[1][2] The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Palermo" established in Turin on 1 August 1862 with the 67th and 68th infantry regiments.

The brigade was the infantry component of the 6th Territorial Division of Milano, which also included the 27th Field Artillery Regiment.

[6][1] In June 1940 during the Italian invasion of France the division remained in the Fenestrelle-Col de Fenestre area as reserve of the 4th Army.

[2] In early January 1941 the Legnano was transferred to Albania to reinforce the Italian front in the Greco-Italian War.

After Greek units withdrew from the Albanian front during the Battle of Greece, the Legnano advanced and reached Këlcyrë on 16 April 1941.

After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943, some units were already at Brindisi and Francavilla Fontana, while others were stranded in Bologna or in locations on the way to their destination.

On 24 September 1944 the II Brigade of the Italian Liberation Corps was renamed as Combat Group "Legnano".

The new Legnano went to the front as part of the II Polish Corps, on the extreme left of the British 8th Army near the river Idice, and was tasked with liberating Bologna.