The division dissolved on 14 August 1943 in Melia southeast of Scilla in Calabria after being heavily decimated during the Allied invasion of Sicily.

The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Granatieri di Napoli" established on 15 April 1861 with the 5th and 6th grenadier regiments.

[2][9][10] In 1940, the Napoli division was deployed in southern Sicily, with garrisons in Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina and Mirabella Imbaccari.

[11] On the day of the Allied landings on 10 July 1943, the Napoli engaged in fighting south of Noto, while its northern group fought at Lentini and Brucoli.

On the second day of the campaign, on 12 July 1943, the British captured Floridia and the entirety of the 75th Infantry Regiment as it was attempting to withdraw from the town.

[12] Meanwhile, the division's southern group had made contact with an advancing battalion of the Durham Light Infantry on 12 July on the road between Palazzolo Acreide and Floridia.

Destruction continued on 14 July 1943, as remnants of division fought a rear-guard battle at Scordia to protect other units retreating from Caltagirone and Vizzini.