The 20th Infantry Division "Friuli" was formed on 24 August 1939 by renaming the existing 20th Infantry Division "Curtatone e Montanara". The division was immediately split to raise the 44th Infantry Division "Cremona". It was a reserve force in Valle Germanasca and Pellice valleys during the Italian invasion of southern France in June, 1940. From the beginning of April, 1941, it took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 as part of the Italian VI Corps. The "Friuli" division was tasked to advance to the Gorenja Vas, Gorenja Vas–Poljane area. It opened fire 6 April 1941, and entered Yugoslavia 11 April 1941. It reached Municipality of Loška Dolina and Municipality of Loški Potok 12 April 1941. The fighting ceased 18 April 1941, and 5 May 1941, the "Friuli" division was ordered back to Italy. When Italy and Germany occupied Vichy France after the Allied landings in French North Africa, the division was ordered to northern Corsica on 8 November 1942 to occupy the island, completing the transfer by 20 November 1942, while the 44th Infantry Division "Cremona" occupied Southern Corsica. From 8 September 1943, to 4 October 1943, it fought Germans on Corsica, with prominent battles occurring at , Bastia and . Afterward, the "Friuli" division was transferred to Sardinia to perform security duties.