The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Roma" established in Rome on 1 November 1884 with the 79th and 80th infantry regiments.

The first contact with the Soviet troops happened on 10 August 1941 near town of Voznesensk on the Southern Bug river.

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.

In January 1942 the Pasubio division helped German troops fighting in the Izium area, where it defeated a heavy Soviet attack near the village of Novaya Orlovka.

By 16 December 1942 the Pasubio's counterattacks had reestablished the initial positions, but by that time the collapse of the entire Italian front-line was already underway.

The main body of the division had retreated with remnants of German units to the northern part of Chertkovo village, where they repelled several attacks starting from 23 December 1942.

Finally, the 2,000 men remaining of the division broke the encirclement on 17 January 1943 near the town of Belovodsk in Luhansk Oblast.

The division received some minor existing units and was in the process of being reformed, when it was transferred to Caserta for coastal defense duties.

The division's garrisons there were the villages of Avena, Grazzanise, Sparanise, and the town of Santa Maria Capua Vetere.

[10] For their conduct during the Italian campaign in the Soviet Union the President of Italy awarded the 79th Infantry Regiment "Pasubio" and the 8th Artillery Regiment "Pasubio" Italy's highest military honor, the Gold Medal of Military Valor.