Italian 9 Infantry Division Pasubio

9th Infantry Division Pasubio
9th Infantry Division Pasubio Insignia
Active	1934–1943
Country	Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Infantry
Size	Division
Part of	Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia 8th Army
Garrison/HQ	Verona
Nickname(s)	Pasubio
Engagements	World War II Invasion of Yugoslavia Eastern Front Assault on Stalino Battle of Nikolayevka
Insignia
Identification symbol
Identification symbol	Pasubio Division collar insignia

The 9th Infantry Division Pasubio was an auto-transportable binary-type (2-regiments) InfantryDivision of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed as an infantry division in 1934, reorganized into an infantry division in 1939 and mobilized in August 1940. Its 79th Infantry Regiment and 8th Artillery Regiment were made up of men from Verona, while the ranks of the 80th Regiment were filled with men from Mantua. Its 1st Sabauda CCNN Battalion was made up of volunteers from Turin.

The Pasubio Division took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. First it was deployed at San Pietro del Carso dam (near modern Pivka). By 16 April, Pasubio division has overcome border defenses and reached the road to . Closer to the end of war, it reached Sibenik-Split region where it participated in mop-up operations until 28 May 1941. After the end of the military operation in Yugoslavia, Pasubio division was returned to Verona.

Assigned to the Russian expedition corps (or Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia (CSIR)) in the beginning of July, 1941, Pasubio division has left Verona 10 July 1941 and reached Yampil on Dniester river at 6 August 1941. The first contact with the Soviet army happened 10 August 1941 near town of Voznesensk on Southern Bug river. The Polyana village was reached by 12 August 1941. From 18 September 1941 until 26 September 1941 the "Pasubio" participated in the Battle of Kiev (1941), capturing and holding a bridgehead on the eastern side of Dnieper river. In October 1941, the Pasubio division has advanced by route Petrikovka-Dnipropetrovsk-Pavlohgrad-Ulyanivka(Kharkiv Oblast)-Izium. The Pasubio played a significant role in the capture of Donetsk(Stalino) in October 1941, earning the praise of the German First Panzer Group's commander, General Ewald von Kleist. 1 November 1941, the Pasubio division has attacked Horlivka town and captured it after fierce fighting. Village Nikitovka north of Horlivka fell soon thanks to rapid Italian action. The Pasubio division also contributed significantly to the capture of the Shazopetovka? and Bulavyns'ke to the east of Horlivka. By that time, the Soviets forces increased to an extent where the Pasubio Division has switched to defense.