[3][4][5] At the proclamation of the Armistice of Cassibile, on 8 September 1943, Pelligra was in Split, then garrisoned by the 15th Infantry Division Bergamo, under the command of General Emilio Becuzzi, senior to him and the highest ranking officer in the area.

On 11 September Becuzzi held a war council with his officers, suggesting to hand over all weapons to the Yugoslav partisans, abstain from fighting the Germans, and dissolve all Italian units in the area.

Both Pelligra and General Alfonso Cigala Fulgosi, commander of the Split Fortress Area, firmly refused to give up their arms, expressing their desire to fight the Germans.

On the following day the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen, supported by some squadrons of Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers, captured Split.

Obergruppenführer Karl Reichsritter von Oberkamp, commander of the "Prinz Eugen" Division, ordered that all Italian officers who had made common cause with the Yugoslav partisans were to be executed.