The Infantry Division "Cremona" descended from the World War II 44th Infantry Division "Cremona", which had been sent to Sardinia in March 1941. When Italy and Germany occupied Vichy France in Operation "Anton" after Allied troops had landed in French North Africa the division was ferried to Southern Corsica on 8 November 1942 and remained there until Italy switched sides with the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. From 9 September 1943 the Cremona fought the retreating German Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS and 90th Panzergrenadier Division and the Italian XII Paratroopers Battalion of the 184th Paratroopers Regiment, The Cremona division fought in Zonza and Quenza, pushing north to Golo river and Sorbo-Ocagnano. After the end of operations on Corsica the division returned to Sardinia. In September 1944 the division was reduced to two infantry (21st, 22nd) and one artillery regiment (7th), armed with British weapons and materiel and renamed Combat Group "Cremona". The Cremona entered the front on 12 January 1945 as part of the British V Corps and when allied forces achieved a major breakthrough during the 1945 spring offensive the Cremona advanced towards Venice and liberated the city on 30 April 1945.