His unit, known as "Centuria Valcamonica", was the protagonist of daring enterprises during the White War until De Castiglioni was seriously wounded by an artillery shell, which resulted in the loss of his right hand.

After promotion to colonel in 1934, he held various offices within the War School and the General Staff of the Royal Italian Army, after which he assumed command of the 2nd Alpini Regiment.

[6][7][8] With Italy's entry into the Second World War on 10 June 1940, he assumed the position of Chief of Operations of the General Staff, a post he held for over two years.

On 1 October 1942, after promotion to Major General, he assumed command of the 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria", which had recently returned from Yugoslavia and was being reorganized in Liguria, in the La Spezia area.

After the Armistice of Cassibile he managed to escape capture by German troops and reached southern Italy, where he resumed service with the Ministry of War, participating in the reconstruction of the Italian Co-belligerent Army.