Nell'aprile 1939 la "Julia" fu impiegata nell'occupazione dell'Albania, dove rimase, al termine dell'operazione, per presidiare la zona settentrionale (provincia di Scutari). Ai primi di ottobre del 1940 si spostò verso il confine greco-albanese, prendendo posizione presso l'Osum e la Vojussa, nell'imminenza dell'apertura delle ostilità contro la Grecia. Un mese prima circa il comando della Divisione era stato assunto dal generale Mario Girotti, che avrebbe guidato l'unità alpina fino alla conclusione della Campagna di grecia. L'ultimatum alla nazione ellenica fu consegnato dall'ambasciatora italiano ad Atene alle ore 3 del mattino del 28 ottobre. Conteneva richieste tali da far trasparire chiaramente the pretextual nature of the document and the will to attack the Italian government, however, Greece. thirteen days earlier, in fact, in a riuniuone at the Palazzo Venezia, Mussolini had announced the decision to initiate action against the kingdom of Greece.
dawn on October 28, 1940 began the offensive. The Division "Julia" was made from the 8th Alpine Regiment (battalion Tolmezzo "," Gemona "and" Cividale "), the 9th Alpini (battalions" Vicenza "and" The Eagle "), the 3rd Artillery mountains (groups "Conegliano" and "Udine") and other smaller departments: a total of 278 officers, 8,863 NCOs and enlisted men, 20 pieces, 2316 quadrupeds. Unit above the control of Albania had assigned the following task: starting from the zone-Erseke Leskoviku (in Albania), block the steps of Metsovo and Drisko, to prevent the Greek forces to unite with those of Epirus Thessaly. The order of the High Command provided for "Julia" swift and decisive action, a march to the enemy during which the Division is not "should be a permanent line of supplies, leaving detachments to protect it, but count on DVE "Logistics autonomy" and "on any voter from behind for a while." "When the tail of each of the battalions is parade for a point-to-be-read in the paper behind it that should not remain empty. Alpine Division" Julia " do not look back and takes everything with him, even his fortune. "
How carelessly the High Command had issued these provisions, providing an all too easy to advanced, will bitterly evident two weeks later. The action, which was to end in 'period of five or six days (the mountain had been provided with food for that period and mules have five meals to) lasted 14 days instead of two weeks of advanced sangiunosa, followed by a tragic altrettanmto retreat that cost the "Julia "49 officers and 1625 Alpine.
The retreat was exhausting. On November 10, the bulk of the 8th gathered in Konitsa, while the 9th Cristobasileus maintained possession of the saddle. In the evening the division "Bari" assumed the responsibility of the sector, holding to their dependencies on 9 ° Alpini, while other parts of the "Julia" to rearrange Premeti folded. Following the development of events returned to the Divisional Command line, placing the 9th Alpini and the group "Udine", while 8 ° Alpini and the group "Conegliano" recruited by the "Bari". In previous days, despite tenacious resistance, the saddle Cristobasileus was abandoned and the defense was organized on that of St. Athanasius. On the 16th Division "Julia" was given the field of bridge Perati. The increasing enemy pressure, takes particular to the center and left of Vojussa, and the numerous leaks, made necessary only narrows the forehead and bridge of Perati Bourazani; 19 wards fell back on the heights of the right of Sarandaporos. On 21 the offensive was accented on the wings, and after six hours of strenuous fighting, before the intervention of new enemy units, it became necessary to blow up the bridge. On the evening of 23 Command of the Army ordered the "Julia" to assume the defense of the valley of Frasheri. Divisions were assigned to two battalions and two groups of mountain artillery, but the units were severely tried. The attacks were repulsed Hellenic next few days, but 29 managed to overcome the offensive and the Italian defenses Taborj point on the mountain: he was arrested by the 9th Alpini.
Subsequently the unit was moved to the left dell'Osum on chiarista-Fratarit and along the Ambum. On 6 December there was contact with the enemy which they launched repeated attacks supported by artillery. But the Greeks were exhausted, mitigating attacks. The enemy activity resumed on December 23, with the objectives and chiarista Fratarit that Benner taken by the Greeks on 30. The Alpine troops were forced to fall back on Topajanit Mali, unnecessarily attacked by the soldiers of Greece. The "Julia", reduced to a handful of Alpine, was sent on January 10, dofendere at the junction between the divisions "Lupi di Toscana" and "Bari". After 15 days she was sent to the rear to be reconstituted. In this second fase della guerra la "Julia" aveva perso 153 ufficiali e 3.644 sottufficiali e soldati.
Il 22 febbraio la "Julia", forte di 348 soldati e 10.141 sottufficiali e soldati, fu assegnata al XXV Corpo d'Armata, col compito di sostituire la "Legnano" nel settore del Golico e dello Scindeli. Qui, dal 28 febbraio al 24 marzo, la Divisione fu impegnata nella battaglia di logoramento di Tepeleni. Ai primi violenti attacchi del 28 febbraio seguirono, nei giorni successivi, sanguinosi combattimenti sul Golico, lo Scindeli, il Beshishtit e la stretta di Dragoti. Le forze in campo, entrambe stremate, trascorsero il periodo attorno al 13 marzo in relativa calma. Il 18 i battaglioni "Cividale" e "Gemona" tentarono di riprendere q. 1.143 del Golico, ma the Greek resistance prevailed. On March 24, the battle ended with a final attack on the q. Golic of 1143, which did not produce significant results. The "Julia" lost in this period, 3,846 men, including 116 officers.
On 6 April Germany attacked Yugoslavia, and soon after the tanks were flooding in Greece. A few days later began the Italian counter-offensive, the chase led the Division "Julia" in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Corinth Canal, where it remained until the return to garrison. In the spring of 1942 he was placed on his return, which was effected in March. During these operations the ship Galilee, which had embarked on the btg. Gemona, was torpedoed by a British submarine. Of the 1,532 men aboard survived if they only 246.
