Under Major-General Pietro Zaglio it attacked on 31 March 1941 via the Via Balbia road from Ajdabiya, driving the Australian rearguards back to Mechili, which by 6 April was surrounded.

In the aftermath of the counter-attack, elements of the Pavia were transferred to Sirte to defend an airfield near Wādī Thāmit.

In June, the Pavia returned to the front to participate in the Siege of Tobruk and was engaged repeatedly in intense probing attacks carried out by the 9th Australian Division.

On 18 November 1941 the British Operation Crusader commenced and on 19 November a column of British tanks tried to move westwards towards the track that ran up from Bi’r al Ghabī to Al Adm but encountered infantry of the Pavia and were forced to turn back.

[11] On 15 December, the bulk of the Pavia fought on the Gazala Line against the 2nd New Zealand Division and Polish Carpathian Rifle Brigade, managing to hold its line after a poor initial beginning (with the loss of some hundreds of prisoners),[12] allowing a strong Italian and German armored force to counter-attack and overrun the 1st Battalion, The Buffs, (Royal East Kent Regiment).

The Pavia started to advance gradually from late January 1942, returning to its initial positions of 1941 west of Tobruk on 26 May 1942.

During the Battle of Gazala, the Pavia was used to mop up British units, taking charge of 6,000 Allied prisoners by 16 June 1942.

During the initial phase of the fighting the Pavia served as rearguard for the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete", where it had an isolated, limited defensive success.

[15] A few elements of the Pavia along with the 27th Infantry Division "Brescia" put up a stubborn defense on Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14–15 July,[16] allowing a German armored force to arrive in time the next day to deliver a counterattack against the attacking New Zealand infantry and British armor.

[17] Captain Amalio Stagni and Corporal Ugo Vaia of the Pavia were both awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor for their leadership during the action on Ruweisat Ridge.

The Pavia tried to follow suit, but lost its rearguard at Deir el Nuss to Allied armored units.

At Mersa Matruh, where several of the survivors of the Pavia had regrouped, including its commander, the remnants of the division had no option but to surrender on 7 November 1942.