The XII Corps was created in Palermo, Sicily on 8 July 1883, with mainly administrative and territorial tasks. Dissolved in 1919, it was reformed on 11 March 1926, again in Palermo.
At the beginning of World War II, the Corps was responsible for the defense of all of Sicily and the islands of Lampedusa and Pantelleria.
In July 1943, the Corps was composed of :
Together with the XVI Army Corps, the XII Corps was engaged in intense fighting during the Allied invasion of Sicily (9 July – 17 August 1943) and suffered heavy casualties.
The remnants of the Corps were withdrawn to Campania to be reorganized. On 13 September the Corps was dissolved in Avellino, following the Armistice with the allied forces.[1]