When most people think of the Italian Army in North Africa during the Second World War, they tend to believe that the average Italian soldier offered little resistance to the Allies before surrendering. Many believe the Italian Army, as a whole, performed in a cowardly manner in North Africa. The reality is not so simple. The question remains as to whether the Italians were really cowards or actually victims of circumstance. While the Italian soldier's commitment to the war was not as great as that of the German soldier, many Italians fought bravely. The Italian Littorio and Ariete Divisions earned Allied admiration at Tobruk, Gazala, and EI Alamein. The Italian Army played a significant role as part of the German Afrika Korps and made up a large portion of the Axis combat power in North Africa during 1941 and 1942. In the interest of determining how the Italian Army earned the reputation that it did, it is necessary to analyze why and how the Italians fought.

About the Author
Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr. is an award-winning writer and editor, with over 30 years' experience producing many different types of copy. He is the author of over 150 published articles and seven books. Walter is a contributing writer and reviewer for several international publications. He is a former historian with the U.S. Army, specializing is military history, Holocaust studies and events that transcend single states, regions and cultures. A native of Pennsylvania, Walter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in world military history and a Master of Arts with honors in global history from American Public University.


Book Information
ISBN 9781781556740
Author Walter S. Zapotoczny
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Fonthill Media Ltd
Publisher Fonthill Media Ltd
Weight(grams) 476g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 20mm