[2] In November 1942 Axis forces invaded Southern France and divided it into a German and an Italian occupation zone.

Both divisions were assigned to VII Army Corps and transferred to Corsica in March 1943.

The 226th Coastal Division was based in Alata and responsible for the southwestern coast of Corsica.

[1][3] On 13 September elements of the Free French 4th Moroccan Mountain Division landed in Ajaccio to support the Italian efforts to stop the 30,000 retreating German troops, but during the night of 3-4 October the last German units were evacuated from Bastia leaving behind 700 dead and 350 POWs.

The division joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army and remained in Sardinia at reduced strength.