The Antonio Gramsci Battalion was formed on 9 November 1943 from captured Italian soldiers who wished to continue the war by resisting Nazi German forces in Albania.
After five hours of fierce fighting, they managed to break through German lines with great losses.
Its commander, Terzilio Cardinali, was killed in action on July 8, 1944, during fighting in the Diber region.
After the liberation of Albania, the battalion was elevated to the rank of a brigade, composed from other Italian fighters who were dispersed in other partisan units.
In May 1945, in mutual agreement with the Italian government, its forces were repatriated to Italy with a military honor ceremony.