The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Pistoia" established by order of the Provisional Government of the
Grand Duchy of Tuscany of 4 November 1859 with the 7th and 8th infantry regiments. On 25 March 1860 the Brigade "Pistoia" entered the
Royal Sardinian Army three days after the
Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the
United Provinces of Central Italy, which included the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Already before entering the Royal Sardinian Army the brigade's two infantry regiments had been renumbered on 30 December 1859 as 35th Infantry Regiment and 36th Infantry Regiment.
World War I The brigade fought on the
Italian front in
World War I. On 20 October 1926 the brigade assumed the name of XVI Infantry Brigade with the 35th Infantry Regiment "Pistoia", and 36th Infantry Regiment "Pistoia", and
66th Infantry Regiment "Valtellina". The brigade was the infantry component of the 16th Territorial Division of
Bologna, which also included the
3rd Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 16th Infantry Division "
Fossalta". On 1 November 1936 the division ceded the 66th Infantry Regiment to the
8th Infantry Division "Po" and on 2 May 1937 the division raised in
Reggio Emilia the
80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" as replacement. In 1939 the XVI Infantry Brigade was dissolved and the 80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" transferred to the
9th Infantry Division "Pasubio". The remaining two infantry regiments came under direct command of the division, which changed its name to 16th Infantry Division "Pistoia".
World War II Invasion of France In June 1940 the Pistoia was located in the
Varaita Valley on the border with France as reserve of the
1st Army for the
Italian invasion of France. On 20 June 1940 the Pistoia moved to the
Maddalena Pass, with only the division's artillery regiment ending up in French territory by July 1940.
North African Campaign On 15 January 1941 the division was transferred to
Calabria and tasked with coastal defense. In 1941 the Pistoia was reformed as a motorized division and renamed 16th Motorized Division "Pistoia" on 10 October 1941. In September 1942 the division was transferred to North Africa and took positions on the
Bardia-
Sallum-
Naqb al Halfayah road, guarding the supply line of the
Panzer Army Africa at
El Alamein. Already in late September and October the division received the three battalions of the 336th Infantry Regiment "Piceno" of the
152nd Infantry Division "Piceno" to bring it back up to strength. • I Battalion/ 336th Infantry Regiment "Piceno" became the III Battalion/ 35th Infantry Regiment "Pistoia" • II Battalion/ 336th Infantry Regiment "Piceno" became the I Battalion/ 36th Infantry Regiment "Pistoia" • III Battalion/ 336th Infantry Regiment "Piceno" became the III Battalion/ 36th Infantry Regiment "Pistoia" The Pistoia had to retreat when the British offensive reached it on 11 November 1942 after the British success in the
Second Battle of El Alamein. After a long retreat Axis forces were able to re-establish a defensive line at
Mareth in
Tunisia on 4 February 1943. On 6 March 1943 the Axis forces commenced the
Battle of Medenine in an attempt to disrupt British offensive preparations. After the failure at the Battle of Medenine the Axis forces, including the Pistoia, fell back to the
Mareth Line. When the British resumed their offensive in the
Battle of the Mareth Line the Pistoia held its positions until 25 March 1943, but when threatened of being outflanked it was forced to retreated northwards to
El Hamma. The Pistoia fought in the
Battle of Wadi Akarit and once again the Axis forces had to retreat northwards. By the time the Pistoia reached the last Axis line at
Enfidaville on 13 April 1943 it was severely decimated. On 22 April 1943 the allies began their
final offensive in Tunisia and after a few days, despite some successful counter-attacks west of the Takrouna road junction, the Pistoia was surrounded. The last of the division's units surrendered on 13 May 1943. == Organization ==