Happened today: on December 31, 1935, the 5th Alpine Division “Pusteria” is born

On December 31, 1935, exactly ninety years ago, while Italy was engaged in the complex campaign in East Africa, the Royal Army created a new large unit destined to leave a deep mark in the history of the alpine troops. Thus was born the 5th Alpine Division “Pusteria”, a formation that, although characterized by a relatively short operational life, would write pages of great military significance, distinguishing itself for its deployment, sacrifice, and esprit de corps.

Established at a crucial moment for the Italian Armed Forces, the “Pusteria” was conceived to operate in extreme contexts, where the harshness of the terrain and climate required trained, motivated units capable of sustaining prolonged operations in prohibitive conditions. A division that, from its inception, fully embodied the alpine spirit: resilience, discipline, and sense of duty.

The establishment and the first units

The Division was officially established on December 31, 1935, under the command of General Luigi Negri Cesi, drawing men and experiences from other Alpine Divisions and newly mobilized complement units.

From its inception, the “Pusteria” was configured as a complete and operational large unit, composed of:

• 7th Alpini Regiment
  • Battalions Feltre, Pieve di Teco, Exilles
• 11th Alpini Regiment
  • Battalions Trento, Intra, Saluzzo
• 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment
  • Groups Belluno and Lanzo
• 5th Alpine Engineer Company
• VII and XI Complement Battalions

The Artillery Group “Belluno”, already existing, was joined by the newly formed Group “Lanzo”, created specifically for the new Division. The batteries were thus organized:

• Group Belluno
  • 1st battery (Susa)
  • 11th battery (Mondovì)
  • 24th battery (Belluno)
• Group Lanzo
  • 5th battery (Aosta)
  • 13th battery (Conegliano)
  • 21st battery (Vicenza)

East Africa: the baptism of fire

The “Pusteria” was immediately assigned to the African theater, participating in the operations of the Ethiopian Campaign. The Alpini operated in extreme conditions, far from the mountainous environment for which they had been trained: scorching heat, rugged plateaus, water shortages, and long supply lines.

In that context, the Division was employed in the harsh battles of Tigray, Amba Aradam, Amba Alagi, and Mai Ceu, distinguishing itself for discipline, resilience, and esprit de corps.

In these operations, it demonstrated discipline, resilience, and esprit de corps, but paid a heavy toll: 220 casualties, including those killed in action and from disease.

In April 1937, the Division returned home. On April 12, it landed in Naples and the next day paraded in Rome, symbolizing a unit that had fulfilled its duty in one of the most challenging theaters of the time.

The reorganization and new structure

In May 1937, the Division was reorganized:

• The 7th Alpini retained the battalions Belluno, Feltre, Pieve di Cadore
• The 11th Alpini was reconstituted with the battalions Bassano, Trento, Bolzano
• The 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment retained the groups Belluno and Lanzo
• The 5th Engineer Company became the Mixed Engineer Battalion “Pusteria”

The batteries were also reassigned:

• Group Belluno: 22nd, 23rd, 24th
• Group Lanzo: 16th, 21st, 44th

From France to the Balkans

In June 1940, with Italy's entry into the war, the Division was deployed on the western front, in the area of Colle della Maddalena, as a strategic reserve.

In December 1940, it was transferred to the Greek-Albanian front, where it operated hard alongside the Division “Julia”, suffering new losses in a harsh and exhausting theater.

In July 1941, the “Pusteria” was sent to Montenegro, engaged in counter-guerrilla operations against the partisans. A difficult deployment, marked by continuous combat and constant wear on the men.

Returning to Italy in August 1942, it was subsequently transferred to occupied France, with tasks of garrison and territorial control.

September 8, 1943, and the end of the Division

At the beginning of September 1943, the commander Gen. De Castiglioni was recalled to Rome and the command temporarily passed to Gen. Emilio Magliano. The armistice caught the Division in the area between Grenoble and Gap, with much of the materials and heavy armaments already prepared on railway convoys for the return to Italy.

The German reaction was immediate: the Division Command and the 11th Alpini Regiment were captured, while the 7th Alpini and the 5th Artillery Regiment managed in part to evade capture and retreat towards national territory. Many Alpini were taken prisoner; others, returning home through difficult and often fragmented routes, joined the first nuclei of the Resistance in the Piedmont mountains.

With September 8, 1943, the history of the Alpine Division “Pusteria” came to an end, which was never reconstituted.