The 9th Infantry Division Pasubio () was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Pasubio was classified as an auto-transportable division, meaning it had some motorized transport, but not enough to move the entire division at once. The division was formed as an infantry division in 1934, reorganized as auto-transportable division in 1939 and mobilized in August 1940. It was named for the battles on Pasubio during World War I. 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 I CC.NN. Battalion "Sabauda" was made up of Blackshirt volunteers from Turin.
History
The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Roma" established in Rome on 1 November 1884 with the 79th and 80th infantry regiments.
World War I
The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 20 December 1926 the brigade assumed the name of IX Infantry Brigade with the 49th Infantry Regiment "Parma", 57th Infantry Regiment "Abruzzi", and 79th Infantry Regiment "Roma", while the 80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" was disbanded. The brigade was the infantry component of the 9th Territorial Division of Verona, which also included the 8th Artillery Regiment. In 1934 the division changed its name to 9th Infantry Division "Pasubio". In April 1939 the division ceded the 49th Infantry Regiment "Parma" to the 49th Infantry Division "Parma" and the 57th Infantry Regiment "Abruzzi" to the 10th Infantry Division "Piave", and received the re-raised 80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" from the 16th Infantry Division "Pistoia". On the same date the 79th and 80th infantry regiments, and the 8th Artillery Regiment changed their names to "Pasubio".
World War II
Yugoslavia
The Pasubio took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. First it was deployed at San Pietro del Carso (near modern Pivka). By 16 April the division had overcome border defenses and reached the road to Otocac. Closer to the end of war, it reached Šibenik-Split region where it participated in mop-up operations until 28 May 1941. After the end of the military operation in Yugoslavia, the Pasubio returned to Verona.
Soviet Union
In July 1941 the division was assigned to the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia and left Verona on 10 July 1941. It reached Yampil on the Dniester river on 6 August 1941. The first contact with the Soviet troops happened on 10 August 1941 near town of Voznesensk on the 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 Kyiv, capturing and holding a bridgehead on the eastern side of the Dnieper river. In October 1941 the Pasubio advanced by the route of Petrikovka-Dnipropetrovsk-Pavlohrad-Ulyanivka(Kharkiv Oblast)-Izium. The Pasubio played a significant role in the capture of Stalino in October 1941, earning the praise of the German First Panzer Group's commander, General Ewald von Kleist. On 1 November 1941, the Pasubio attacked Horlivka and captured it after fierce fighting. The village of Nikitovka north of Horlivka fell soon thanks to a rapid advance. The 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 was forced to switch to the defense.