The 6th Alpine Division Alpi Graie was a short-lived light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini that formed the divisions where from the highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army comprising both infantry and artillery units. The divisions name Alpi Graie was chosen as most of its recruits came from the are of the Graian Alps (Italian language: Alpi Graie ).
History[]
The division was raised with reserve units on 15 November 1941 and deployed quickly to Montenegro - the first unit to leave was the 4th Alpini "Valley" Group on 14 December 1941. In March 1942 the full division command had arrived at Danilovgrad in Montenegro and begun to fight the Yugoslav Partisans. The division saw heavy combat in the area of the Durmitor massif.
Meanwhile the 3rd Alpini "Valley" Group had taken up garrison duties in occupied France in the area of Maurienne. It participated in the occupation of Vichy France by Axis forces during Case Anton.
In 1943 the division was moved to the port of La Spezia and tasked with defending it against potential allied raids. After the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces on 8 September 1943 the division disbanded two days later.
Order of Battle[]
1941[]
- 3rd Alpini "Valley" Group
Val Pellice Battalion
Val Toce Battalion- Val Cenischia Battalion
- Val d’Orco Artillery Group
- 4th Alpini "Valley" Group
- Val Chisone Battalion
- Susa Battalion
- Val d’Adige Artillery Group
1942[]
- 2nd Alpini "Valley" Group in Montenegro
- Val Pescara Battalion
- Val Leogra Battalion
- Valle Isonzo Artillery Group
- 3rd Alpini "Valley" Group in France
- Val Pellice Battalion
- Val Toce Battalion
- Val Cenischia Battalion
- Val d’Orco Artillery Group
- 4th Alpini "Valley" Group in Montenegro
- Val Chisone Battalion
- Susa Battalion
- Val d’Adige Artillery Group
1943[]
- 3rd Alpini "Valley" Group
- Val Pellice Battalion
- Val Fassa Battalion
- Val Dora Battalion
- 4th Alpini "Valley" Group
- Val d’Orco Battalion
- Val Chisone Battalion
- Susa Battalion
- 6th Alpine Artillery Regiment
- Val d’Adige Artillery Group
- Val Chisone Artillery Group
- 6th Engineer Battalion
The original article can be found at 6th Alpine Division Alpi Graie and the edit history here.