The Italian Army 1940-45 (3): Italy 1943-45 (Men-at-Arms 353)

Immediately after the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943, Mussolini was deposed and the new Italian government switched sides. The German occupying forces swiftly freed Il Duce and ruthlessly disarmed the Italian Army; and from then until the end of the war in April 1945 Italian troops fought on both sides - with the forces of the new Fascist 'Salo Republic', in the Allied 'Co-Belligerent Forces', and in the Partisan movement. This period of bitter struggle saw the appearance of many new units and a wide range of interesting uniforms, described and illustrated in this final part of Philip Jowett's comprehensive three-volume series. Beskrivelse: Umiddelbart efter de Allieredes invasion i Italien 1943 blev Mussolini afsat og den ny italienske regering skiftede side. Den tyske besættelsesstyrke afvæbnede den Italienske hær og fra nu indtil krigens slutning i 1945 kæmpede italienske styrker på begge sider. Mange nye enheder dukkede op med tilsvarende nye uniformer og bevæbning. Immediately after the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943, Mussolini was deposed and the new Italian government switched sides. The German occupying forces swiftly freed Il Duce and ruthlessly disarmed the Italian Army; and from then until the end of the war in April 1945 Italian troops fought on both sides - with the forces of the new Fascist 'Salo Republic', in the Allied 'Co-Belligerent Forces', and in the Partisan movement. This period of bitter struggle saw the appearance of many new units and a wide range of interesting uniforms, described and illustrated in this final part of Philip Jowett's comprehensive three-volume series The Italian Army fought on every major front of the European and North African theatres. They fielded a variety of colourfully-uniformed units, particularly against the partisans in the Balkans. In this volume, the author dispels a number of myths about the supposedly inferior Italian troops. The division of the Italian forces between the Axis and the Allies from 1943 led to a civil war in parallel with the main campaign, and brought into being many interesting units with romantic uniforms and insignia. This title studies organization, uniforms and equipment of the Italian army. THE DEFEAT OF the Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943 and the subsequent invasion of Sicily in July were to end the Italian people's faith in Mussolini and his Fascist government.