Recruited locally, they were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.

[2] The division was activated on 15 November 1941 in Catania and assigned to XVI Army Corps, which was responsible for the defense of the eastern half of the island of Sicily.

[1] The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast between Punta Castelluccio in Agnone Bagni and Moleti south of Messina.

[3] The division fought against units of the British Eighth Army after the allies landed on Sicily on 10 July 1943.

By 15 July 1943 the division had been severely decimated and was therefore officially declared lost due to wartime events.