The First Army had been spared responsibility for the main attack—which fell to the Fourth Army in the north—because of the appeals of its commander, General Pietro Pintor, on 20 June. The southern front of the First Army, from Monte Grammondo to the coast, was held by the 37th Mountain Infantry Division Modena and the 5th Infantry Division Cosseria. It had the 52nd Motorised Division Torino of the Army of the Po in reserve. It opened its offensive along the whole front on 20 June and in most places was easily repulsed by French artillery.