5th Alpine Division "Pusteria"

The 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" (Italian: 5ª Divisione alpina "Pusteria") was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. 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 based in the Puster Valley (Italian: Val Pusteria), which gave the division its name.

5th Alpine Division "Pusteria"
5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" insignia
Active31 December 1935 – 8 September 1943
Country Kingdom of Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
TypeAlpini
RoleMountain Infantry
Size17,460 men
Garrison/HQBruneck
EngagementsSecond Italo-Ethiopian War
World War II
Battle of France
Greco-Italian War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Giovanni Esposito
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Pusteria Division gorget patches

History

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.[1][2]

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 entered combat. 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 on the next day. Having distinguished itself in Ethiopia it was decided that the division would not be disbanded.[1][2]

The division moved the Bruneck and was assigned in May 1937 the following units:[1]

Invasion of France

On 21 June 1940 the Pusteria began to advance into southern France with other Italian units during the last days of the Battle of France.[6]

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.[2][6]

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.[2]

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.[2][6]

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.[2]

Organization

During World War II the division consisted of the following units:[6][1][2]

  • 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria", in Bruneck
    • 7th Alpini Regiment, in Belluno[3]
    • 11th Alpini Regiment, in Bruneck[4]
      • Command Company
      • Alpini Battalion "Bolzano"
        • Command Company
        • 92nd, 141st, and 142nd Alpini companies
        • 127th Support Weapons Company (Breda M37 machine guns, 45mm Mod. 35 and 81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
      • Alpini Battalion "Trento"
        • Command Company
        • 94th, 144th, and 145th Alpini companies
        • 128th Support Weapons Company (Breda M37 machine guns, 45mm Mod. 35 and 81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
      • Alpini Battalion "Bassano"
        • Command Company
        • 62nd, 63rd, and 74th Alpini companies
        • 129th Support Weapons Company (Breda M37 machine guns, 45mm Mod. 35 and 81mm Mod. 35 mortars)
      • 11th Supply Squad
      • 211th Train Section (Logistic Support)
      • 311th Medical Section
        • 625th Field Hospital
    • 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment, in Belluno[5]
    • V Mixed Alpine Engineer Battalion
      • Command Platoon
      • 105th Searchlight Section
      • 115th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company
      • 125th Engineer Company
    • 208th Transport Section
    • 304th Medical Section
    • 11th Supply Section
    • Carabinieri Section
    • 206th Field Post Office

Attached during operations in Montenegro:[6]

Attached in France:[6]

Commanding officers

The division's commanding officers were:[2][6]

CROWCASS

The names of two men attached to the division can be found in the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects (CROWCASS) set up by the Anglo-American Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in 1945. The names can be found at: Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects from the Kingdom of Italy.

References
  1. "Divisione Alpina Pusteria". vecio.it. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. "5ª Divisione alpina "Pusteria"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. "7° Reggimento Alpini". vecio.it. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. "11° Reggimento Alpini". vecio.it. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. "5° Reggimento Artiglieria da Montagna". vecio.it. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 190. Retrieved 18 October 2021.


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