The 224th Coastal Division was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was located on the French island of Corsica. The division was formed from units of the regular army, from the 1st and 3rd Alpine Groups. Normally Coastal divisions were second line divisions, usually formed from men in their forties and fifties intended to perform labouring and second line duties. Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement. Their equipment was also second rate. The Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini had hoped to obtain large quantities of arms and equipment from the disbanded Vichy French army, but this was often sabotaged or arrived with no ammunition.