The 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" () was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. 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 and based in the Puster Valley (), which gave the division its name. History Formation The division was activated on 31 December 1935 with units of the other four alpine divisions. The division was meant as a temporary command for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. 7th Alpini Regiment, from the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" Alpini Battalion "Feltre" Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Teco", from the 1st Alpini Regiment/ 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" Alpini Battalion "Exilles", from the 3rd Alpini Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" 11th Alpini Regiment, newly raised on 22 December 1935 Alpini Battalion "Saluzzo", from the 2nd Alpini Regiment/ 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" Alpini Battalion "Intra", from the 4th Alpini Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" Alpini Battalion "Trento", from the 6th Alpini Regiment/ 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment, newly raised on 31 December 1935 Alpine Artillery Group "Belluno", from the 3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" 1st Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Susa"/ 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" 11th Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Mondovì"/ 4th Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" 24th Battery Alpine Artillery Group "Lanzo", newly raised by the 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" 5th Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Aosta"/ 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" 13th Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Conegliano"/ 3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" 21st Battery, from the Alpine Artillery Group "Vicenza"/ 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment/ 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" 5th Alpine Engineer Company VII Replacements Battalion XI Replacements Battalion Second Italo-Ethiopian War The Pusteria embarked in Livorno and Naples from 6 January 1936 for its transfer to Massawa in Italian Eritrea. From there the division moved to Macallé in Ethiopia and entered combat at the end of January entered combat. The division played a primary role in the Battle of Amba Aradam and the Battle of Maychew, and participated in the Second Battle of Tembien. On 5 May 1936 the division entered the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. After the war's conclusions the division remained in Ethiopia