1 Alpine Division Taurinense

1st Alpine Division Taurinense
Coat of Arms of the 1st Alpine Division Taurinense
Active	September 10, 1935 – September 10, 1943
Country	Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito
Type	Alpini
Role	Mountain Infantry
Size	17,460 men
Garrison/HQ	Turin
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Carlo Vecchiarelli, Luigi Nuvoloni, Paolo Micheletti, Paolo Puntoni, Giovanni Maccario and Lorenzo Vivalda

The 1st Alpine Division Taurinense was a World War II light Infantry division of the Italian Army which specialised in Mountain Combat. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army consisting of both infantry and artillery units. Today, the traditions and name of the 1st Alpine Division Taurinense are carried on by the Alpine Brigade Taurinense.

The Taurinense division was constituted on 10 September 1935 through the reorganization of the existing 1st Superior Alpini Command. The headquarters of the division was in the city of Turin and the majority of its soldiers were drafted from the surrounding valleys—hence the name "Taurinense", from the Roman name of the city of Turin Augusta Taurinorum.

When Italy decided to invade Ethiopia in 1935, the Exilles and Intra battalions and two artillery batteries from each of the divisions were attached to the 5 Alpine Division Pusteria and sent to Eritrea. The detached units returned to the Taurinense after the Pusteria's return to Italy in 1937.

From 10 June to 24 June 1940 the division advanced with other Italian units into Southern France and occupied Bourg-Saint-Maurice, where it was garrisoned after the end of hostilities. It remained in France until January 1942.

The division was then sent to Mostar in the Independent State of Croatia to take part in anti-partisan operations during World War II in Yugoslavia. After arriving in Mostar, the division was placed under the command of the Italian XIV Army Corps and participated in the third Axis anti-Partisan offensive. The division captured Trnovo, and also reached and blocked Kalinovik where it made contact with elements of the 22 Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi; but, overall, the offensive was a failure.