Francesco Antonio Arena Biography

Arena becomes acting commander of Ariete after De Stefanis moves to corps command.

Ariete reaches El Alamein with depleted strength and attacks British positions under Arena's acting command.

After heavy fighting at El Alamein, the weakened Ariete Division is temporarily withdrawn from the front.

Ariete returns to the El Alamein front after receiving limited replacement tanks and equipment.

Arena returns to command Ariete as the division rebuilds for the next British offensive.

Arena commands Ariete, initially held in the southern armoured reserve during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Arena moves Ariete north toward Deyr el-Murra for an Axis armoured counter-move during the El Alamein battle.

Arena leads Ariete during the final large Axis armoured counterattack, which fails to restore the El Alamein front.

Ariete moves north under Arena in an attempt to contain the widening British breakthrough.

Arena reports that Ariete has been surrounded and its tanks are still fighting as British armour breaks through.