July 16th 1944, Gansevac (Germany): Monte Rosa Division gave the honours at the Head of the Italian Social Republic, Benito Mussolini, who gave the regimental flags to the units.

More than 20.000 soldiers were ready to come back to Italy to fight against the enemies. Days after July 16th represents a hard period for Italian soldiers: fights, logistics stress, air strikes, etc.

All this to fight in favour of honour of the Homeland but in an unhappy context: the Italian civil war.

Ligurian line

Aim assigned to Monterosa Division was: take a linear position on the coast of Liguria with anti-maritime offensive operations and guarantee the security along the communication lines to Pianura Padana and the cities of Parma and Piacenza.

A defensive organization structured on three defensive lines with the control of the mountains close to the coast.

From September 1944 Monterosa Division was splitted in three combat groups: Alps, Garfagnana and Liguria (in the last one were operational the Alpini Battallions Aosta, Morbegno, Ivrea, Vestone and Saluzzo, the Artillery Group Aosta and Combat Service Supports).

Alps

August 15, 1944: Anvil maritime operation. (Allied Operation)

Ten French–American divisions after the maritime operation moved from South of France to North: right part of the units went toward the mountains line of Italian Alps.

Germans sent to the Alps a part of the 34th Division to put under control Varaita Valley and Maira Valley with the support of the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division lined up to Stura Valley.

At the end of September 1944 Germans left the assigned sectors so occupied by Italians of the Combat Group “Kampfgruppe Farinacci”, part of the Monterosa Division, structured on battalions Bassano, Tirano and the artillery group Vicenza.

A very intensive Patrols operation was the most important activity in both of the fronts during winter 1944-45.

Hard fighting to conduct mountains operations in order to take up important positions on the Alps: the most important was the conquest of the Mount Chennaillet where died the volunteer alpino Renato Assante (Memory Gold Medal)

Southern front: Garfagnana

Aim of Axis Army in Italy was the enforcement of the front along the mountains Appennini: Combat Group Monterosa, leaded by General Carloni, was employed within Serchio Valley’ sector.

Nearly a half of Monterosa Division was sent to the Garfagnana front, and formed the so-called “Fretter-Pico Group” together with the German 148th Infantry Division.The Combat Group Monterosa was structured by: 1st Reggiment Alpini Headquarters with the battalions Intra, Brescia and the 1st Company of the Aosta Battalion, 1st Artillery Reggiment Headquarters with the artillery groups Bergamo and Mantova, the Recognition Group Cadelo, the pioneers battalion, the signal battalion, 101st Cacciatori di Carri (anti-tank) company, the logistic support and the combat service support, the field divisional hospital and the divisional anti-tank company.

The divisional HQ received the responsabilities at Pallerone (LU) from the German 42nd Jager Division at October, 18, 1944.

From December 26th until December 30th 1944 Monte Rosa Division successfully took part at the operation Wintergewitter, the only one offensive action interesting the Southern Front.

Losses e sacrifices: Monte Rosa and San Marco Divisions has been the capabilities to maintain end enforce the positions gave up from the Germans from October until April 1945, when the sector has been took by Italia Division (Bersaglieri Infantry Division).