The division was based in Perugia and named for the Cacciatori delle Alpi corps raised for the Second War of Italian Independence.

[1][2] The division's lineage begins with the Cacciatori delle Alpi regimental depot established by the Royal Sardinian Army on 17 March 1859 in Cuneo to train volunteers for the upcoming Second War of Italian Independence.

[7] Some 220 officers and 6,000 soldiers of the "Alpi" Brigade remained in Belgium after the end of World War I under the command of the British XI Corps.

[1] In early January 1941 the division was sent to Albania to reinforce the crumbling Italian front during the Greek offensive in the Greco-Italian War.

On 21 January the division entered the front between Qafa e Bubësit, Përroi i Branecit, with the task to block Greek attacks in the Osum river valley.

By 28 January the Greeks had succeeded in breaking the Cacciatori's line and the severely decimated division gave way and retreated north until reaching the Shkumbin river.

A minor defensive battle was won by Italians at Mali i Firtit on 9–10 February 1941, which stopped the Greek advance.

With the start of the general Italian offensive on 15 April 1941, the Cacciatori delle Alpi participated in an attack on Korçë, reaching Cerovë after some fighting.