[1][2] The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Pisa" established by order of the Provisional Government of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany of 4 November 1859 with the 1st and 2nd infantry regiments.

On 25 March 1860 the Brigade "Pisa" entered the Royal Sardinian Army three days after the Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the United Provinces of Central Italy, which included the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

[1] After landing in Massawa in Eritrea in January 1936 the Assietta received the 49th Artillery Regiment and moved to the Endaga Robo-Enticho-Dek’emhāre region.

On 2 March 1936 the Assietta blocked the retreat route of the Ethiopian Army on the front from Yereserē to Edai.

The Assietta, now used as a rear area guard force, followed in March–April 1936 first to Aderat and Amba Alagi and then to Atzalo and Aiba.

The division's last garrison in Ethiopia was the city of Dessie from September 1936 until the orders to return to Italy were received on 2 February 1937.

[1] In preparation for the invasion of France the Assietta moved to the border with France and by 10 June 1940 the division was waiting for the begin of hostilities in the area of the mountains Rochers Charniers, Grand Queyron, Mont Chaberton, the pass of Col de Montgenèvre, and in the Thuras valley.

After the collapse of the Yugoslav Army the division moved its headquarters to Delnice on 20 April 1941, performing mopping-up operations in the Gerovo-Karlovac-Lokve, Croatia region.

Unlike other Italian units nearby, the Assietta maintained constant contact with the enemy, repeatedly engaging in delaying skirmishes.

The nearby Battle of Troina concluded on 6 August 1943 and afterwards American units concentrated their attacks on the battered Assietta.

The initial American armor attack towards San Fratello and mount Pizzo degli Angeli was repulsed, but on 7 August 1943, the Assietta had to fall back to Tortorici after the Allies had landed troops in the division's rear at Militello Rosmarino.