The Italian army of World War II was the least effective force of World War II that conducted major offensive actions. By the time World War II came along, Italian armored units were around eight years behind the times. Well, why was the German Army able to conquer nearly all of mainland Europe during WW2? Italian tank development during the thirties In 1928, an Italian army commission attended the first public demonstrations of the British fast one-man tankette designed by Major Giffard LeQuesne, which later became the first Carden-Loyd tankette design. Graziani: the butcher of Ethiopia. Following a poor performance against France, the Italian invasion of Greece turned into a humiliating failure. This ill-conceived operation initiated from political interference and German pressure on the Regia Marina. 7.35mm Carcano rifles. 1- To focus on the North African theatre only. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya, Northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania, Balkans, North Africa, the Soviet Union, and Italy itself. The Italian military was weakened by military conquests in Ethiopia, Spain and Albania before World War II. The Italian army during WWII was completely unready for a war against modern European armies. In this shorter video from Knowledgia we dive right into the subject . On 24 January 1923 the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) was formed as an independent arm, separate from the air services of the Army and Navy and in 1925 the establishment of an Air Ministry put the new service on a secure footing. The devastating British offensive of December 1940 had led to a series of severe reversals. It was not until summer of 1943 that the Italians developed a heavier tank (the P40 ). Among the players in this undertaking were the British . Italy converts all its construction to welding only, and every rivit not suited for use on a warship is melted down and used to build more machining or stamping equipment. Breda M31 (licensed copy of the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun) Breda 37 8 mm heavy machine gun. This is marked by the disaster of Cape Matapan, which resulted in the loss of three cruisers, two destroyers, and 2,331 men. Italy in World War II was with the Axis Powers after signing the Triparte Pact. Therefore, the Italian high command requested German assistance. Italy's role in World War II was broader and more significant than is usually recognized, and this article explores the Italian role in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and even the Battle of Britain. Nearly one half of a million Italians (including civilians) died between June 1940 and May 1945. by Jim Heddlesten 5/27/2010. Their equipment, weapons and leadership were inadequate which caused their numerous defeats. 1- To focus on the North African theatre only. The only twist that I can offer on that perspective above is that the Italians were among the very first to mechanize units and create large armored formations. Mussolini was wary of jumping into the war too soon, and the Italian military was utterly unprepared to do so in the late 1930s. Of all the major military forces involved at the start of World War II, Italy had by far the least competent high command. World War II [ edit] During World War II the 2nd Army was the Italian (Complex Major) Great Unit charged, from 1940 to 1943, of the activities of control and garrison of the occupied or annexed territories of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia . The troops broke through the Russian line, and a force from the Bersaglieri Regiment exploited the breach to reach Petrovenki. Italian tanks typically suffered from poor main armaments and thin, bolted-on armour. Mussolini, the leader of Italy during WW2, filled the officer positions with men whose only "qualification" was loyalty to Il Duce. The average Italian soldier began to have serious doubts as to his army's invincibility, and a lack of confidence in Italian leadership reached crisis level. Italy in World War II. The Italian invasion of Egypt in 1940. The Italian Summer Offensive. In this video Italy's Army of t. During the inter-war years the Italian Air Force was held in high regard: Italian planes were technically advanced, and her Air Force commanders, who . If the Italian military was good in WW2 the world would be different. What could Italy have done to have been more effective in WW2? When it comes to World War Two, most subjects discussed, debated or researched involve the . Breda 30 6.5 mm light machine gun. Another critical issue was the lack of military preparedness on Italy's part. The Allied victory in Italy, beginning with the surrender of the Italian government in 1943 and continuing through the conclusion of the war in Europe two years later, was as much a triumph of intelligence, psychological warfare, and special operations as it was a victory of military might. The Mk.VI, distributed by Vickers, was an instant success, sold and produced under licence . 1918 6.5 mm heavy machine gun. This was not the case. 2- To secure enough German or Austrian made HEAT ammounition for the main artillery gun of the Army, the 47/32mm, thus building up a real antitank capability. In the years following World War II, the Italian military has been satirized in popular culture as well as historical scholarship. Owners and magnates that resist are summarily executed for treason by the Italian military. - Alpine corps, formed by the elite Alpini divisions "Julia", "Cunense" and "Tridentina". XVIII Corps, from 18 February 1942; General Quirino Armellini then Umberto Spigo around Zara and . The Italian army in 1940 consisted of some 2 million men . Breda 38 8 mm tank machine gun. What could Italy have done to have been more effective in WW2? From the 9th July 1942, these units, together with the CSIR (renamed XXXV corps) were organized in the new 8th Army or "ItalianArmy in Russia" (ARMIR). FM 24/29 (ex-French) Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 6.5 mm machine gun. Italy WW2 - Poor Leadership. The Individual Italian soldier was for the most part brave and willing to fight, but they were ineptly led, poorly supplied, and inadequately armed. The Royal Army suffered 161,729 casualties between 10 June 1940 and 8 September 1943 in the war against the Allies. Italian Army WW2. How effective were Indian Army in WW2 ? About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new . But they were unable or unwilling to keep the technological and tactical advantage. What about the Italian Army of WW2 in Europe? Its inability to defend its interwar conquest of Ethiopia, its disastrous . During the Cold War, the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east. The new army could also count on additional . The artillery was antiquated and reserves of equipment, supplies and ammunition were so low that the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Aosta estimated that in the event of war he could only hold out for six or seven months at the most. 3- To speed up the production of the heavy tank P26/40. Nearly four million Italians served in the Italian Royal Army during the Second World War. Fiat-Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm Breda machine gun. Despite Mussolini's ambitions for Italy the army was ill prepared for war. || @THOUGHTCTRL || #indianarmy #worldwar2 #indianarmylover #shorts WATCH NEXT :UNTOLD STORIES OF MAHABHARAT : https. The first half of 1941 witnessed a dark page in the history of the Italian Navy. 4- To attack and invade soon Malta as the very first act of war. [8] However, while the P40 was in the same class as the contemporary M4 Sherman, only five were ready for combat before Italy signed the armistice that same year. By 1940, Italy is mass producing. It is a popular misconception that Italy joined the war on Germany's side in the autumn of 1939. On July 11, 1942, the Italian army in Russia launched their summer offensive against the town of Nikitino, spearheaded by the the 3rd Celere Division. SIA Mod. 6- To invade Tunisia for securing the full control of the Channel of Sicily. There equipment was generally poor and organisation was well below modern standards. The Italian Army in East Africa (Africa Orientale ltaliana or AOI) was impressive on paper with 88,000 Italian and 200,000 colonial troops but there were many weaknesses.