Italian 1st Eritrean Division

The Italian 1st Eritrean Division, also known as the First Eritrean Division or I Division Indigeni, was a colonial military formation of the Italian Army organized in 1935 for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. It was formed from Eritrean askari serving in the Native Battalions, the regular indigenous units maintained by Italian authorities in Eritrea. The division therefore belonged to the military system of Italian Eritrea rather than to a commercial brand or civilian institution. The formation reflected Italy's reliance on locally recruited troops for operations in East Africa. Eritrean askari had previously served in Italian colonial campaigns and were organized into battalions that could be grouped into larger operational formations. For the 1935–1936 war against Ethiopia, these battalions were consolidated into the 1st Native Division under General Alessandro Di Pietro. Its structure included two mixed brigades, several native battalion groups, and mountain artillery units equipped with 65/17 Model 1913 guns. The division's organization combined infantry battalions recruited from Eritrea with Italian command and artillery arrangements. The division's first mixed brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Gallina and included the 1st and 5th Native Battalion Groups. These contained battalions identified by both numerical designations and honorific names, including the I “Turitto,” VI “Cossu,” XVI “Adi Caieh,” VII “Prestinari,” and XV “Billia” Native Battalions. The brigade also included the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion. The 3rd Mixed Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Cubeddu, contained the 2nd and 6th Native Battalion Groups, including the III “Galliano,” XI, II “Hidalgo,” XIII “Roma,” and XXIV Native Battalions, together with the 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion. The formation operated within the broader Italian invasion and occupation of Ethiopia. Its personnel were part of a colonial military structure in which Eritrean soldiers served under Italian officers and within Italy's imperial campaign. The available reference material identifies the division's commanders as General Alessandro Di Pietro and General Gustavo Pesenti, although it does not provide a complete chronology of their appointments or describe every operation undertaken by the division. Following the conclusion of the war in 1936, the 1st Eritrean Division was dissolved. Its short existence was closely tied to the campaign and to the Italian wartime reorganization of Eritrean colonial troops. It should be understood as a historical military unit, not as a consumer brand, corporation, product line, or continuing organization. No current successor, commercial owner, public website, or listed status is identified in the available material.

The 1st Eritrean Division was organized in 1935 as part of Italy's preparations for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Its personnel came from the Eritrean askari serving in the Native Battalions, which formed the regular indigenous component of the Italian colonial forces in Italian Eritrea. The division was consequently an Italian-controlled colonial formation rather than an independent Eritrean national army unit. The division was designated the 1st Native Division and was commanded by General Alessandro Di Pietro. Its order of battle consisted of two mixed brigades. The 1st Mixed Brigade, under Brigadier General Gallina, brought together the 1st and 5th Native Battalion Groups. Listed subordinate units included the I “Turitto,” VI “Cossu,” XVI “Adi Caieh,” VII “Prestinari,” and XV “Billia” Native Battalions, supported by the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion. The 3rd Mixed Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Cubeddu, contained the 2nd and 6th Native Battalion Groups. Its listed battalions included the III “Galliano,” XI, II “Hidalgo,” XIII “Roma,” and XXIV Native Battalions, supported by the 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion. The artillery units were equipped with 65/17 Model 1913 mountain guns. This organization gave the division a combination of mobile infantry and mountain artillery suited to the terrain and operational conditions of the Horn of Africa. The unit's command structure remained Italian, while its infantry strength was drawn primarily from Eritrean colonial troops. General Gustavo Pesenti is also identified among the division's commanders, though the available reference does not specify the precise dates or sequence of command. The division served during the Italian campaign against Ethiopia in 1935–1936. The war ended with the Italian conquest and annexation of Ethiopia into Italian East Africa, but the division itself did not continue as a permanent formation under the same title. It was dissolved in 1936 after the war. The unit's history illustrates both the militarization of Italian Eritrea and the central role assigned to Eritrean askari in Italy's colonial expansion. It also reflects the distinction between local recruitment and operational control: Eritrean soldiers supplied much of the division's manpower, while the formation was established, commanded, and deployed by the Italian colonial military authorities.

• 1936

  Dissolution

  [1]Italian 1st Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division was dissolved after the conclusion of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

• 1935

  Formation of the division

  [1]Italian 1st Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The 1st Eritrean Division was organized from Eritrean askari serving in the Native Battalions for Italy's forthcoming war against Ethiopia.

• 1935

  Establishment as the 1st Native Division

  [1]Italian 1st Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The formation was structured as the 1st Native Division under General Alessandro Di Pietro, with two mixed brigades and mountain artillery support.

A colonial military division organized by the Italian Army for wartime operations in East Africa, using Eritrean askari units under Italian command.

• 1935Second Italo-Ethiopian War

  Eritrea · Ethiopia

  The division was organized for and participated in Italy's 1935–1936 invasion of Ethiopia. Its infantry was drawn from Eritrean askari formations and operated within the Italian colonial military structure.

  Outcome. The war ended in Italian victory and the creation of Italian East Africa; the division was dissolved in 1936.

  Source

• 1935

  Creation of a native division for the Ethiopian campaignStrategy

  Background

  Italy needed organized colonial forces for its planned military campaign against Ethiopia and drew on the established Eritrean askari system.

  Action taken

  Italian authorities consolidated Eritrean Native Battalions into the 1st Native Division, supported by mixed brigades and mountain artillery.

  Aftermath

  The formation served during the war and was dissolved after the campaign in 1936.

  Source

1. 1Italian 1st Eritrean Divisionen.wikipedia.org