The 56th Infantry Division "Casale" () was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Casale was activated on 15 June 1939 in Forlì and named for the city of Casale Monferrato and recruited most its men from the Romagna region. The division was sent to Greece as occupation and force. There the division was disbanded by invading German forces in the Aetolia-Acarnania region of Greece after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. History The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Casale" established on 21 December 1821, which on 25 October 1831 split to form the 1st and 2nd infantry regiments under the brigade's command. On 4 May 1839 the two regiments were re-numbered as 11th and 12th infantry regiments. World War I The brigade fought on the Italian front in World War I. On 28 October 1926 the brigade command was disbanded and the brigade's two regiments were transferred to other brigades: the 11th Infantry Regiment "Casale" to the XVII Infantry Brigade and the 12th Infantry Regiment "Casale" to the XII Infantry Brigade. On 24 May 1939 the 12th Infantry Regiment "Casale" in Trieste changed its name to 73rd Infantry Regiment "Lombardia" and joined the newly activated 57th Infantry Division "Lombardia". On the same date a new 12th Infantry Regiment "Casale" was raised in Cesena. On 15 June 1939 the 56th Infantry Division "Casale" was activated in Forlì and received its two namesake infantry regiments and the newly raised 56th Artillery Regiment "Casale". World War II On 14 March 1941 the Casale left Italy for Albania to reinforce the failing Italian Spring Offensive during the Greco-Italian War. The division immediately entered the front in the Shushicë valley. By 20 March 1941 the Casale was assigned to the XXV Army Corps and fought in the Tepelenë area. Contact with retreating Greek forces was lost soon after the start of the Battle of Greece on 6 April 1941, and the Casale engaged in a cautious advance along the Drin river. On 18 April 1941 the Casale encountered a Greek rearguard at Lumi i Kardhiqit, and by 19 April 1941 the division had reached Gjirokastër. On 22 April 1941 the division reached the Greek border near Delvinaki, where it met with German patrols. Afterwards the division was used for mopping-up operations in Greece in the area of Zitsa, Negrades, and Paramythia. While