Prince Adalberto pursued a career in the
Royal Italian Army, achieving the rank of General. He fought in the
First World War at Montello in October 1917 and in Vallagarina in February 1918. In 1936, he commanded the Italian
24th Infantry Division Gran Sasso during the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War and later the
58th Infantry Division Legnano. When Italy joined
World War II, he became commander of the Italian
8th Army (1940–1942), and later in 1943 of the
7th Army.
Benito Mussolini exploited Prince Adalberto's secret
homosexuality to ensure his loyalty, as well as the loyalty of other LGBT members of the House of Savoy, to the
Fascist Party. == Later life ==