He participated in the First World War on the Italian front and in late 1917, temporarily in command of the 73rd Engineer Battalion, he organized the defense on the Piave river between Nervesa and Palazzon.

[1][circular reference] In 1940 Frattini was transferred to the Ministry of War and in 1941 he became section chief at the Army General Staff, where he worked to set up a paratroop unit.

Lacking vehicles, the men were forced to retreat on foot; after two days of march in the desert, at 14:35 on 6 November, the remnants of "Folgore" were caught up by the 44th British Infantry Division and surrendered after destroying their weapons.

For its conduct during the battle of El Alamein the regiments of the "Folgore" Division were awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor.

In 1948 he was promoted to lieutenant general, in 1950 he served at the Defense Staff and in 1952 he became commander of NATO Allied Land Forces Southern Europe.