5 Alpine Division Pusteria

Coat of Arms of the 5th Alpine Division Pusteria

The 5th Alpini Division Pusteria was a light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The division was formed in 1935 and was composed of the:

• 7th Alpini Regiment
  • with the battalions Feltre, Belluno, Pieve di Cadore,
• 11th Alpini Regiment
  • with the battalions Trento, Bolzano, Bassano,
• 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment
  • with the artillery groups Lanzo, Belluno,
• 5th Engineer Battalion

The 5 Alpini Division Pusteria was dispatched in 1935 to Eritrea were it participated in the Italian attack on Abyssinia. The division played a primary role in the Battle of Maychew.

On June 21st, 1940 (one day before the French surrender) the “Pusteria” division began to advance in southern France with other Italian units during the last days of the Battle of France.

The division was then sent to Albania, where it participated in the Italian attack on Greece.

After the German invasion of Yugoslavia the “Pusteria” was sent to Montenegro were the division was decimated greatly in heavy fighting against Yugoslavian Partisans.

In August 1942, the division was repatriated. But, after two months, it was sent to the southern French region of Provence.

After the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on September 8th, 1943 the division returned to the Italian region of Piedmont were it was subsequently disbanded.