World War I The division's lineage begins with the Brigade "Bari" established in Bari in March 1915 in preparation for Italy's entry in
World War I. The brigade consisted of the 139th and 140th infantry regiments and fought on the
Italian front. After the war the brigade was disbanded in July 1920. On 15 September 1939 the 47th Infantry Division "Bari" was activated Bari and received its two reactivated namesake infantry regiments and the reformed
47th Artillery Regiment "Bari". The division's units were raised by the
regimental depots of the
23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara", which had been transferred to
Albania in spring 1939.
World War II On 28 October 1940 the Bari embarked for
Vlorë in
Albania to reinforce the Italian units engaged in the
Battle of Pindus of the
Greco-Italian War. All units of the division were en route by 31 October 1940 and were separately sent to the front immediately after disembarking. The 140th Infantry Regiment "Bari" reached border positions at
Leskovik on 2 November 1940, while the 139th Infantry Regiment "Bari" was sent to
Konitsa in Greek territory, where the regiment was attached to the
3rd Alpine Division "Julia" and engaged immediately in heavy fighting. Greek forces tried to capture the key road junction of Perati Bridge to the rear of the 139th Infantry Regiment. Although holding its positions and successfully counter-attacking from 4–7 November 1940, the defeat of the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" on 8 November 1940 resulted in the positions of the 139th Infantry Regiment being extended along the
Sarantaporos river to cover the Julia's retreat. The positions from
Konitsa to the
Sarantaporos river were held on 11–14 November 1940, but by 15 November 1940 the Bari was forced to abandon Greek territory and concentrate on the defence of the Perati Bridge. Heavy Greek attacks were repulsed 17–18 November 1940, but on 20 November 1940 Greek breakthroughs nearby resulted in a chain reaction Italian defensive positions being overrun. The defence of Perati Bridge then degenerated into bloody rout, with few Italian survivors fleeing to
Leskovik and Cerckë, where they joined the 140th Infantry Regiment. The events of that day served as the inspiration for the
Alpini song "Sul Ponte Di Perati". - a failed assault on Monastery Hill near Komarak, resulting in thousands of Italian soldiers killed. On 19 March 1941 the Bari, together with the 51st Infantry Division "Siena" and
131st Armored Division "Centauro", renewed the attacks on Monastery Hill (18 attempts in a row). The attacks resulted in all Italian tanks destroyed or disabled and the Italian infantry being killed, wounded or captured. Due to the heavy losses suffered the Bari was sent to the rear on 23 March 1941. The Bari returned to the front on 14 April 1941 near Qafa e Kiçokut, as the
Battle of Greece started. On 16 April 1941 the Bari reached
Këlcyrë (captured 2 days before by the Siena) and on 17 April 1941 the division reached Përoi i Lemnicës. The Bari then advanced to
Përmet and later Perati, where contact with Greek forces was re-established. The clean-up of the Perati area was conducted through 20–23 April 1941. After the end of active fighting, the Bari stayed at
Konitsa on the
Sarantaporos river. Later in May 1941 the Bari undertook mopping-up operations in the
Aoös valley. After the end of the war in Greece the Bari was one of the divisions earmarked for the proposed
invasion of Malta, which was ultimately cancelled. In June 1941, the division was repatriated to
Apulia, where it performed coastal defence duties from
Brindisi to
Taranto. In September 1942 the division was transferred to
Tuscany, where it was stationed in the area of
Livorno and
Pisa, and on
Elba island. On 5 December 1942 the division moved to Rome and was garrisoned in
Cesano, Cecchignola and
Centocelle. In April 1943 the division shipped to
Oristano in the North of
Sardinia, where it was tasked with coastal defense duties, as part of the
XXX Corps. After the
Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the Bari participated in the pursuit of German units evacuating Sardinia, with minor clashes occurring on 17 September 1943. The Bari was dissolved on 21 September 1944, and its personnel was used to form the
Internal Security Division "Aosta" on 14 October 1944. == Organization ==