The 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The headquarters of the division was in the city of Cuneo, and the majority of its Alpini soldiers were drafted from the surrounding Province of Cuneo - hence the division's name "Cuneense". The division participated in all Italian World War II campaigns with the exception of the North African Campaign. The division was annihilated during Operation Little Saturn by Soviet forces in January 1943.
The 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated, elite mountain corps of the Italian Army comprising both infantry and artillery units. Today the traditions and name of the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" are carried on by the Alpine Brigade "Julia".
The 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army comprising both infantry and artillery units. The name Tridentina was chosen as the division was based in the Trentino-South Tyrol region, for which the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini had created the neologism Venezia Tridentina. After World War II, the traditions and name of the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" were carried on by the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina".
The 29th Infantry Division "Piemonte" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division was garrisoned in Messina on Sicily and recruited primarily on the island. The division was in Greece when the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 and dissolved by German forces three days later.
The 19th Infantry Division "Venezia" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Venezia was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The division was named for the city of Venice and based in Tuscany, from where it also recruited most of its troops. After the Armistice of Cassibile between the Allies and Italy was announced on 8 September 1943 the division joined the Yugoslav partisans in Montenegro and formed the Partisan Division "Garibaldi".
The 24th Infantry Division "Pinerolo" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division was based in Chieti, with its regiments in the Abruzzo region. The division was named for the city of Pinerolo. The division's regimental depots were shared with the 62nd Infantry Division "Marmarica", which was based in Derna in Libya and recruited its men from and trained them in Abruzzo.
The 131st Armored Division "Centauro" was an armored division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in April 1939 by expanding the I Armored Brigade. The division's name came from the mythological race of half human-half horse creatures named Centaurs. The division participated in the invasion of Albania, Greco-Italian War, and invasion of Yugoslavia. In August 1942 the division was sent to Libya to participate in the Western Desert Campaign. After the Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein the division retreated with the German-Italian Panzer Army to Tunisia, where the division participated in the Tunisian Campaign. On 18 April 1943 the division was disbanded due to the losses suffered in the Battle of El Guettar.
The 2nd Infantry Division "Sforzesca" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Sforzesca was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The Division, with the exception of the 53rd Infantry Regiment based in Biella, was based in Novara and recruited its troops primarily from northern Piedmont. The division was named for the Battle of Sforzesca fought during the First Italian War of Independence in 1849.
The 6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Cuneo was formed on 24 May 1939 in Milan by splitting the 58th Infantry Division "Legnano" and was named for the city of Cuneo. The Cuneo was part of the III Corps of First Army that took part in the Italian invasion of France, and then it was part of the XXVI Corps during the Greco-Italian War.
The 11th Infantry Division "Brennero" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Brennero was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The Brennero was named for the Brenner Pass between Italy and Austria. The division was based in the western half of South Tyrol with the division's headquarter in Bolzano.
The 32nd Infantry Division "Marche" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Marche was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops. The division was formed on 22 February 1939 in Conegliano and named for the central Italian region of Marche.
The 38th Infantry Division "Puglie" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Puglie was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops.
The 41st Infantry Division "Firenze" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Firenze was formed on 15 September 1939 in Florence and named for the city. The division recruited primarily in Tuscany. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division resisted German attempts to disbanded it and on 28 September 1943 the division dissolved itself and formed partisan formations, which joined the Albanian National Liberation Army.
The 48th Infantry Division "Taro" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Taro was formed on 12 September 1939 in Catanzaro and named for the river Taro. After the Armistice of Cassibile the division disbanded on 8 September 1943 in Toulon, France.
The 49th Infantry Division "Parma" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Parma was activated on 12 September 1939 in Macerata and named for the city of Parma. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by German forces in Vlorë in Albania.
The 50th Infantry Division "Regina" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Regina was formed on 1 March 1939 in the Italian Islands of the Aegean and entitled to the Queen. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile between Italy and the Allies on 8 September 1943 the division fought Wehrmacht forces in the Battle of Rhodes. The majority of the division surrendered on 11 September 1943, while the III Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment "Regina" resisted the Germans on Leros until 16 November 1943.
The 51st Infantry Division "Siena" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Siena was formed on 15 September 1939 and named for the city of Siena. The division was a Campanian unit and its men were almost entirely from Naples. After fighting in the Greco-Italian War the division was sent to Crete as garrison unit. There the division was disbanded by invading German forces after the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943.
The 53rd Infantry Division "Arezzo" was a infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Arezzo was classified as a mountain infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery was moved by pack mules instead of the horse-drawn carriages of line infantry divisions. Italy's real mountain warfare divisions were the six alpine divisions manned by Alpini mountain troops.
The 151st Infantry Division "Perugia" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Perugia was formed on 25 August 1941 and named for the city of Perugia. The Perugia was classified as an occupation infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery regiment consisted of two artillery groups instead of the three artillery groups of line infantry divisions and that the divisional mortar battalion was replaced by a divisional machine gun battalion.
The 56th Infantry Division "Casale" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Casale was activated on 15 June 1939 in Forlì and named for the city of Casale Monferrato and recruited most its men from the Romagna region. The division was sent to Greece as occupation and force. There the division was disbanded by invading German forces in the Aetolia-Acarnania region of Greece after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943.
