59th Mountain Infantry Division Cagliari

59th Infantry Division Cagliari
59th Infantry Division Cagliari Insignia
Active	1939–1943
Country	Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Vercelli
Nickname(s)	Cagliari
Engagements	World War II Italian invasion of France Greco-Italian War
Commanders
Notable commanders	General Antonio Scuero
Insignia
Identification symbol
Identification symbol	Cagliari Division collar insignia

The 59th Infantry Division Cagliari was a mountain infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed 5 April 1939 in Vercelli and dissolved 8 September 1943 in southern Peloponnese. Garrisoned in Vercelli, the division was made up almost entirely of men from northern Piedmont, especially from Vercelli and Ivrea. The only difference between line infantry divisions and mountain infantry divisions was that the latter's artillery was carried by pack mules instead of the standard horse-drawn carriages. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by the "Alpini" mountain troops.

As part of the Italian I Corps, the Cagliari participated in the Italian invasion of France in June 1940. Initially (10 June 1940) staying on the border at the Mont Cenis--Rocciamelone line, the division have moved across border 15 June 1940, capturing , Sommet de la Nunda, Pas de la Beccia and Col de Sollières around Mont Cenis lake by 17 June 1940. 21 June 1940 it reached Arc (Savoie) river valley and started advancing to Bramans and Le Planey (on Ruisseau d'Étache stream), capturing both 23 June 1940. Immediately attack was initiated to Val d'Ambin with the goal of Modane, but Franco-Italian Armistice signed 24 June 1940 has stopped the Cagliary division short of this goal. The division has remained in Arc (Savoie) river valley until end of September when it returned home to Italy.