The First Eritrean Division or I Division Indigeni (Native) was organized for service in the

Second Italo-Abyssinian War The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression which was fought between Italy and Ethiopia from October 1935 to February 1937. In Ethiopia it is often referred to simply as the Itali ...

in 1935. It was formed from the Eritrean

askari An askari (from Somali, Swahili and Arabic , , meaning "soldier" or "military", which also means "police" in the Somali language) was a local soldier serving in the armies of the European colonial powers in Africa, particularly in the African G ...

of the Battalion indigeni (Native Battalions) who provided the regular colonial forces of Italian

Eritrea Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...

.
It was dissolved in 1936 after the war.

Organization

1st Native Division - Gen. Salvatore di Pietro * 1st Mixed Brigade - Brig. Gen. Gallina ** 1st Native Battalion Group *** I "Turitto" Native Battalion *** VI "Cossu" Native Battalion *** XVI "Adi Caieh" Native Battalion ** 5th Native Battalion Group *** VII "Prestinari" Native Battalion *** XV "Billia" Native Battalion ** 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion (65L17) * 3rd Mixed Brigade - Brig. Gen. Cubeddu ** 2nd Native Battalion Group *** III "Galliano" Native Battalion *** XI Native Battalion ** VI Native Battalion Group *** II "Hidalgo" Native Battalion *** XIII "Roma" Native Battalion *** XXIV Native Battalion ** 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion (65L17)

Commanders

* gen. Alessandro Di Pietro * gen.

Gustavo Pesenti Gustavo Pesenti (January 15, 1878 – January 18, 1960) was an Italian general. He was Italian colonial governor of Somaliland. Biography He was a knight of the Military Order of Savoy. He was a recipient of the Bronze Medal of Military Valor. ...

{{Italian Divisions World War II Divisions of Italy of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War