At Italy's entrance into the Second World War on 10 June 1940, "Pola" was assigned as the flagship of Admiral Riccardo Paladini, commander of the 2nd Squadron, which also included the two s in the 2nd Division, three light cruisers in the 7th Division, and seventeen destroyers. "Pola"s first wartime operation was to cover a group of minelayers on the night of 10–11 June. She refueled at Messina and departed on 12 June, along with the rest of the 2nd Squadron and the 1st Squadron. The ships sortied in response to British attacks on Italian positions in Libya. On 6 July, "Pola" and the rest of the 2nd Squadron escorted a convoy bound for North Africa; the following day, Italian reconnaissance reported a British cruiser squadron to have arrived in Malta. The Italian naval high command therefore ordered several other cruisers and destroyers from the 1st Squadron to join the escort for the convoy. The battleships and provided distant support. Two days later, the Italian battleships briefly clashed with the British Mediterranean Fleet in an inconclusive action off Calabria. During the action, "Pola" engaged British cruisers but neither side scored any hits. From 30 July to 1 August, "Pola", , and escorted a convoy to Libya. On 16 August she conducted live fire training off Naples, and at the end of the month she was transferred from Naples to Taranto.