Formation The division was activated on 31 December 1935 with units of the other four alpine divisions. The division was meant as a temporary command for the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War. •
7th Alpini Regiment, from the
3rd Alpine Division "Julia" •
Alpini Battalion "Feltre" • Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Teco", from the
1st Alpini Regiment/
4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" • Alpini Battalion "Exilles", from the
3rd Alpini Regiment/
1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" •
11th Alpini Regiment, newly raised on 22 December 1935 •
Alpini Battalion "Saluzzo", from the
2nd Alpini Regiment/ 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" • Alpini Battalion "Intra", from the
4th Alpini Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" •
Alpini Battalion "Trento", from the
6th Alpini Regiment/
2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" •
5th Alpine Artillery Regiment, newly raised on 31 December 1935 •
Alpine Artillery Group "Belluno", from the
3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment/
3rd Alpine Division "Julia" • 1st Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Susa"/
1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" • 11th Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Mondovì"/
4th Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" • 24th Battery •
Alpine Artillery Group "Lanzo", newly raised by the 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" • 5th Battery, from the
Alpine Artillery Group "Aosta"/ 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" • 13th Battery, from the
Alpine Artillery Group "Conegliano"/ 3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" • 21st Battery, from the
Alpine Artillery Group "Vicenza"/
2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" • 5th Alpine Engineer Company • VII Replacements Battalion • XI Replacements Battalion
Second Italo-Ethiopian War The Pusteria embarked in
Livorno and
Naples from 6 January 1936 for its transfer to
Massawa in
Italian Eritrea. From there the division moved to
Macallé in Ethiopia and entered combat at the end of January. The division played a primary role in the
Battle of Amba Aradam and the
Battle of Maychew, and participated in the
Second Battle of Tembien. On 5 May 1936 the division entered the Ethiopian capital of
Addis Ababa. After the war's conclusions the division remained in Ethiopia until April 1937 to eliminate the remaining Ethiopian resistance. The division arrived back in Naples on 12 April 1937 and was given a triumph march through Rome the next day. Having distinguished itself in Ethiopia it was decided that the division would not be disbanded.
Greco-Italian War In late November 1940 the division was sent as reinforcements to
Albania for the
Greco-Italian War. Between 6 December 1940 and 28 January 1941 the division was in constant combat with
Greek Army forces, which tried to advance to
Berat. From 12 April the division participated in the
Battle of Greece.
Yugoslav-Italian war After the
invasion of Yugoslavia the Pusteria was sent to
Pljevlja in
Montenegro. On 1 December 1941 the division was attacked by
Yugoslav Partisan of the People's Liberation Movement of Yugoslavia. The
Battle of Pljevlja was the first organized attack on occupation forces.
Case Anton In August 1942, the division was repatriated and after two months of rest participated in
Case Anton, the Axis occupation of
Vichy France. Afterwards the Pusteria took up garrison duties in
Grenoble,
Chambery,
Gap, and
Digne-les-Bains. After the announcement of the
Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, part of the division surrendered to German forces in Southern France while other units managed to return to the Italian region of
Piedmont where they disbanded. == Organization ==