After Italy entered World War II on June 10, 1940, he was promoted to Major General on January 1, 1941, and given command of the 24th Infantry Division Pinerolo. In that same month the "Pinerolo" was transferred to the Albanian front and, after the surrender of Greece in April, remained as an occupation unit in Thessaly. In August of the same year he was replaced at the command of the "Pinerolo" Division by Major General Licurgo Zannini, and on 14 August 1941 he was transferred to Libya at the High Command of the Armed Forces in North Africa, and on the 25th of the same month he assumed command of the 102nd Motorised Division Trento. With this division he participated in the siege of Tobruk and Operation Crusader, until January 20, 1942, when he was given command of the 132nd Armoured Division Ariete which he led during the battles of Gazala, Tobruk, Bir Hakeim and Mersa Matruh. For his successes he was awarded, on May 26, 1942, the Officer's Cross of the Military Order of Savoy.