Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • TheItalianArmyAtWar Europe1940 43 PDF

    Uploaded by

    Lobeira
    57 views52 pages

    Original Title

    TheItalianArmyAtWar-Europe1940-43.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    57 views52 pages

    TheItalianArmyAtWar Europe1940 43 PDF

    Uploaded by

    Lobeira

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 52
    6520 Tne belie fey at Wels Supoug JIAO Ree ne Cu’ GG FG h a isa Introduction ‘When lly declared war on France and Great Britain on 10 June 1940, the Mediterranean nation had on paper a formidable army of 73 divisions. This Impressive figure concealed one of the main weaknesses ofthe Italian Army. however, that each division kas only two infantry regiments strong instead of the standard three regiments in all other armies. Also, in each division there va only one regiment of anillery. which compared unfexarably with other semis that had atleast four atlery groups per division Again on paper the Italians had an impressive armored force of several ‘toakand tanks, Unfortunately this force was overwhelmingly made up of ‘woman ight tanks armed with tin machineguns, Mos aillery pisces Were ‘ld and out of date with urge number of guns being Austro-Hungarian war tnoty taken a reparations in 1918. The Halians also had the disadvantage of| ‘many ofits soliers having already Fought in Ethiopia in 1935-86 ane Spain in 1937-39, A lot ofthese soldiers were thus war weary. These veterans of several conflict had received litle home leave, and so were not mivated or ready for the kind of war that was to face them in 1940-43, ‘The Kalians did have many superb units with 12 regiments of the famous Berseliet light ity and ten of Alpi, “crack mouotain tops recruited from the hardy peor of Kaly’s mountainous regions. Some infant visions vere regarded as elite units ~ for instance, the Lup dé Toscana (Wolves of | Tuscany) were favorite of Mussolini, while the Gruinien’ di Savoia (Grenadiers of Savoy) had a ong a ilistrious history. At the start ofthe War Iuly had 39 infamy divisions, four Alpini, two motorized, three trick ‘uanspotae, ‘wo armored and wo Ceere light divisions at home. In Albania there were thie ifanty, one Alpin and onc rrr divisions with funher Infantry division inthe Aegean islands. The rest of the Kalian Army. along with lange numberof colonial units, wes stationed in North and East fica lely’s fest entry operation in WWIL involved the inwusion of southeast France along the mostly mountainous Wester Alps horder. With the French ‘the verge of defeat in June 1940 and only a few days ay from

    You might also like