Italian soldier in North Africa 1941–43 cover
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Description

Focusing on the Italian Army in North Africa during World War II, which fought alongside the Afrikakorps under Rommel versus Montgomery and Patton, this title combines with the previous Warrior series books on the subject (and other Osprey titles) to complete the picture of the War in the Desert. Despite the attention paid to the Afrikakorps over the years, it was the numerically far superior forces of the Italian Army that held the line and formed the bulk of the fighting power available to the Axis powers during the War in the Desert from 1941 through to 1943. Their performance has been unfairly criticized over the years - the best units of the Italian Army were equal to those of the British and Germans - but they suffered from a lack of mobility and poor equipment that made it impossible for them to meet mobile British forces on anywhere near equal terms. Despite this, the Italian Army went through many changes through the period, with the introduction of a variety of elite units - armoured, mechanised and parachute divisions that did much to restore the fighting reputation of the Italian soldier in the Desert War. Their German allies belatedly acknowledged this with the redesignation of Panzerarmee Afrika as 1st Italian Army in February 1943._x000B_This title details recruitment, organisation and experience of the Italian forces in this theatre, casting new light on a force whose fighting power and capabilities have been unfairly ignored and maligned for too long.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Chronology /Conscription and Enlistment /Training /Appearance /Weapons and Equipment /Belief and Belonging /Conditions of Service /On Campaign /The Aftermath of Battle /Collections and Museums

Product details

Published Nov 19 2013
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781780968551
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 30 b/w; 33 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Warrior
Short code WAR 169
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Pier Paolo Battistelli

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in military…

Illustrator

Steve Noon

Steve Noon was born in Kent, UK, and attended art…

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