[1][2] The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Ferrara" established on 1 October 1859 with the 25th and 26th infantry regiments of the Army of the United Provinces of Central Italy.

On 25 March 1860 the Brigade "Ferrara" entered the Royal Sardinian Army three days after the Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the United Provinces of Central Italy.

The division's first troops landed in Durrës on 7 April 1939 and in the next two days moved to Vlorë, Fier, Tepelenë, and the Patos-Marinza and Kuçova oil fields.

At the beginning of Greco-Italian War on 28 October 1940, the Ferrara was stretched from Aoös valley to Mal Stugarë mount.

On 30 October 1940 the division entered a few hundred meters into a Greek territory near Kakavia and stopped at the Fitóki Potamós stream (a tributary of the Drino).

On 1–3 November a battle was fought on the division's right flank for control of the Mesovuni mountain chain, after which the outnumbered Greeks retreated to the Thyamis river.

Attacks and counter-attacks continued with the increasing odds against Italians, until the entire left flank of the Ferrara was defeated 20 November 1940.

At this point, the remnants of division held only a small sliver of Greek territory near Vesania and were ordered to retreat from the increasingly untenable positions in the Pontikates area.

In the beginning of January, 1942, the Ferrara division was tasked with coastal defence duty in a sector from ranging from the Seman river to Durrës.

[1] In April 1942 the division was transferred to Montenegro, with headquarters in Nikšić (later moved to Cetinje), and detachments in Danilovgrad, Podgorica, and Šavnik.

[1] Attached from the end of 1940 until early 1942:[2] Attached during the division's stay in Montenegro:[2] For their conduct during the Greco-Italian War the President of Italy awarded on 31 December 1947, respectively on 26 December 1951, to the regiments of the 23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara" Italy's highest military honor, the Gold Medal of Military Valor.