the division entered combat and on 11 April 1941 it broke through the Yugoslavian defences and crossed the border in the Sora river valley. On 12 April 1941 the Lombardia captured Podkilavac, Grobnik (near Čavle and Jelenje. By 13 April 1941 it had reached Krasica and Škrljevo, at which point the Yugoslavian army ceased to offer resistance. On 15 April 1941, garrisons in coastal towns of Novi Vinodolski, Ledenice, Crikvenica, and as far south as Žuta Lokva were established. From 9 October to 9 November 1941 the Lombardia participated in the anti-partisan Operation Uzice on the Serbo-Croatian border. By 1942 the division's main garrisons were in western Croatia at Gerovo, Delnice, and Ogulin. While the 57th Infantry Division "Lombardia" was on occupation duty in Yugoslavia the division's regimental depots in Italy raised the 157th Infantry Division "Novara": the 73rd Infantry Regiment "Lombardia" raised the 153rd Infantry Regiment "Novara", the 74th Infantry Regiment "Lombardia" raised the 154th Infantry Regiment "Novara", and the 57th Artillery Regiment "Lombardia" raised the 157th Artillery Regiment "Novara". In early 1943 the division also participated in the Battle of the Neretva. By that time partisan activity had grown in frequency and scale, and by September 1943 partisans routinely performed battalion-sized attacks on Italian checkpoints and railways. After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943, the Lombardia was disbanded by invading German forces. Organization 57th Infantry Division "Lombardia", in Pula 73rd Infantry Regiment "Lombardia", in Trieste Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns) Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars) 74th Infantry Regiment "Lombardia", in Pula Command Company 3x Fusilier battalions Support Weapons Company (65/17 infantry support guns) Mortar Company (81mm Mod. 35 mortars) 57th Artillery Regiment "Lombardia", in Pula Command Unit I Group (100/17 howitzers) II Group (75/27 field guns) III Group (75/27 field guns) 357th Anti-aircraft Battery (20/65 Mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns) Ammunition and Supply Unit LVII Mortar Battalion (81mm Mod. 35 mortars) 57th Anti-tank Company (47/32 anti-tank guns) 37th Engineer Company 57th Telegraph and Radio Operators Company 57th Medical Section 134th Field Hospital 135th Field Hospital 40th Supply Section 40th Bakers Section 40th Carabinieri Section 47th Carabinieri Section 47th Field Post Office Attached to the division from late 1940 to early 1941: 173rd CC.NN. Legion "Monte Majella" CLXIX CC.NN. Battalion CLXXIII CC.NN. Battalion 173rd CC.NN. Machine Gun Company Attached to the division from early 1941: 137th CC.NN. Legion