5th Alpine Division Pusteria

5a Divisione Alpina Pusteria
Coat of Arms of the 5th Alpine Division Pusteria
Active	31 December 1935 – 8 September 1943
Country	Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito
Type	Alpini
Role	Mountain Infantry
Size	17,460 men
Part of	Italian Alpine Corps 1942-1943
Garrison/HQ	Bruneck
Engagements	Second Italo-Abyssinian War World War II Battle of France Greco-Italian War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Giovanni Esposito

The 5th Alpini Division Pusteria was a light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. 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.

The 5 Alpini Division Pusteria was dispatched in 1935 to Eritrea where it participated in the Italian attack on Abyssinia. The division played a primary role in the Battle of Amba Aradam and the Battle of Maychew.

On June 21, 1940 (one day before the French surrender) the “Pusteria” division began to advance in southern France with other Italian units during the last days of the Battle of France.

The division was then sent to Albania, where it participated in the Italian attack on Greece.

After the invasion of Yugoslavia the “Pusteria” was sent to Montenegro where the division was decimated greatly in heavy fighting against Yugoslavian Partisans. On 1 December 1941 this division was victorious against Partisans in the Battle of Pljevlja.

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 the southern region of Provence.