Command of Ariete
Arena becomes acting commander of Ariete after De Stefanis moves to corps command.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Francesco Antonio Arena Biography and Timeline
Follow Francesco Antonio Arena through 10 dated historical records for Italy.
Francesco Antonio Arena, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
10Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1942–1942Years on this page
1942
First Battle of El Alamein
Ariete reaches El Alamein with depleted strength and attacks British positions under Arena's acting command.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Ariete Withdrawn
After heavy fighting at El Alamein, the weakened Ariete Division is temporarily withdrawn from the front.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Return to El Alamein Line
Ariete returns to the El Alamein front after receiving limited replacement tanks and equipment.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Return to Command of Ariete
Arena returns to command Ariete as the division rebuilds for the next British offensive.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Second Battle of El Alamein
Arena commands Ariete, initially held in the southern armoured reserve during the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Armoured Counter-Move
Arena moves Ariete north toward Deyr el-Murra for an Axis armoured counter-move during the El Alamein battle.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Axis Counterattack
Arena leads Ariete during the final large Axis armoured counterattack, which fails to restore the El Alamein front.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Closing the Breakthrough
Ariete moves north under Arena in an attempt to contain the widening British breakthrough.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Last Message of Ariete
Arena reports that Ariete has been surrounded and its tanks are still fighting as British armour breaks through.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.