MEN-AT-ARMS'1 -

M1gll11 340MILITARY

THE ITALIAN ARMY1940-45 (I)

EUROPE 1940-4

PIIILIP S jO\\ ETT STEPIIE,\ \'\DRE\\

F...I~ In 2000 by 0.",...,. P1Jbll~h~Elms Co<J<1, Cha;>eI Way Bolley, O~tOla 0)(2 9LPEmail' If>J<>CIoop<eypubIist""I! corn

Dedication

To BuckWeed

Acknowledgements

THE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-45(1) EUROPE 1940-43

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Th<s book Woold nOI have been poSSible WlthoUI Ihe help of 11 largenumber 0' people who have aSSiSted me In many ways. I mustrecord my gralltude to Stephen Andrew. Charles BUIte'}', JohnCarlin, Ned Champ'on, PalJl Corm!5h, Rudy D'Angelo, O,no OJMasuo, Mark Dial. Ian Drury, Steve Kiddie. Darko PaVlOvic, GlynRoberts, R Tomasi arid PalJl V.Walsh,

For thaJ, assistance with photog'aphs I must thank P<ero C'ooanl,Alexei Ivanov, A)les.andfO MasS'9r1an1, Franco Me'tlJMI. MarcoNovarese, Robert Sledman and Rex Trye. Particular thanks must goto Nigel Thomas lor l'IlS gleat ~Ip With Ihe rank charts, and toCount EmeslO Vile"' !OI" hIS hospllalrty_ I would also like to mankJame!l Burd, Marcello Rava'oh and Guido Roslgnoillor theIrpatience and for theIr Wllllrl9r1ess to sha,e mell' 9M-at knowledge ofIhe subJecl WIth a fellow erlthus,asL

Author's note

For those unfamiliar w<th Italian An11y nomenclature. note that AlpinllPluraQ. Alplno (singular) refe.- to true mounlaln troops, With at least8 deg,ee o! specialised eqwoment ,lI\d training, and Bersagl.en (pl.).8erS3gllere (sing.) to Ihe ''9ht In!antry: both categories arehistorIcally regarded as ehte troops.

Designations suggesting specialist roles for inlantrydIVIsions (see key to Taole A. page 38) - e.g. 'mountain' or'sem,-motoflsed' etc. - should be unde,stood as largelytheoretical, II not pu,e propaganda, In practice the Issue ofvehicles and other eqlJlpment fell far short of the levelneeded 10 give these lIties any practical meaning

The acronym MVSN refers to the Fascist Party's 'Bi3ck$l1lrt' mllil<aunits 0' the MjilZia Volorltarla per Slcurazza Nazionale. To a~oid

contusion we do nOI usa here the Ilalian plural abbreviallon CCNN101" cam'de nero. 'Blackshirts'

In the photograph crechts, USSME .. UfticlO S'Ofico Delle StatoMaggfofe EsefClto.

A shan bibliog,aphy lor the whole series will appear In Ihe third~olume DEtailS of the establishment o! e.g. armoured andmotonsed dl~lSions Will appear m the second volume.

Artist's note

Readers may care to note that the origInal paintings from whk:h theeoloor plates In this book We«! prepared are 1I~allable la' pnvatesale All reprodllCHon copYright whatsoe~er is 'etained by thePublishers. Ail enquiries should be addressed to;Staphen Andrew,87 Ellisland. K'rklntilloch, Glasgow G66 2UA, ScotlandThe PlJbllshers regret that they Can enter Into no correspondenceupon this matler.

TITLE PAGE A private 01 the 227th Infantry Regiment, His

M1940 Jacket bears the yellow-over-green collar patches ofthe 'Rowigo' Inlantry Division; i1nd on his breilst the 'CSIR

Cross' award identifies him as one 01 the quarter 01 a

million Italian troops who served on the Russian Front.(USSME)

An officer photographed in atrench during the Albanlan/Oreek

border campaign of 1940-41, He

wears the Mt940 grey-green

uniform with captain's cuff

rllnking; Ihe M1933 sleel helmetwith branch badge stencilled on

the front In black; a holstered

Beretta on II 'Sam Browne' belt;

and double socks Instead ofputtees, He I. not, however, an

infantryman, but II member 01 a

Finance Guard unit - some 01

these security troops would see

Sllff fighting in Oreece (see PlateHlI, In the background note Ihe

Finance Guard version of the

Alpine lell hat; ...nlisted ranks

wore black leathers lrom a

yellow boss, officers whiteleathers from a melal boss.

(Franco Mesturini Archives)

THE ITALIAN ARMY IN JUNE 1940

IIAI.\ r"Tio:R£1.l TilE Sl:cuud \\'urld \\"ar 011 10 .June 1~llU, a full lenm~ It~lhI, ant'r t hL: ~tan o.f Iill' CtJlln in. SinCt' his apptlinll.lWtlt a,~ primemttltsttT - \\"tlll ('Ollslder;lble pupillaI' ~llppun - III 1922. lhl'

demag:o:.{lIt' BeJlilO i\llIssulini (18:-l,q...J9·15) had furgl:d Ilis Fa~ci~l J'arty

gO\l'rt1I1ll'IH i"lo a g:eJlerall~ dfcni\l· dictawr~hip uIHkr hi~ 0\\"11

le;ldership ;15 'If Duu>". wilh Ihe powerk~s l\.ing: \lClor EllltlJanuel III asa nalional ligllrehead. (\\'hile many uLlu'ages and murders "·ereCOllHtlilll:d in iL~ Il;tnl('. it ~hOllld pefhap' be Iioled tilat ,II Iea'i Ix'/ure194:{ i\llIssolini·s regiulc II':\S Hul guilty of lhe large seille, w~telllali('

barbarities of .\!azi Gennam.)In i\la~ 19~9 ;\Iu:-sulilli had cllllC'1udnllht.: 'Pac( ~lr SIt.:el",;t mililar...

alli;tncl' \"idl Genn<lnr He had Ilevenlwks... held h;tI.:k frl1l1ljnining' hi~

A.xis parUler ill ho~tilities against the democracies. because he kn(:I" thaihi~ t"l)UllU:, was ill-prep;tn::d to rig-Ill <l tmuur war <lg-aill~t Eurupeanopponellis-. ~O"'. hOI' ewr, 1,11 h Fr:Hlce fltl the w'rge of d..f..<l1 and Hriminlighting :\lolle <lgainst tile might of the seemingl~ in\'incible GermanWchnll;J('hl, he look his cballce, Ht.: lwlicw'd that 1\1 deb) ,llly lunger\\'Illdd rill Ilah al ri~k ollosillg" 0111 on the sh:uing- (If the spoil>; o(virlvrrllis gamble on a quick Axis \'iewry "'il~ to prOle ruinollsl\' costl" forhis COl III Ir\': il 1,'ollltl lead tu the u\(:nhn)l, oflli... ~I-\l';lr full::. alld lO hisown death.

Oll paper haly had a largl' and r;lirl~ \"dl-eqllipped ;Jnn~'. alld althoughj\llIssolini's lllllCh-<PIIHI'd bOilst of tl million Italian bayonets was 1l0tcredible she cOllld raise a large if unmodernised force. The Ann~"'s

lIlobiliscd slr('l1g111 ill June 1940 was l,(i30,OOO; this wuuld later rise to aIwak of 2..rH)~,OOO. TIll' I laliall :\nn~ \\'a:" <lui It' capable of fig-hI ing a OIlC­campaign w:tr when all Ihe COulltry's resources cOllld be ch:tnndled illina natiullal cHon un one front. This had been the ca:.e in the First \\"orld\,\'ar, wlwn 111<" lJ;tlian Ann} had managt'd III ~Il~tain a Inng and hitterstruggle again:"t the Allstro-Illlll,lf-irian Empire. :'-10\'.. howe\·er. she wOllldbe drawn into war all ai, leaSI lWO frOllts siml.lllaneotL>;ly, lighting: largeseal" campaigns in hOlh ~onll Afrinl ami tilt· B'llkalls. and lalcrpnwiding a lar~(' coming-ellt for Gt:nnan~··s Russian Frout. This kintl oftOlal war was far be\'Und the capacit} of Italy's limited resourccs.

,-\[ lhe ollturea\.. Of\\~lf lilt.: Italian Arm~ llad a ~Irellg:lh 01'73 di\'bionstIl<id,· np of ]()6 illfantry rChrimcn1-'>, 12 rq,rimell15 of lkrsaglit'ri Pig'll!inbntry), !O ofAJpini (mountain troops). 12 regiments ofcavalry. 5 lankregiments, 12 of artillery and 19 of engineers. The Italian t\nlll wasbasically an inranlry rorn' ,dtll \"l't"~ liltle Illcchanisation and a shortageof the basic requirements for modern war. Much 01 lhe equipmcnt dated 3

The MVSNnil' ·Rlack:.hins' of lilt' :>.IYS:'>1 or .\ 'olmHan' ~Iilitia for :\'aliooal Sc.:cllnl' 'wcre tJle militan arm of lite Italian F:boci~t Parl\. Originalh'the militia had a public .\<Celilitl rollo, hut from lhe carl\' 193Us it was

and (OOl1lhal-wonlw I\IYS:\,llnits were ~i,'en the litle 01'1\[ Banatilm:.·; :'~Ittt~· uftll..:'I..' rouKIH in both Rll~~ia

and Yugl)~la\"ia as anti­pani....1lI Iroop:..

CAMPAIGNS

ORDER OF RA1TLE

WESTER:'\' ALPS CAMPAIGN, 20JUNE 1940Army Group Weslcac: G-en L'mberlO di S:'t\"oi:tGoIS: Cell Emilio BaubLilSi ArmyGOe: Cen Pietro PintorCulS: Gen Fernando Gelich1/ ,\rlll.\ r,fJl1)$

'Fodi', 'AcCJui'. 'Li\"()fI1o' 1111' Oi....'Clllll:t::llSl:' Alpine Di,'111.\'-111) C.flrJ)\

·R.I\Cnna·, ·\.l.illt"O' InfDi\"l1st .\Ipine Group (3 ,-\.Ipint.' bm pIllS 2 1ll01llllitin .trtillen bns) 5

France1I.th·~ ckcl;u';"Ilion of war

alflill't Fr.lIIC'e and Brilainon 10 JlInt" 19-10 "aslollO\,'cd on til{' 20th I" theopt:lling uf :til nfTell:-ileimo French lelTiton in the\\t::.lcrn ,\Ip.) and along the\!f-clill'ITanl'i\n coa~t1ine.

fhe Italian amw of :{2di\'i~ion~ made liuleht,;\Ch\';1\ in thl' difficultterrain 01 lhe mountains,ancl (mil managed 10c"plllrl' a fl'W Alpinclillal{cs, On lhe cuast Lh('\,

managed 10 capture lhe,mall French Ri\-icra IUWII uf ~klllOll lx,rurc I he FrclJclt '1IlTt'llCkr to lheItalian~ wa,- ~igned 011 2,1 .Julle. Tht: Italian ~ohliel"~ fought br.n·elyenough. bUl "'{'re kl down - as tltl'" I,'cre to he ill ftllure campaigns - b~'

bad pbl1lnillg and org-.J1Ii'alioll, (01lt: ,mall htll 1{'llil1g t:x<lmplc of thelaller \\~I" Ihe fac! 111:11 ll1<' :1m\\' field kilchell~ often did not hal'e lhcnecessar. poLS and palls lO lilah' the soldkrs a hot meal in lhe fret:zillgCllmlition:- ill lhl' Alp:-.) Italian lo:.~(·s ror sllch :1 :.horl campaign 1\"l:l"Cbt::I',\. ,,'itb 631 killed. ~.361 \\'olltldt:d, 2,000 cases of fmSlbile and 600men missing, "this COIn pares with tlte Frellch Jusse'i of '10 killed, $4

\\'olltldecl :lml 15() llli~siilg:.

1940 InfantryDivisionEstablishment

2/trlanlTy Regrs~31,..EIiackshin Lt1gIoopf 2 bns + $t.JlporI COyM...,,,,,,,... Pad! G<II Coy

-'"-...",14300 all rris270 ~ LMG. 80 x HMG12$x45mmfTlCll'lllr.l3Ux81rrrn~

8 .. 20rrm AA. 24 .. 41rrrn AT8 ~ &:xTxn, 24 .. 15rrm.12 .. 100Trn.. .....".8lI ..motor~71 n'Vcydes. 153 bicycles

OPPOSITE A group 01 officersleave their HO during a pre-war

.xen;:I,., From NB right to tett:

loreground, an Alpinl lieutenant­

colonel - note chevron ranking

lust visible on side 01 hat;mlddleground, a general

commanding an army; mlddle­

9round, an Alplnl colonel with a

divisional shield .... his lett

sleeve; background, a major 01

the Transport Corps. All theseollice,. wear the 'conJel/ino'

unilorm, with two black velvet

stripes down the breeches

lIankin.g a central piping in the

branch colour. For rank insignia

details He chart on page 41.

IRn Trye)

The crew of a M1935 B1mm

mortar durln.g a pre-war train;n.g

....n;:i.... The caporale lias the

M1931 S1rey-ereen tunic with

black felt collar facin.... and hisdivisional patcttes, His black

sleeve chevrons are the larger

pattern used ITom 1931 to 1939.

Although we cannot '5efI it, thelanyard a"",nd his neck is

probably attached to a holstered

10.35mm Bodeo Glisent; 1889

revolver. This antique was still In

widespread service wittl the

italian Army in 1940, and was tocontinue In use untlt the end of

the war, (Vitetti Archive)

h,l( k to tilt, tlll'll Ilf lht' te11lllt,' and the First World \\':lr. ,ltld Ill,ltl" 01(','ell lhe more modern item.) wcre appr~)adlitlgOhM >k,( 1'l1fl',

am; tellillg' SI:l1blif i, that itl.Jlltll· 19-10 Ihe It,tlian Ann\" h,ld a tOlalof i,9iO pit:cn of arlillt-r. of I\'hich only 2--16 had bt.·cn 11l,11l111,IClllrt:d1>illct' 19:1O. A majnril\ 01 tht" field l-'1.IllS ill lI:.e l\l·l1.: ex·.\lI'lri:1l1 I1Itk"ld,hantlt.'d o\'cr 'l~ 1,';lr rcp:ll';tliolt~ ill 1918. ~la1l\ t.f the j:C\lIl~ had heenimplO\t:d bl It'pl.ldllg tht' (lId \\'oo<lcn-<;poked I,hed.) with :-tl'd: llll"mighllook tllodl'l"nlwcause oftbl'.)c cv:.melic: ahl't~llioll'. hlllllll' haIT('I.,IH.'rc still 40 H ...l1.... old,

Tltt' It'lliall armourl'c1 force I\';"IS quite formidable 011 p.tpcr. I,ith VIC!'

iOO lallI..., -;1 .)trl·nglh I,'hidt compared Eal(lurahh 1\ ilh lilt: otht:r I~ \\\l'r,.Clo-..er cxitmin.ttion, 1100\e\t:r. ~hm,-.; lhal lhc I~L"I lllajoril\' of Ihi'''C:''tanJ..:-' I\l'n: ill fa('II:1l1J..t:lh.'~: tim t,,'o-man Yehide~ arlll<"d with machilh'l{un~ and with annour 100 lhin 10 stop marhine gUll hulkt" ~Iorl'

modern lllk~ wen' in production: bIll a~ dll'''C IleW('l' lUnd{,I, ClIllt' illlo

"Cn icc lhel '\I'l"t' quickh ~{'II 10 be olllclassed ('\('n hI thl' Briti~h I.lllk,- IhcnN..he~ hardh' lhe mO~1 impressin' in Europe - "hich llll" Ill'Il' H\

face in :'\"onh AfriCil,Tilt: hali<ltl infmHn dh'i,ion had a different qnlClUrt* from lhox' of

01111'1' COIIICIIl»Or.U"\ annies in lhat il onh had 1\\0 illfitlltr. rl'gilll1'1l1'and nne anillcn reg-illlt.'IH on ~trcllgth, 1,-hereM in most otht:r annk~ adil·i.)iou 11lId at leil.)1 Ihn'c n:gimenb ofillfantn' pill" three or lour groupsof .tnillel"\. Thi, "O-Gtlled ·billar. . I\pe of dil'ision was a llt;~(Jr 1\I'aJ..lll·'>'.cHon iJ on P."lpel' il galC the impre,~ioll tJl<H thl' '""Ii an .\1'11' had moreformations. ~1:1I1~ of ,Ill..' eli, i~il)Il'l "ere f.,r from lip 10 ~Irength - 0111 oftll{' i3 Ull papc:'l' onh ,om{' ~O were fulh manned and equipped,

lllilitarb,..:d and \,~t~ con~idef('(1 itS h:lk'~ fourth :mlledRO~~11 Anlly. Naw and Air Force. RaiW'o frum \'01­WHet'r ll1cl1'1bcr~ of lht-, F'L...cisr Parr" hClw(:'('ll llll'

age~ of J7 arId 50 (ill 1,"0 "A"t' classes. the oleiN menservinl{ in Tl"niwrial hau:ltioll~). it \\-dl> supposc.::d lOpr(wide a miliwl"y force of lllJ(lllcstionill,i,r lo~~llty lu

i\'ll~ofini's regime.III ;til effort to illlegr:ue the l"rVSN with rhe

RO\~11 Arm\' a Blacksbin 'legioll' (1'\'0 hal.Lalilllls,(:ach nomin,lllv (~70 :'lrong) \,'as ad(kd lO eachirlfalllr;. (livl,ioll to act ;L'; a .high I\' mOti"ltt-'d" force\\irhin the lonna lion. The imrodllnioll Ill' the~I\'SN uni!.\ il1\o lht' tmler or bailie of the RoplArrm \\~h f.{ft'all\' rCS('IHed h,' Ann,- commanders.11110 diSlrtlstecllhe 1\1\'5:'\ and suspected tht:ir lack01 militar. experience. In addition ~("n:ll purc:lv:\I\'S:\' t1hi,ioll" I,'crt: raised 10 light in lheEiltiopian campaign oj 19::G-36. Four :\IY5"dilision~ I,'el'e .tl~ raised to figln ill :'\'onh ..... friC'd in1910, amI thew IIt'l"e all de~If(lled in the earh'lighting. A~ Ihe "~Ir progre'\St"d the more reliable•

•

X\'Ar/ll.\' em/II

'Co~'>l'ri:l', ',\Io<il'na', 'Crenll>n:l' Inf Divs~lId Alpil1l' <:lllllp (·1 .\lpilll' 11l1'" 1 BlacJ...~hin bu,~ lllolllliain anI lm~)

A ron' Ht'){,IlY'

'Pi..loia, '( :;IUi,llori ddk' .\lpi', 'Lupi di TO'<C<lII;\'Inf Oil"~

'Puqnia' .\lpilll' Ohhi Bc.'r,.lglit..-i Rq.;l. ~rrl ,\r lllulln,d Rl'g!.'\I(Jnkn~lto' el\ Rt'~1

4lh ArmyCOe: (:l'lI ,\lfn'du ClIl.loniCoIS: (,t'll ~l.lIio .'wld;tn·1Ii1:\1111\' (;qrJM

'~III>crg;:l', 'ClgliMi', 'PillCru]tl' Inf Oil"1\' A rtll." ClJI!,j',\s.,ieua·, 'Slorcesca' Inl Dip.,1I/,i,,~ ,-\IlII) (;mp)

'Taurillell'c' \Ipill(' Di\Le\'anna .\U101l01ll()llS 0rollp (:\ ,\Ipine bn..,1 1Il00mtail1 .It'l\ 1m). 3rd ,\Ipilli Regt,\rol\ RI'$i'nIt'

'LeR'nano'. 'Brennero' Inl 01\'"'Tridelllina' ,\Ipint: Oi\-Ilh Ik'r-';:Iglit'li Rl'gl. 1'1 Annd Rib'" '~iI.l4l· C'l\ Rq;l

The Invasion of Greece:\1 dawn on 28 OClOl)I,'r 19-10 ,('\'t'll It..tli.111 di\,i ..iolls of llll' 9111 ,lIld IllhAnnie'> be~lIl the ill\~lsion on four lint·s of alh,mct· from Albania ­occupied :.ince .\prj] 1939. The\ managed 10 get fin: or six mile:'> ilbidcGn'eH' before becollling bogged dO\\'Il, Thc\' found Iht'll1't'ht', fighling:larger lh:1Il expent'd rc)ree", \..ho foul{hl \Iilh greal delcrmin:nioll andhad .. much superior kno\\lcdge uf lhe lCrT.:tin, Ilalian llniL~ \I"ere olh:nlr.lpped in \,tlle~~ Ilhile Grc.:d.. forces: lIIo\(:cl lhrough till' hill~ andrnmmlllil1" 10 endrdc rhem: in lhis wav Ihe Julia' .-\lpinc Di\'i"inn In"l5,000 lllen in lhl' I'indus Corg<:s,

TIl(' Grc..:eks nHltllcr-altad.cd, and br 22 Non:lllbt'r h'll! pll~l1t'd rlw

200,000 Ir:,liall' hack on:r thc border into Alb'lIlia, where lilt.' fig-hrill/.;'lumed into n bloodl st;\!t::mate, Large Itnlian rcinlorccmClll.S WCI'C SCl'llII) Iht' thealre l)\'CI' lilt' winter, bUI de~pilc making limited gaill~ lIlt'l' \\ef{'unable III forcl' Ihe (~r'et'l..s Ollt of Albania, Roth ~id('" "lInt'ret! It'l'ribl)'Irom the frt'c/ill.';: lemper:uures as: neil her (Irmv had :ldeqll:lle coldwealher clothing, The ~titklllatl' lIQuid probably have COlllinlll'd hadHil1t'r IHiI dt'cidt'd ro 'iClld in G('rrnall lroops 10 br('al.. lht:' deadlm'l.. illApril 19-11.

ORDER OF UA-nU:

GREEK CA,MI>AIGN. 28 OcrOBER 1940

Epirus SeclorC;{/Illuna ,\r/ll) Cm!1\'Sitona', 'Ferr:II1I' Int". DiI.... 'Centauro' .-\1111<1 Di\(Total - 12 inf b1l'>, 3 Ikrsaglieri bns... :lmld blls. 6 Blad,shirt bn')

Manhal Badoglio _aring the

p,..·war uniform In tight grey

<;ordellino material with bla<;k

veNet <;ollar lil<;ing, His service

<;ap has the ranking of iI Marshal

of Italy - silver eagle on red

backing, and lour silver stripesabove the broad greca braid of

general officers. Nole above his

medal ribbons the crown and

crossed swords badges of War

Merit promotions; these came inthraa Clall81 - sUver, gold, and

gold with red backing, Badogllo

has one of the laner, meaning

that he earned a War Meritpromotion as a general; the

others maan that he must haveeamed II War Merit promotion to

almost every rank held during hismilitary career, (HUlton Getty)

1940 AlpineDivisionEstablishment

2~rlRugts

" "'"--.--"""_BnAn:Jo TIfI/I P!lflOOn

13 co>. rtD;s

.""...­162 ll' \MG, 66" I'f.tG54 ,,45rm1 rnortln24" 61"" ITlOflln24" 75tn'T1 pad.~50 ll' motor voen::Ia5."""""53._

The crew bring a 7SmmM187!l11927 flelod gun Into a<;tion

In lhe Western Alps during the

campaign itlIalnSt the Frenc;h in

June 1940. All wear M1934

greatcoat. and M1933 steelhelmets, and some carry M1933

gasmasks. (USSME)

Julia' .\Ipillt:: Di\, (j ,\Ipini bn~, I ,-\Ib<llli:m \·Ohllll('t·l"i h11)(,',1(/1/1/1 (;11/111)

:~f(l {~l't'nadil'l" Rq,t. '\o'la', '~li1,lIlu' C~,\ Rq{l\

(It)I.11 -:\ Grenadier bll" -I Cl\ 'qu;ldlOll glOllp~, 2 r\lballi.1l1 \'ols bns)Macedonia SectorX.\17 ,\1'/11,\ Cml',1·1'.lI1na· InfDhArm}' Reserve°Pit'llIunlt-·' Inf Di\

Yugosla\ian Border'\'('nt-,n<t'. '"\rt."IJO' Inl Di\...

Ilillel pn'p,ared 10 1w11) hi, ;111\ h\ ill\-.Ir1ing GICt'ce from Bulg;:lIia,,md buill lip hi,., lorces in the nalk:lII~ \lIlilt' cot'reilli{ mht'l' ('uulIuit.', inIht, It'POIl III 'ign poKI.:> with Gennall\. YUKO.'JI.l\'ia·~ re~el11. Prince Paul.came lIndt·), ilea" pl...·~5un· and thrl':ib Itl 'ign Ihe ,\nuwmilern Pael,much a\.,'ilinsl the wishC'" of most of hi~ j{t)\'tOrlllllL'1lt .lIId the Yugoshl\peuplt·, all 26 ~lilreh 19-11 a bloodlt>ss coup Ollfolllised tw Cell SimO\icill lilt.' name of Ill(' \'ollng King P('lt'r n'\ c ....(:<1 lhi~ ami mo\-ed YlIgOS!:I\;';1tllll ul lhe pro-,\."i" camp, Ililler was fmioH' ;11 lhi~ ·ht',rd~<lr. anddt'dded 10 til' lhe ill\,....ions 01 Grcen~ and YugOt;I:l\ia 1~C:lh(')' 10 'SeCurehi, '>OulheOl 1l:1Il1.. hefurt'll1t' pLlIlllt'c1 ill\'L,iull ufthe SO\-iel L'nion. On2 I Februan 19-11 Gl'eece 3cceplt.'d .1 P.lili'h l~ff('r f)f rcil,forCelUL'IIL', bill

lilt-' British troup'" al1d RAf S<jll.ldroll) haSlih stripped from :\'tlnh AfricaWl'ft'loo 1'1'\1 In affect lilt' OIlICOllle. On 6,\pril 1911 11.alian ,md Ccnnan10rCt.·~ ilwaded Greffe and "lIgo,1.I,ia; f;lcing U\('r\\II('\nling force"(.rl'l'te capilutlled on ~I .\pril.

-nle im\i\'ichm] h:llian <\Oldit'I' ill ern:c(' o!tt'n loughl "ilh heroism.c'iJCcia1h in deff'llee, bUl lilt' :1I111\'~ ()\el~llI pf'rfonJl<IllCt' rdlcrled hothpOlll prq)amlioll and low 1ll0l:\k. Italian "Qldiel... lf>ll kt dO\\1l and rni~led

b\ their sl1pl'riur'>, whll had It'd Ihcm 10 bclit'\c Ih.ll Ihe\ '''ould gain aquid, and reb,i\-e!l- eas\' \'icton. The \\ hole ('lIrrUpl nalllrc oflite F•.,.,dsl g9\Cmrnf'mand irs \1:lr machine \,-a:, exp<,,,ed by litis campaign,

in I"hieh tilt.' ordina'1!'ooldil'''' sun'l'fcd grcalbard~hips l:lrg:d\' dllt' 10 lh(=illCtllnpctellce and unfol'­Ki\'abl} had plallning ofIheir !t':lcler", Iwlian ItI~,,(,s

Wl'fC llcarl~ 14,000 dead,2,-1,000 lIIis,.,·illg. 115,350sick, IH)unc!t'd and frosr­

bittell, ):,riling a IOlal of JUSI

tlll'r ]:,·1,000 (;;tSlmlL.ies,

Albanian Units in theItalian ArmyTIll' in\'a~ion of Alhania inApril 1939 \\';,15 folloKt'd 1)\'

Ihe ab,.,orption of up 107.000 (If Iht' 10,000 lIlen ofIhe funller .-\Jb:tniall ,\rnn 7

8

Wireless operators of an artillel')'

regimenl use an RF2 type radio

in a AlpIne vill"ge during the

lighting on the Fren<;:hJttalian

border. The operalora are

wearl"'ll enlisted ranks' grey­green wool bustinil forage capswith their M1934 greatcoats. The

soldier watching has the

grey-green leather two-poeket

bandolier worn by the artillery

and mounted troops. (USSMEI

10 furm Albar\i~1I1 uniu; of

the hali:\n Army. OneAlbanian MVSN Legiol1 "'asfnrnwd, aJ()n~ Wilh sixRoyal Albanian ArlllYl3altaliOl1~. 1WO Fllflrl'SS

.\Iachin~ (;1111 B:l1taliOlls, aRoyal Glli'lrd B:Hlaliol1 andt\l'O Carabinicli Lcgi{)11S.

Tht' AJb:ll1ians wereinvolved in the llwasionof Grecce lIml pcr/i,)fJm:dvcry badly. with $0111(' lllliL<;

e\'en firing on their ownsiclt:. Looking fnr scapegoatSfor hi<; arm)"s poor pl.:r­lormance in this campaign,~I\lssvlitli allell1pted LO Ipill 1l1iKh of the bl;lme 011tbe Alb:\Ilian unitS invoked,Despite this pOOl" sh()\\'illgIW\\' Alb<lnian ItllitJ; were()rWlnised to help fighl thegrowing menace oftVbanianCommllnist p;:lrtisans, InJune J9-1~ the Albanian

conlingen! o! the ItaJian Army comisted of four ligllt infantry I"egilllent~ ~Jf

CacdalOri d'l\llJallia ('.\Ihaniall Hlllltcrs') alld 14 militia ha1tilli(JIl~,

ORDER OF BAlTLEGREEK C..v.IPAIGN, 6 APRIL 1941

Army Group Reserve'Casale', 'Firenzc' Inl' Di\'s9lh ArmyIII II 1'11I)' rmps'Venezia', 'Arczzo', 'Taro'. 'Forti' [nfDivsKY.I'I Anll)' Cml),''Picl11olltl.:', 'Partll:!' InfOin;, 'Tride111ina' Alpine Di\'11th ArmyII' Ann)" Lorps'Cacdatori ddk Alpi' Inf Di\', 'Pllslcria' Alpine Di\'1'11I A1"/11)' Corps'Cagliali', 'Siena', 'Bari', 'Pinerolo' In!' I)i\'$XX\' Army Cfi/1I\'Sf()oesca', 'Fermra', '1\loe!eTla', 'Brennero', 'Lllpi di Tosc:l.na','Leg-nano' Inf Di\'s, Julia' Alpine Oi\''Sjlt'rial' Anll." Ct.lllJ~

'ClIlICO', 'Aeqlli' Inr Oh1>, 'Spccial' Alpin/.: DiyArmy Reseryc'Pllg:[ic' InrDi\'. 'Clll1(:t'nsc' Alpine Oi\'Ccntauro' Group (I armd regt, 1 Bersaglieri bn, I c<l\' rcgt.I arllld art)" regf)

The Invasion of YugoslaviaIlu: ill\:l.si(lll lJf (i April 19-11 sa\\" atraeks la\lll('"hed I"rom .\uslria, ILal\',111I1lg<lt'\, Rlimania, I~lllgal"ia alld Alhania, Illiliall~ only It;tliall :Illd(,nm;tn rorces \n,..re itwoh-ed, b\l1 from II Aprillhey wen' joined hv Lllc[lullg;lriall :~rd .\rt1I\', h.ali:m participation W<J.s limited 10 tlte 2nd .\nm,

\\hielt advanccd ~<llllh\\':lrd~ dO\\'lI th!' omSl and inland to t:tk~' !la'"'llIH'l\ian capital Ljubljall;J; nne! the 9th Army, \\'hich came nonhwardsItlJlli .\IIMnia alld Illct lhem in the region of Dllbrmllik,

\\'illl a cOlllhitwd fotTC of ;")O-()dd dh'i~i(Jll~ aWtill~l \'lIgo~hl\il'S

:.!H di\'i~ioll~ lhe result \\';1$ a loregone condll"ioll, :lnd Yl1g:osl:l\ia~llilend('red 01117 April.

\'tlg\J~"l\ia \..~,~ di\'id{'d llP bl:IWt'Cll tltl: Axis pOWNS, with [lairoc('"up\ing ~(Juthern Slovenia. Ihe DalmaLi:lll coas\lim', :\lollteIH:,gTo, and,lrlding K(I~O\I) to :\11)<I[1i<l, Re>istance to ,lIe 1lCCllp)ing ff)l'CC~ beganal[lIU~~ illlillcdiately. :md \\~l~ 10 tit, lip Ltrgc llllmlwrs or Italian t!'Oops ftWtill' remainder of the \\'~r (see pages 12- I ~~),

ORDER OF nA1TLEYl:GOSLAV C.,\.,\fPAIGN, 6 APRIL 194\

2nd Army\ ,\1'11I\ CmlJ\'HlTgarno', 'Lombardia' Inf Oivs\} A1'111,\' ('(!llJJ'~,1S~ali', 'Frillli'. 'A.~~il'lla' InfDivs

.\'/1 "/11\' CUJ1JS'R~", 'holt/o', 'Ibrenna' tnf Divs:~rrl .-\Ipin(' Crollp (3 Alpini htl", I Illountain ;lrl~ bn)Jll)tQri~1'(1 .4.1'111)' C0I1H'P;hllbio', 'Torino' Jnl" Di\"S, 'Liuorio' Armtl Oi\"

(~{1'71' ('Pf/S! 'J II 1'//1." Cf//l',1I~t 'lllg-enio di Samia', 2nd 'Emanllele Filibeno TesLo di Ferro',:lrrl 'Principe .\medco Duca d'Ao~ta' Celere Di\"s

h/lllll' fm1rru Police and FrolHier Guard uniu;

1940 Fast(ICelere')DivisionEstablishment

2 Qwaky Regts01 4 sqns ~ Me> Sqn

~Regt

~3 ""

M"'r """Ught TriGovpATCoy8etsag6M'MICycJe Coy-Coy7,7501ll1~

2,012 horses165 x lMG, 76" HMOall 2O'nm AA, 8 x 47mmAT24 x Olroer artJery61 "tanks64 1 x molor veI'Ides431 x mlcydes, 2.565l:licydes

A long column of Itatian infantry

wind their way slowly forward on

the Mediterranean coast in June

1940, Most wear the lightweight

fatigues, and some the old

M1935 zip-up f1annet shirt,

(James Buro)

9

10

Prince Umberto (lenl. heir to the

throne and commander 01 thelon:es which Invaded Frilnce.

conlers with his generals during

the live-day campaign. He is

wearing an officer's bustina

made of pale gabardine and an

officer's wool greatcoat; bothdisplay his ranking 01 generale

designata d'armata (see chart on

page 41). At right foreground Is adivisional general. (USSME)

lam efl/lll/Wlid . \ /1'(/

:~ ~tG Ims. I HLTs<I).{licli 1)11. I IIQ .-\ny bn.I Engineer ]1\1, I amid CO\, I Bbckshirts co\'. Ru\"alFin;Jnn: Gllard. Royal Cal'ahillt"l'r~. Rll\"<ll :"1<1\",,1

unit.~

Albanian Armed Forces Command

9th ArmyIII Army (m!)" - nrnilll'c!XX\'j Anll)' Cm1ls- omittcd'/-i!II(1zhd' S,'Clor':\rC//II', 'Fil'enll.:", 'PillCfOI()' Inl' Di\~'CUIlCCIlSC' Alpine Oi\'Xfl' Arm)' UJIPS'Prlg-lie', 'Fin'IlZt·· (from 1-1.-1.'-11) 1111' Din.

XIII/Ann." rU11H·~..Iessilla·, '1\larclw' [nfOi\'S, 'Ccntallro' Anne! Oiv

The Russian FrontWhen Ccnnanv il1\"';.'l<lee! the Soviet Union inJllne[941 ~llIss(Jlilli il1lll1cdi:ltel~' offered to sendtroops to help his ~lly, The olTel" ot :1 corp~-~ize

lorn.. was accepted. and the 'COIVO SpedzioneItilham.: ill RIl~~ia' or C$IR WilS assetlluled llll(lt'rIhe command of L1(;en Gkl\~l1lni 1\1e~~t', The

corps had a sU'cllgliJ of 62,000 men, with 1\\"0 (tlo111inal1~) mOlOri~ed

infalHry divisinl'lS of lh...: old 1\J:lR binary type - 'Pasllbio' and 'Tvril1O';ami a Celcre ('faq' - i.e, 1':l\'al11) dh'isinn, 'Principe Allladt,o DllC(ld'Aost., " which (-olllprised twO horsed Gwa[r" regiments, a Bersag-lieril"}'dist baltalion, art artillery regilllellL and a light tallk group. Varioussupport. service and ~pc<'ialist tlnilS wen' addt'd 10 dw :;trellglh of IheCS[R. and il was - by lta1i<ln standards - quite well equipped.

The CSIR ,,'a~ sent 1.0 tbe southern sector of the German a(h,lllce inthe Ukr:line in .I1ily 1941, and in il:; carlr enCOllll1/;r:; I\".-IS ~llcn'ssfll1.

taking" a number or towns and rilles and cre:lling" a f:IHJur:lble

illlpn,:ssiutl 011 its Gennall allies. [\"el1 though lhe CSIR el1joyecl hig-hpriority ill the iSS1W of lht~ hest i1\~lilabk I\'capon:; and other hardl\".lre,these were not in fart :ldefJll:1te: the regiments were 111olOris('d only intheory, the artillery was of FirSl World War \·intage. the armourt'd unitsst ill had the llSt'!c"S tan kct teS. and ;m ti-tank w('apons were inadc(l U<llt'. Asthe Gel1nans disc{)"fTt'd [att> in 194 [, on the Rll~sial1 Front (:\"en I\'ell­equipped ullits soon exh:lusted their supplies and sl111cl'ed bn:akdol1'l1Sand combat 1tJ.~st's, and nothing \\~L" casy or quick 10 n'pLIt:e. The sheerscale of the fi,l.{hling :llld the distances im'olvcd meant Ihat an army\\'ithon[rjuS! enoug-h of ('ver\'lhing to gu around was ~OOtl in trouble.

~lu~solini I\'as determined to increase his conlribution to the Ru~sian

c~mpaign, and thus his credibilitr ~tS :In :\."is partner. Dr'spite thehardships sufl'ered b} the CS[R during \,'inter I~Hl/4~. :llld delipitcobjectiullS from Cell ~Iessc, in March 194~ he setH a furthel' se\'encli\,jliiot1:; Easl; the l1e\\' orb.-anisatiot1 look lIlt' lillt: of 81h Army,comprising- II and XXXV Arnw Corps. Hy August the Ita[ians had

,uhanced 10 lilt' Don \\ith Am.} Group H (;1 t'wll!lland 01 .-J3 dhisiollsdi\icled bel\n:t"n ..lIh PailleI' ,\rnw. ~ll(J. :\rd. -lth and Glh Rlllnallian\llllie~. 21ld Ilrlllg:lrian and BLllltali:l.l1_\rmil's),

Tile 81h Arm\' was Ull !lao Clril' ril'\'I' 110rth-\\I.:_'! or Stalillgr';ld illNllH·mbl.."r I~H2 l\'llt'l1 the ~reat Smit:l pine...:r 1Il0H·tnCnl - 0PI'I~llioll

Ll.lllrr~ - was laundwd ttl Cllt otl' Ihe German torces ill and around the('rrh;Htled Cil\. The milch bl'ller equipped. adaptt.'d, :lrrt! rnolil,;1ted Red\rtll' COllCt'l;t 1"';.lted their firepml"er agaitt~l thn~t" ~e{'l()rS of tll(' Axi" fro IIt

held b, Cennal1\"\ \\eake1' allie~ - iniliall~' the Rtltll:lllbl1~, whom tIlt'\'broke through. with ,,(Jnl!" dimrlllt~" 10 link up on 23 NOH'mlwr. JUStatll'l \'on ~I:tn"lt'in unleashed his doomed Opl.'l~tinll \\"inl('r SWllll 10hre~I}.. lhrough 10 Stalingt<ld from tIll' south-west, lhe tanks of\·allltin\S()~lth-We'l FrOIH and tilt, VOI'olwl.h Front ~lllaslu,.'(l through the Italian,nttJr: tlw Alpint' Corps \\'<lS cm off. :Ind the i'ltlr Arm> I,':h loff{'cti\'ehdt,qro\ed as :t fighting command. In .Ianuar} 1943 the suni\urslef.::'"J'ouped in the Ukl~lill(', :md 1J~ .\larch lll()~t had begun to return to[1;\1\', k:l\ing ,I small number of [tali:!!1 tlnits behind 10 help fight

parti~ans.

rhe 8th Aml\"~ In~$('~ in tlWIl and eqrripmcllI I,'ere di~astrOlls. QUI ofan al"lll\ of 229,000 men, R:i,OOO WCl'e killed ()r mis~ing and ~O,OOO ,,"t're\\oullded. l.ll:-"t'~ in anil1en' wt:re: equall) de''::\SI:lting:. with 1,200 .l;"un~

orrl of a lotal 01 l.~-In being de:;lroyed or abandollcd. 1\lutor vehickswere ah,'a}~ in short ~llpplr in the Italian Arn1\', and thl" 1R,200 lost illI{u,~i:l 0111 a lowl of 22,000 wcrt" simpl)" irrepl:lce:lble,

.\lLJlO11g-h the It:lli,,n Arrn~", l(Jsst'~ Ull the Russian Frollt were

J.(lit'\lltlli. b\ the hURe scale of the fighting in tilt' ElL~1 tIH'~' I,'en: 1101~i,~nilkant. Sirategists would probabh arg:ue Ihat if the same IUllnbcr ofUlen and - more illlpol'tantl~'- the sanle scale (If equipment had 1)Ct,n~ent in 1911 to North Africa instead. lhr'} mig-ht 11;1\'1' tipped the hahlJlCcIherl.' irr f~I\'otlr of the Axis forces,

ORDER OF BATTLE

8th ARMY, RUSSlA, 1942

II I fIJI) Cbl1JS'~fo,)r:zt'SGI·. 'R;wen n;l','Ctl"eria'lnfOi\':;XXXI' Army CtJrjJs'['asllbio', 'Tol"ino'~Iotori~c:d Divs:kd 'Principe: AtlH'dcoDll("<! d'Aosta' Celere Di\'iHpwl' (:(111)$

'Tridentina', "JIII;a'.'Ctlnt'ens(" Alpin!: Diys'\'in(enz:!' OccupationIIII' Di\'

The Croatian LegionTIw Itali:l11S decided to rorm a Croatian Legion to lighl on lilt' Russi<lnFrom. in imitalion of tlWIl' German allil'~ - till" \\'I.'hnll:'I<'I1I :,lread~' hadone ill lhe foml of the :{6~hh Infanm' Regiment. Usin~ men from lire

Heavily burdened Alplni of the

'Verona' Bn, 'Tridenttna' Div

trudge through a muddy valley

during the advance into Greece

In October 1940, The man at far

right wears a M1909 grey'green

wool cape, which the soldier in

front of him haS $Iung his over

his shoulder, (Rex Trye)

11

•

ORDER OF BATrLErrALIA..~ OCCUI'ATION AR.\I\' IN THE BALKA,'I;'S. 25J.....LY 19-13

13

Th. crew 01 an 8mm M1935 Flat

Revelll maehlne gun lrom the30th Al1i1tery Regt, 'Lupl dl

Tosc:ana' Inl Dlv del.nd their 9un

Une on th. Greek fronl In wlnler

1940/41, The stencilled branch

01 .e....ie. badge with regimental

number la Ju.t vl.lble on thelront 01 Ihe lett t\and man's

MtSl33 helmel; all wear lhe

M1S134 9reateoat and knitted

balaelava.; the right hand man

also hn a roIl-neek .w.at.r. TheMUJ35 Revelll wn an up-dated­

but not Improved - version of the

M1S11": known to it. crews asthe 'knuekJe'bu,t.r', it was

awkward to handle, requlrtd

lubrieaUon 01 the ammunitiOtl tofvnc:tion property, and was prone

to 'cook off' ehamben!Kl rounds

during p.auses In firing. II also

eontributed yet anothfl ealibre

of .....all ann. ammunition to the

anny" mon.lrovs logisticrequirements _ e,5mm, 7.35mm,

8mm, emm, 10.35mm ...

IR,Toma.il

I "IIJ Anil,' Corps'C:lg1iari'. 'PiemOllle' LnJ Dip,XXI 'I ,\nll)' (',()'1)~

·MOllena'. 'Casa!t:'. ·.-\cqui· Inf Oi\-~

CRETE - 'Siena' Lllf Oil. 51st Spccbl BdeAEGEA..'\' SL\ - 'CUlll~t/, 'Regina' [1\f Oil":>

GRH.(,E11th Army111 .inn) r,()'1H·"orli'. 'I'inerolo' InfOh',

CROAT1A·!olI.o\ 'E.NIA2nd Arm)'I Arll/.\' em/,\'~l.lu·rala', '~Illfl-(e',

'Rl" 111f Oil'S,X 1\ COastal I3dt,.\1 Arm)' (;m/II'(:arcialliri flt'lle Alpi',• [,mILO', 'Lombnrdia'Inl l)i\~

.'\\111.\1'1/1) Gm/),\·Bt·rj,f.lIlIO'. 'Zara' InfOilS,XYli Coastal lkIc-\1111\ Ik)t"(1.~

I~I Ce!t:ft' nil,

\IO~TlXELRO

\/1' \1111.\' em1',\'Fmilia', ·Ferr.lr.l·,'\"{-'nelia' Inf Ili\'~.

'l"<nuincll'>l" .Alpine Oil'

IIfR7fGO\'J:'\.\\ 1 \rm\ (;m1)\

\I.lr(ht"'. ~1(''''lIt,I'

InrOi\"X'\\111 Cllibl,ll Belc

\LB,\"1.\9th Arm)"" .-\ rol\ (,fJlP\'Brenllt'ffl· .. P,uma', 'Perllj.,ria' Inf Oil,

XXI .-\nfl\ (:m/)\-\11'UO '. 'Fin:llle' Illf Oils

.-\ron UntTl't'

'Puglie' Inf Dil

IH'le r:ti,ed on a local h,t,i;. b} lIw II.dian dh·isiulI:. ckploved ill p'lnind;l1'.U\\I-'. and \left' U~\l.llh n'\Ttlilt'd alol1!--: nhnic lillt": (:allll)lks, GI('t'~

Orthodo,,; and ~lo,lcll1s h.ld lheir own. u~ualh ~Ilirlh 'f'gn'Wl\ed IIniL',\(nmllt' 'ttrt'llglll' of lhe numhcr 01 MV.\C forces :lft' hard 10 lind. bill

I\(' do I..no\l Ih,ll 111 \t.uTh 1943 Illne "ere 30.000 'ulullteef'. Thl"l' Gtlltx:- hru"f'1l dUI\'n into H,OOO-9,OOO CuholiC't, i.t¥l(h'{.OOO Mmkm, ami15.0410 011hodm. (Ih~' [,HIlT 1x:illj.;" mo:>l1~ Chcmiks).

Rep1.l('crrWlll U:tHa]ihn ot lilt" :~69Ih, a Ll',I{ilHl ot U!I I otlicefs and mCI,was formed (-t5 ollicefs, 71) NCO:>, 1,100 Illell ,uld lOS bOI"!'c'). (;iICII Ihctitle 'Lcgionr Cn),U:l .\lllhll<ltl._pllllahlt,· III" J\[olt)ri_l·d Ct"(latiall Legion,lIlt: ullit arrill·d in Ru._i,t ill Aplil 191~, After :lcC]llitlin~ itself well dUling1110.: n:"t of the \'ear the Le~ion W,I:> l.,rg:ch de_Ifmed al1mg" "'illl lilt: rcstuflhe Sth .\nm in l)eCl·IIII)(.·1 W4~, .\tlelllpl' 10 r.li,l' a ~('cotl(1 kgion inMa~ 19-13 ,celli to han' COIIW 10 lllllhing.

OCCUPATION DUTIES

.\p:m from lhe m'e!" 2.,0.000 11lt'1l uf lht' Rlh .\nn~ fightillg in Russiathe maill 10k of Ihe Italiall :'\1111\ ill Europe afler .\pril Hili was asucclIp:nion troops. :-':0 less than 31j dh'b.ion:- were deplovcd in IhB..1.ILans (Yugoslal·ia, ,\lIJ.1.nia. l:rcl'cc alllithc I:lrjtlll~ Gr('e" i~land~) anill "C"llllhem France and lhe FrC'IKh i,tllld of ('.o.....io. rhe ltalial1 Aml,encollll!cred re"istan(t> 10 their occupation ill all thc'>e regioll:> 10 "0111extent, and 'mITer("(1 a lalgc number uf nhllaltit-" frum tilt"" :tlt;tC"!' 0partisan:. and n-"i"';mce figllll'I.... F(lr in_t;lIu:c, in the first five months 0194:\ alone the Italian occupation lorc(:'$ :.ufTered olt:r 10,':;00 Gbuahies.

The Occupation of Yugoslavia-Ill(' Axi:. forces Gtn-ed up YII~"O~lalia betl\ccn them, wilh It,lll gaining!J\lontenegro. wcstern ~lo\"Cnia ant! the cu.t.~tline uf Dalmatia. \\e!'tclllJ\laC('(lonia and KO"I.)\() IU'n' hanckd 0\1'" U) Albania. which had beenpan oflh(" Italian '~·Illpirt,· ~ince April 1~)39,

Resistance to uu- hal ian occupatiun l,IIlW frulll IWH (111,\1"1("-';: fromIht-· \.()lJ1IIIUni'l l'ani';lI1' kcl bl .fosip lkoz 1'ito'l,md lhe St-rbian Ro\'ali:'1 'Clu:mik' \lm'emelll ledbl Col \lihailtJ\ic of lhe fonncr Yugosla\" Army,Fiercc n·,i,lallcl' U) IIll' Ilalians flared up inJ\loll1cnq.,rro as earl} asJulv 1911. and continuedwith I';lnillg intt'tl_in lhroughoul tl1l' hali:lI1­occupit:d arca~. tying' do,,'n largot: l1tunbcrs 0lroop" (>:(;1: J\IAA 14~. J>flrfiwlI! \\~lIfal"t" }9.J1--I5 fora more detailed accounl). 11IJlIl~' 19·1~ thefe I\'erea lutal l,f 14 infalll!) di\>i~ioJl~ UlI occupationdUlies in \';t1iolls pan~ of "ugosiavia as wdl as alill'ge nUl1tberol'suppOri and auxiliary l,lllilS ~(Ich

as Ihe Frotllit-r and Filt:trtct: Guard".lil lwlp ('oultler g"llerrilla actions by the

Pani~ans :tnd tlte Cht:llli~ the ll.tliatls mi,ed 10(,.<11Yllgushll auxilian flln'c~ from 19-+2, The ·J\lili..-ia\'Illtlnt;u·ia Anli,COlllllllista' or ~'IV,\C I,'erellI(Hi\:lted bl a desirc 10 light the ComlllunistPani;,ans. The violenl ltIlllnal Opposilion of thePani,an, and (:h(-,lnik.~ <.:lW lhem spend as milChlillll' fighting each other as the) did the Axisoccup.ltion 10I"ce'!: anu tit(' occupier:'i l\t're not ,,10\\'10 encollr.tg:e Ihi" \.Iwtlli" haIred of til(' I'artisans1(-'(\ II) "':)l1le \I(ll1u'nc~rin Chetnils fig-hung for atime lIudcl lilt: banner of lhe \lY,\C ~I\:·\C unitS

A1piroe artillerymen dlMfllba .... In

Albania on their way to the

G....k front. All w.ar the Mt~7tunle with blKk c:ollar fKlngs

piped with the orange-y.llow of

the artillery. and bearing the

double Slreetl names olth.Alpini, At right note the pointed

cuffs, a distinctlv. feature 01 the

M1937 tunic. The eentral man

earrie. the Alpine M t 9311

rucks.ac:k, ,"ame. BurdI

12

•

14

A gunner wearing the M1937

tunic reads a letter from home.Here the black helmet stencil of

Ihe Divisional Artillery I' sharp;

elthough almos! universally

applied, these br3nch badges are

otten unclear in photogrephs dueto both Wear and refle<:tlon.

(Robert StedmanCollection)

THE CONTINENTAL UNIFORM OFTHE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-43

TIl(: ba~ic uniform ,,'vnll)\ the Il.iIli,ltl ..oldierfrom 1910 lO 1913,.1\\ Clilh'

:t h:II millor ch,lIIg-t" dllrillK lhi, period..U1 onlill;u-" 'tlldicr of 19-1311(11I111 10 1110,1 ob~nt'I'" .• ppear cl\.anh lilt, "Illlt.' as he IIMI when hah'("lllt,rt:d lht' \'';11" in.lllllt· 1910. TIle Illlifnnll of 19-1U \\<l).1 llIiXtllrt.' of (,Id:md IIC\\ ,t,le.., with lhe 'I\!i.. h <'md up-1o-<latc llteel hdlllcl irllrodllced in I19~:\ lll'ill~ 1,'0Tl1 with rhe IKlrltaloOll In/lN',"\; - 1.1::. reachil1~ helow thelkllct, :lnd \lorn with long: Plllll't'~ - 1!l;t1 h"d been 10111-{ .dl,lIlc!ollnl hyIIIO~t Otller [tlftIPI':lll :tnllit,~,

III 19-10 Ihe 'c01l1i!H:llI;l.l' unilunn \'0111 b\ lhc ordinan' ~oldiel' in theEUl'opean lheau'l-' <':OIl,i'lt'c1 of a Im~/illfl rap: a ~re\'-gn:etl 1"0(11 tUllic of\IJiI:Ji pallcrn \I'illl "IX'II collar. a gTcI~recll cullOIl 'hin ann lie;W'("1{I't't'lI wool l>.llllaloons I,'urn I"ilh "001 pllllf"e~: and d\'t;'d blackIt'ather \11912 booLS, Thc ~119~-I gn... -gn:t'll wool or m.lll-lll.lde fibresinJ.!:k'-breil~led6'Tt';lIn"l1 (omplelt-'d tht' ouuit, lugether willi Ill(' \11933~II-'d hdnu"L

It ~holild be empha'ised lllal III(" "ari()ll~ IIniforrn rq,'lJI.llion.. I\\:rcollen I10lilpplkd rij.{iclll :111(1 all ranks, hut e~fJecialh linin','" I't'rt' ~i\ena gn'al clt-al of lencII, \\'Ilf'n 1It'\1 ilt'lIJ~ of 1I1lifonn ,,'ere isslle~1 the~llidicr cOllld l,e'II' the old ill-'m unlil iI 1I'0rt' 0111 or adapt ii, e.g. b)'remudng the blafi,. (ollar faring- of the 1\11937 mnk .lllt! replacing it"'itll gn'}i{l'('I'Il, Of'fil:t.'r~ 1I't'I'e pan.iclllad~' PIOIIC to kt'I'ping t;'\'OIl1'iteitt'lll' of llniform Ion).;" all(AI' official n'g-Illations h;l(l declan:d lhelllnbsok·te, Tht' contillucd appearanct~ollhe \11937 tunk ill plllHIIl-:"I,lphsrighl up to 19-1.~ j, It''limony to thi,) tilCl.

The appearance of tlnilonn~ in ;lclLIal ,«, .."jet' mig-hi aho \';In widd)'due to rdaun;' degrec.. (If \\t'ar, For illsl~lnce,j:It'_ke~ wei t' nUl ckancd

\('n ufu'n \,hilt, trt)II"t"1"" \,ere wa.)hcd unce a fonnig-llI, ~ IheIJ"OII~TS tended 10 be .1 lightcr ,hade than the jacket.'

Troops' tunics

Models 1933,1937,1939,1940 & 1942

Tht' look of tltt' Italian ~()Idi('r changed dram,lticalll I,ithtil(' illln,l(lllCtion of the ~llD3~~ tUll ic, repbu.:i1Ig' 111(' ~11909high-<'ollal'ed jacket "'ith a Opl'll-coU"rnl model "'omwitll shirt and tic. OP('Il-coll:tred jackeb had heCll wornsincc Ille Fir"l World War bv tJw elite ,'\rdili a~~alllt

l'ornJJl.llldo~, and it wa~ un thi~ C(Hll~' Illli/onn that thene'\ dc)ign II.IS 1IIu<lt'III'd, Tht' cullar of the :\1193:1 hadblack cloth f'lcing Ult' top half IIith Ihe di\i,ioll;ll cullarpatch or mOitri1/~ sewn to il. SUlll(' unih had blighth

coloured cloth cullar facill".... in hl"anch colours or, .IS in thecase of tht, GII';lln, a differem colour for e.lCh rt'!,;illH.:Ill,

l1w \119:n lllllie diffncd tlllh slighlh frnm Ihe \IIY33in thaI il had an ilHcgral. i1fljll,wbk' c1Ulh bdt fastellt"d I"ilh a

metal cla.~p, III 19:-i9 (lIIC\\, IlIllic for ~COswas introduccd, bUIthi~ I\';b lillie dim:;rCIH fmlll the \Ilil~t~ and ~119~i ('sn'pl lhal

il \'';L" rn:-lde from a hig-Ilcr gr;uk ofelutll and bad a hl1('k.le copiedfl'om '-he tlVe in IISI' 011 lite Air F(IITi> lunic,

\11 IIH"'t,' lI\odeh of1111111 h.ul t!lu'C' Iruntbullon' lor Olht'l I~Ulk"

;l1ld 1\\11 bn',I-'t ,1Il<11"'{l ,kinpoCk('l~ 01 pll',l1t~d p.llch

l'pl-' \\ith 'il1g-lc-hlllttlntlll("l'·poilll 11,11'''' rhl"f'1'.lrh llHl{!t'l- ,11,u IIMI ;1

hiddl'l1 pockct al tilt' IMek"llil h 11'01' f()rllled hI lhe11',11 n,lp: llti .. ~tJ-callt'd

'hlT.lll' plIckl'1 \l'a~ ll~t'd III{~In I pl-'rJ>oll,11 etTect'\,lh'It.' lilt· ~Illdicr couldt'.I~,1\ gel al tht"Ill,

I ht, III-'XI lll<ljor ch.llI):tt'LllIIt' \\ith lilt' illllodlletiunnlllw \1191l1 lunic, \,hichIt'III,H t,d tilt: bl:Jck. ("nlbl' "'jth ;l plain grl'l-grt'cli one: 1I/o!(I1,U ,,-ere slill'\11111. \ 11\"\1 ,ltljllJ>t:lblc belt had ",'0 buttoll~ on lilt' frulIl ill'tcad urthelllt"t.11 {l.bp (If lht, \ II !J:H,

rhe ;\(191~ tlmk difTprcr! liltlt' from the ~ll~lO: duc to \\"anime,h(l[I;Ig'I" Iht' dt·.. ij.{tl \I~t' ~implilit'rl and inlt'rior m:IlI'rial \\"a' ll~l'd in iL~

1lI,U1ul.lclllrC', wilh 1.111\':1' eillplo'ed lor thC' lining:.

Officers' tunicsOllin''''' Wnk, IWH' oj the N1.me b.bic dt:~i~n as m(" olht,'I' mnks' hUIIH'It' bt.'lter madc frulll "1I1X'rior m;l\I-,ri.tl. /\t the lx:ginnilll( of the \""'UlU'1 Ill'rl-' madc IrulII a Wth..,rdint, malt'ri,,1 callt'd '(Qlr/dli"v: ThiJ>apl)('~ll'" in phtlltlg-l~lph.. lighter than the gr("'·i-.-rcen "nifol'm, and \',L"olll-'lI ,I qrikingh light gl"t'\, III "anime --en-ice man\ ollice.... wure\Wollell tunic'> ,imilar 10 the Other t:IIlL~' II1IXld, bill ,till \\cll-tailored.111.1 Inlll1 ;1 hl'llt'l gl';lde of matl-'Ii<ll. unlct'''''' 1llllic, had fOUl frumbllllllll' in~u::<ld of lilt.' oillcr r.lIl L..' thret',

Lf!gwear

Tlw ll,ual patlt'l'n of In)U''I'I'~ Ilcrt,' gn."\-grt'CII wool (or wool illld~\lllht'lic mix) pant:1loon~, I\'hich n:;u'lwd lUjll~1 hclo\1' Ihe knec \"hereiltn 1."lt'm'd \lilh a bUlloll. The bollom~of tIl(' p;l111;lloOI" \\'t'!'t' co\'('rcdh\ Ilw IUp~ of "oollell pUlleC'>, \"hich were lied around I,ilh tapc~ or\'t'H' p.lnh cO'eri'd witll plilled-lip \\IIOlkl' ,(Icks, TIlc,t' .Irchaic-looking1IIIu,el'" I' Cl C' \\orn in '~lriuliS st.1.te~ of h"I-{~';neJ>S. ;lllt1 "fIt'Il \IIOl.t'<I \ I-'ntllll,f.tinh indeed, \1011l1lcd, l1Iutoli'>Cd .lIld some :trtillt'n u'oop' \,nn" al'IIt' of wool breedU'~, flart"d in Ill(" lhigh and longer in the II-'K,

()Ili('1"" mualh ',UTl' breedlt''' nudt,' of <orrMlmo gahardint' material.\dth t"l1 bhtck ,uipt" tim, II the ~ide" n.ml.ing a central piping in hranchcoluur, t',/{, or.mj.{c'll·llm\ It.,r anille'n. \Iort' practical (and (.-he<lper) inlilt' field \Iert:: brct."che.. made Irom a g"(ItJ(1 '1llalil~ ,,'oolll1atni.11. or e\'enp.Ult.l!(ItIl1" aW-li" 1ll,lIle from hCtltT qualitn \\"001.

I ht, hask kK protl'C1ioll wom h~ tltc 1~lstll1aiorit\ urlhe Italian Anll~

\\t'II' grc\,-ATt:en \\'001 pllll(>(·S. Tlle't' h,ld I>I'\'II \\IH'II !!illce till' earliestd.1" 1)1 the l\illi:lIl '\l'lI1\', hut tht' t\Ve in lI~e {hiring- lilt, SI'f(lIl(l "'ul'ltl

Mussolin! mits XXV1 Armv Corps

of the~ Armv on the O,...k'ront in ...rty t 941. He is wearing

the unifonn of First Mar$hal 0'

the Empire, a rank I'H!ld onlV bVhimself and the king, The officer

obscured bV the telescope is adivisIonal geneml of Alplnl. The

group at MussoHni's shoulde.- all

appear to be captains; the

two men al the right are generalsoj in'anlry and BI..ckshirts

respe<;:tivelv, (USSME)

15

A unit 01 Bersalilieri, with thei,famous cockerel leathe, plumesattached to the rillht side of thairhelmetl, ente, the Dalmatian cityof Dubrovnik during Ihe Invasionof Yugoslavia. The crimsonflames colla, patch can be leenon the tunics of the officers atthe head of the column; Ihe oneon the tert wears 8 grey'greenturtle-neck sweate, In place ot&hlrt and t1e. (USSME)

17

•

I.

·1-.........•

• ,•

•,

'",

,

Other branch collarpalches on MI940unirorm:.-\Ipini - /)I)lIb', ;""P('1/ flal/lM1k1....ll.(lit·ri - f)r.mMr /TIII/\tJ1I

j1 fl\

\niH"n - 'Jill!!." hfnrk .fin/II/'

In/ I! ortlllgf"-wlll1l1'DI\h,un,.1 anillen - .\mgt!'

Mn'!1 filII/I/' IJlIJI'rl om,,!!!"

,"'f"iI'. m'rt dlT'I,iulUll liidi.

.~lpll1t· .lflillt-n - SIII,.,;fr

Mlllk fill/II/' IlI/wl om"w'·."lIlfll', (lI,,.fb'Wf'l1 /"({'lrllI}!l/'

Ell~itll'l:I' - SiIlKI!' blmkl!tllli/' IJilJNlnllluol1

T'lllk.~ - 1J00jh!f "rmkl flll/lu:" UII blur nxlollg{('

I.igll1 Tatlks - DOllhl/' fl,hi/f fll/IIII'" UII MIII'rl'(/llIlg'r\1 I 1[01' TI~1I1~por'[ - Ihw"'" MarA' JI(IIW~ Oil hltlp n'r/fllIg'r\kdil,d Cvrps - .Sillgll' III/I/l)()// j!/II/I/>

\'{'Il') imlt"\ COt p~ - Singh' fig'" hllll' jlm/ll'Sllppl\ Corp, - SII/gh' d/llll h!lIr jlrllll!'

(:(llllmi~.'>,ll'\ Corps - Shl!!.f/'!Jll/l'fr (lllllll'\dlllil1i_1 r:Hillt I Corps - Siug'l' blurk jltllllr Ilili/'ll blllrSt.lliull.ln Rl'~{'r\'(' Ullil~ - Sirlf.!!!' ~(fId", jlflll/l'\lohile Rt'~en(' Unil~ - Sn/glr oml//!." flaml'

Support branches of tilt"\1 Ill' \,011' ,ill~le-poillT(,c1

n,IIIlt·" \flu-II Ihl'\ \I('It'

a,.,.Il!IW(\ 10 .111 illfallll....di\bl<lTlthl' n,lllle \1';\" ~Ilp("r­

1lI1IJf"l:"c1 0\1'1 the 10\ll'l p.111

uf IIIl" di\i~i(lilal p.uch. "I

th,U Ihl' dhi,iOllal colOllr'"~hl)\\t"d .lhO\(' tht· 1l,1lI1l'.

Wilt '\iuorH) Elll<ltllH'k' II" L.ltlC"t't" Regl - I'dlowJlallll'Ib/MJ; IJlIJlII!!I~dl ....tlll/W· 1.i~11l C;l\~dn Re~l- WwkplHl/pllf/rJ;,'d.l"'lowJ:Ifll . ~ IOllkt ,lUll' Jj~ht (:;l\~lIr.... RC~I - r"'l//wJI/ [f1l1l/1' llt/dlNI fIlwk I""' I11. \k~""ltldrtl' lif.\"l t I (:.n,lln f{q;t - OWI//-..". jlllllll' bar/wI! hlMk191h ('Ilick' I.i~ht (~t\,lln Rl'gitliclil - 117Iill'J1I/II11' Imrk!'d li;:!11 bllII' ;\thh·I'.lkl mil' I iK1l1 C\\~lln Rel{l - /(l'tI /lflllif barkl'd .\I'flow

Divisional arm shieldsWht'll n~w di\i~iOll" \,·('n.' formt:d ill tht' lIIid-19~(h. lilt', 1,'l'l"e each gi\f'll.Ill Mill ....hidd Otl tht' len ,lel'\"l' of the lUllic JUSt alXlH" the rank insig-nia.I linl' \\1'1t· llladt' at fll'l rt r.ml till ami lall'r oC cloth. The ~hield-s:haped

(Olollt"er.l back)..'l"Olillds \\en: hi lie fnt inf.ml" and C:l\~lln di\'i~ion~. redfOI motorbt'd and ~Tel't1 ror ,\Ipinc-. I he\ bore a ~old "cllow upright....l·nu<l.1 ,word with llll' di\i~iOlml number beneath it ami the titJell,lIll.ing il: t'.g. 'DI\"SIO:,\E .\LPiN,\ III JULIA'. Th!..'''!.' ann ~hiclds

1st '1\'i"<I' C:tyalrvRcgl- CfllfIJ'OIi /1(/11I1'

2nd 'PielllOIIIl'Rcalt::'C,tntlry f{egt- H,'I! JI/lll/rlMtll'k IIifiillg

3rd ·Sa\'oia· Cavalr\'Regl - lUII/·k FilII/I'

'-Ill! 'GI'tHl\'<!' C:II';dq

Rqp - Ii:/luw flalll!':lth ':'\'tl\,lnt' Lancer

Rl:gt - Irhife flamrGth 'Ausla' LanU'r Regt

- HrdJl/l1I/1'

;th '~lil;lIln' Lancer

Regl - (;1'111/$0" JlIIlIII'IMllrk flipillg

9th 'Fi,'l:ll/C" LancerRegt - Orangi' f!ttlr/.t'/Mnrk piping

TUNIC INSIGNIA

Collar patches

Each inC.mln di,i~ion had it~ (>\\11 uni(luc colLII' p;lIch \\Ilich \"IS wornon Illl' uppt"r part oC the colbr (~c Tahlt· .\ 011 page'i 3R-~9 luI' dl'~igns,md colours). Tht' patch \\.~ n..-cr:mgular and ill 19-10 t1'111alh me;~ured

60Illm x 3211ltl1: as thc 1\~lr progrc~~ed thc\ \\tTC gradu"lh rnluced in

si/(·. The onh t."xception~ 10 the :)l;ltId,lrd inf.llun !>'"ltlhn werc lhe n\"oGrelladier Dili.. iOlh. the ·Sa\oia· ,mel ·Sal'c!c::gn'I·. \\hkh \,'ore palchcmea:)uring 9'imlll x 2S11UIl with lace ba...... \11 coll;lr patches had a I,'hitemet;ll ,t::tr fixed to the 10\ler ccntrc of th t · irhi~nia - tIlt' elllhkm of theS:l\"orard rO\-dl d~·lI<b[\.

nranche~ utiler than lhl' illfantn \ltHe collar p;lIchc" called·nallln·. with the upper cnd :)haped illiO one. 1\10 01' threepoints. The cavalry had threc*poilltcd nallle~. ~(Jll1e of plain

c()lollr~ and SOllll..: piped:

\\"ar 11'l:re il1t rod 1IC1,:d in 1!12~J. Their lI11popularil\ 1:11 ill tilt' fan that theywell' difficult 10 put Ull and. :tllhollg"ll f;I!>It:Il('<! with doth lapI·~. oftenGUilt· lIndon..: in Cfllllh:lI.

~Ijfl black I(';uhel" g;lilen \\'\'1"(' wurn bl IIlOllllh'd unit.'> (ei111er Oilhurseback or 011 IlHHorndn). anillen. allllollrl'd and tl;Ul'l>llrl unilS,Anoth.·r mOJ'e st\li~h model of k.uht·r 1t'g'~illg' "'~h WOlll h\ c;",dryother r::lIl!.s ami :\'COs: Ihi!> ra!>lelli'd I,'ith .I lung !Ioather ~l.rap \IT.lppedaruund lhl: leg- and ImckJcd tlm':'('-<juartt'r, Ih., \I~I\ up thl: calC.

The basic mhez' "lllk.~· bQots \Il'n' Il'llalh llll" 1'-11912 black le;)[hcrhobnaik-d modd: the.;e Iv(:re urtt'll made oj inCt'rilll' 1ll,lIerial~ (Iht'\ weredescrilx:d 1I!' heing made uC-cardhoard') \\hich disilHl·gr.lll:d ill th'e rainand mud oC .-\lhania. Greece and Rll,~ia. Officer:. in Europe wore l'ithcrhigh-lopped k'atheJ' riding IX)\I'-~. OJ' :l beut'r-illildl' \er-..it)n of till' anklIxxll I\{lm in the fidd "'ilil ~ocks OJ' cn'n pllllt'e'l.

... driver emerges fTom the sidehlttch 01 his Ml3140 mediumt.nk on the Greek front In Marcht941. OYa' his blue linen on...piece olHlralls he _ar$ thlt issueblac:k leathe, coal and c,unhelmet.. He has a mountedtroops' greY""9,"n leetherbandotle, slung oyer his lertshoulder; this usually had aholste,ed pIstol attached to theend. (USSMEI

16

\\"('re ollicialh \IitlJdJ~I\lII flOlli ll'<' will1 Ill('illlHKllIUioll or lite ,\119-10 IIlllk, hm ("x:llupk,\\\'It· 'lill 'tTJI \\olnllol',1 \,hile thl:n.:;lfit:'r,

Rank insignia

Rank, \\('Il' ,11<'\\11 lip 1(1 19:n on lhe lImie b\ Iht,\waring- of ClUT("(1 che\TUlh poillt Ilpl\~lrd~on lilt'IOll:~'"nll jllSI abO\l' lilt' (lifT. n1(' ChC\TOlh I\t::n"

blM L. lip 10 tht' rallL. of mIHlr(/I,. ma!!J!if/1I ;"Illd goldfIll' Il'rgl'1//f' and ¥rJ!t'll/1 IN(ll:fl!fl/r,. nit' r.lIlkdl("\l'Olllo IH:rt' 111('11 IIIOH'd 10 111(' upper ::.Ic.."t-'\C.lIld 1)('(.;llIIl' ,horll'r, ,1ITO\,-~h,lpcd and POil1ldO\\'ll\\ar(k For a short pcriud irl 1937-39 the('nll)lII~ liP to mlx,,",'ll, IIIfll£J.,'7/11I'I>t::Glnle red whilelilt: other' relllained Kold. From 1t.l1O on\l'ard~

1Ill' ("lle\rons became lornaller ~till, arid tho~(' filr

r~lllk.~ above ClII)om/t' 1lIf1gJ..f"jf)l1' ('hanged Irom goldto " ....11011. (S\'(' chart and nOle" all page 41 forllliler dl'lilil~.)

Officers' rank insignia

\,'arl'<lm oOiccrJ; or 1II(fI-e5ri"lfi \\ore lheir mnL. all,houlder' boarru., and cOlllllli .....,icHll"d r.1Il!:;s on Ihl' tllllie rUleann,. From.lcling: 2nd lielllcmllll up to colond the!'e werc in IIIl' rorlll of dilTerellldl".,igrh in gold braid. Gen<:r.tl oOict:I' frum h';~diC1"to 'fil~t lII'II"'hal ofIhl' empire' ,,'ore inlric.all' I'm broidered classical deCOl'llliOll' calledIfIl'f"flOn !he clIfk (:\brain, ...ce chan ;'tlld nOI{"S (Irl page' -II,)

Ita'ian Inf.ntry moye through the

empty streets 01 LJUbljana inSloyeni. durin9 the InYS$ion of¥vgoslavia, All wear standard

wool unltorm, greate_ls.nd

pef$0031 equipment. (USSME)

Summer 11141: a column 01

clteerlulltllilan Inlantry 01 the

CSIR mlln;h towards the lront In

Russill. The offi..er and his NCOare wearing the Mlg40 wool

unllonn, with the officer wearing

IIghler coloured breeches. The

rest 01 th4 soldiers wear themedium greW' fatigue unlform as

lummer !ield dress; note the

contrast between the two

&had., Thelr personalequipment is .tandan:l issue,

with th4 M1935 c:W'!indnc:a1g3SlTlS$lt blI>lI much in evidence.

lUSSME)

HEADGEAR

The bustinaTh(' lidd (,IP 1\"(lnl ,llmoSl lllli\e.....llh b\ the 1!:lli;1II \nll\ \\,L' the \"l..'npuplll.lr but!/Ilfl. Thi.. I"I~ a ,idl'<"ap \\-ill! a 11'0111 \i'()f 11,lp "hith ",l~

II'>II,llh I\hlll folded lip, ,lIld 1';lr 111TL. nap' \\hich \It're j.tI'lll·r.llhf<l~lt'11I'd to"'t'llll"l 1I\t'1 LIlt' (101\11 rn. TI1I'an' ora Inlllon. TIll' IJlIIIIIW \,;I~

lIl.1de of the ":111H' gTl'\-gn't'lI \\uolor wool and wllllll"lic lI11"lIf(';I' 111l"fI"1 u( tht' uniform. mrying ..liglnh in both qll.alit\ 01 cloth ami dl,..ign,BI~IIl('b of .w.... in.' cap badgl'~ lor other 1~U1L..., ~t'l1l'I'llh of bl'lLJ.. l~lHIIl

..e\l"1I on 10 a ~'Tr\-g-rt'l'l1 \\tH,1 hilcL.in~. "·rre \lorn UII 11ll' flll1ll n,tp.OlTin'r,,' r.lp~. of the ~al1U' dt'"igl1 ii' mher mnko', \,ere inill,llh 111;ldl'

[l'om rmrlrlf/llo g<lrb.ldinl' bUI later frfl111 \,(xII; lIlt' ,idl' n.lp::, wr:refa1>I('lled \lith pr(',~ 'Iud" irl'lt',1C1 01 ,I bunon. nll'ir t';11I b,ld:;t" hcremade orgold \I1re (Ill a gn.'\ or gl t'\-g"n'l.'lJ bad.ing lkpendin~IIIl Ill(' ('ap1t1:11l'l'i'll.'-\ hmlu:h ol':..enke bad~(' \I~llo \,'orn 011 tht, IrUll! 11,lp: <lIld, ~et

slanl\\'i"t' 011 the left froul of lhl' crO\I·l1.:I rank lXldg'i' a, 1'0110"':/b/limlill' u.JJil"illk- gold st:tr \lilh hl:lcL. Cel11rCSoIMII'llfIIll/,- ",old SlarT('III'/II(' - IWO gold ~lal'~

Prill/fl tl'/I/'I/II' - \\1'0 j.l;uld ~lar, I,'ilh gold bare'IIIII(1I/1/ - lhrct' gold Sl;lrsPIl/IIO (opl!al/o - thn't' g"old ~l<ll''''' \lilh g:uld bar(RanL~ frolll moggtnr,. 10 cofOlll'lfo \1 en' lJIvunled in ,I reclan"....ubr

gold fr.unc:),\ttlggiOll'- olle gold SlarT,."nlll' co/mll/dlo - 111"0 gold ~I:lf"

-

18

A motorcW'clist pauses during theadvance inlo V"IIOslavla; hisgreatcoat is the Mll134 model

issUoed to mounled troops, with a

'''rver .hawl collar, bigger chestpockets and more flared sJ<irts to

allow for riding. His machine is aMoto Guul GT 17 solo with the

Breda 30 light machine gunmounted on the handlebars _ a

combination In w1cH-spread use,(Modern History Musevm.

Llubjianal 19

20

(;o/lIIlIlr/lt. -ll1n'€' ~old :.1.U·,

{All in,i~ni;l Jur "1..'11(.'1":.,1 "nlj 1..'" II{"rL' 1Il0lllHCd Ull It'd h"ll..'!1UllIl(ho 0 •

•11l.lpan frum 'fI''''l IIJ:'tp.hal nl lht' l'lIJpir(" IflHlIIlIl'c!lIl a r~cl;ang:ul;lrIt°d f"!lllt":}

(~w'm/, ,It bnf(fl(tj - Olll' guld ,tarvllnul,. Iii d,t"\lIJ/iP - two gold <;1:11...

CnU'Tfl/, til rmlJO tI'",-l//rlla- 1\\0 gold ~laf' n'llll..ing: gold crU\"!l

(;'111'17111' dtUj.,'7UI/fJ II iUII/fI(" - II\( I g'uld 'I.if'" lIalll..iuj.{ I-\uld tTl)WIl :l1Icl

loCCplrl"

(;/'I/I'mll' ",/rl1lo/l/ - Ihro;;T gold SI.lI"SMf//1'vritt/f(J "'I!,,{ifl- fOllr gold ,tar'>,

"rill/f) I/I(/f'IV;lIlIlJ rll'll'IlII/)('1"O - .~otd engk dutch illg ra,n'~

Officers' peaked service caps

\\';th the ilurorlunioll III the Hl;~~ lI11ilunn a tll'\\ 1\ IW ul I)<.;'akcd sen"iccGlp for "mel' ..... replaced I..he .;;lin l..q>j worn ,inn: 1909. The Glp wa~

made of '";Idou.) 1Il.lIe.;.. "- till: culour "aryioK fr'om Illousc-gn·\ 10 llic""U:'lI gn:\--gI ...·t,'11 with it blueish tint. Th~ cap had a blad, leather I><:a"ami chilhlrap. TIl(" crO\,'U \\<1;> itl li,"'t tp,ih' 10\\, but 1:t1er became highl'l.11 thl.· fnHlI and .lcquirl-'tl it l.t:rlll:mic appearance, Glp badg(>~ 1\C'n:ll~ualh 1ll.ldl.' of ~old wirf" for rhe ,\1"111\' and "iI\!.-·r fOi lhe" \1\'5:'\, Ran"s

BelOW (t.e"l An Inlantry eaptainposes proudly lor the cameras

a"er teeeivi", the Iron Cross

2nd Class at an award eeremony.He wears an otrteer's pale

btJstina and a M1033 Whitesummer tunte:, with the yellow

and blue eollar patehes 01 the

'Torino' Division, He hllS M1940

yellow euff ranking r..ed 10 his

old tunie, and already wears a

Gennan ribbon in his buttonhole- presumably the War Merit

Cross. The italian award on his

breast pocket I, the silver CSIRFronte Russo badge,

{Second Ie"' An lnlantrylieutenant-eo!onel 01 the

'Sassan' Or 'Macerahl' Division

on OI;<:upoation duties in

Vvgos!avia, weari", M1934

serric:e cap and tunic and IronCross 2nd Cl..... ribbon,

(Second rightl A Carabinieri

(contmued opposaeJ

'conrfflUed from tJa98 20joffieer wears the Mt 1134 serviee

c:ap WIth a white summer tunle.

(Righll A major of a hone

artillerY regiment has justrec:e",ed an Italian medal. He

wears a fine-qlHllity, pale,

private_purchase _rvlce unifonn

01 M19.0 cut. The artillery eollarpalettes are a single bla.c;k ftame

piped with orange-yellow: Ihe

CSIR silver breast badge shOws

Clellror In this image. (Vlleltl

Arc:hlve}daf

A oerrrwn general prese"ls an

Iron Cross to a Italian eol-onel of

the 'Torino' Oivistoo I" Russia.".. recipienl is wearing .. darker

than usual wool btJstina with hIs

standard greY""9reen wool M1040

unifom>. Behi"d the two offieersa d......ional general already

dlsplilying the Knight's Cross and

Iron Cross 1s1 Class Is wearing a

lighter grey eordell/no lunie Dnd

cap, ilUowlng eomparlson of Ihe

shades. (Robert Sledma"

Colleetlonl

\\l"" Itldil.lll·d h\ ;1 "l'I;('" (II h,IIH!' ,UIIlII1IIIIll.' I>;'t"e-: t!ltc'''e ·t.I!>(....· \\('1"('

I{Jllllll tln'p, ,lI1fi \\cre 1Il,ldt' 01 ~()ld bl";\;11 folh)\\in~ III\' ",lllIt' I~m"

'('<]111.'11(' a, IIMt u,,('d ill Iht: uill ran" ill,ig-Ill,I- e.~. thr('l" thin h;lIu!.. fillI(I/Jilt/IIU, 1'\0 thin ,11)l1\t' OIW thid.. fOl II'IIPllf,'wlollfllo (-ec l:h.ln Ull p;\J.{e

-tIl, TIl(' h;IlIt!, \\('1," t11\idt"d h\ thin pIping, !-:"('IIl'r"lh 01 Iht' .....11llt:m.lIl.'Ii,.1 .•" Ih,' (,Ill hILI in "l:nin' br.lllchl.'" m;.dt' ill lltt' l)r.lrlCh (01011I,t".Io;. li}.(ht blue lor ,ht· \ ,·It·rill,tn (.orp". (;1'111.'1 ..1 ullin~""" Irulll tht'" r.lnk ofhrig:adit'l 111'\\.11 (b h.•d .1 ~ih ('1' hand of IIll' ",lIll,' .1..171'('// t'lllhrllitlen ,l" u,,·t!IIIl the fllih. I\ith a ~t'ri,,~ ul pt.lill 1\ih,... balld~ aho\'l'. ;Iccordillg' ll) 1.1ll"-

Alpinl headgearIll(' Alpini I\'on' a "IW( ial J.:1"t·\·gl"l.'t'll bl illlllll"d It'll hal: Oil lhl' kf! "ide\\,1' ,(1)(1l!l'pOll ()f hn,,, fO\l'ring"tltt' llllllllli lUI ,11t-alher. F()l u!lwr l~lJll.."

lhi~ \\,1" ('o\.llIn·d ill b,m,llion ~f'<]U1'IJ('(' - I\hilt, lor 1"1 611. It·t1l\lr~I1t!.

g-n'I'll lot :ktl .mt! him' lUI 1111 B.maIiOll. 1'01' nllin'r~ the ho", 1\.1' gold,lIlCl 101 .!.,(l.·nt"ral~ ~ih"('t', Rail", \\1"-1' ,11"11 "Iltl\\ll h, Iht.' "illd fll !calh(·r\\.Irll: a 11'0"\ Ie-ather fOI ,lllw'r '~IIlJ....." ,IIHI 'C.O,. ,Ill c;l!4k k.l1hl·r lor(lOin'" :lIlC!;t gUI"'> f('.llht:1 for g~IR'I~lh. I ht' ,\Ipini \\("1'1' H'n pluml ulIlwir tr.ldition~ :lIld p.trIi("uLlrh dwli"het! till.' It'll h.lt - '>0 milch '0 th"1'IOitt'!"" \\IHI hael "Cnt:d ill lht'" .\Ipini ;11 am Ilnlt· prl',iOlhh dtl1in~ t..Ill:ir(";In·l.... \\Ollid "f!t'l1 ll11ulli,i,llh COlltinue It) I\ear il. Alpini ullin'I'" nll1":.l\lTe \\"Oln on tlli' kfl ~i(\l' Ill' lIlt· llal lk·llillt!lhe lealher in Ill" 101'111 IIIilIH·r1l.'d J.:old ht~lid dleHOIh in lilt' thll,ll "'·'tlll·lIll·. c.g, tl\ll thinch('\rrlll~ lor '''//fIIl,', t~lll' lhill '/I"{'r olle thi("1.. lnl· llillf{i!;llll"", I'lt. (,t'lll't,11onker~ hold ,I "ih·t:r bel' rhomboidal hox ill Ilw same pI.1Cl·, willI Ofl,' :tile!

t\\" "1,11"" ill Iht> ct:nu·l.' for bril-folde am! dilj"iol1:11 W·tll..'I~ll" "'~P'·(li\·l.·h,

Steel helmetsTIll.' ,lalJ(!;lld ~1("'1 ht'lmellh(:d h\ tilt' h,lli;1ll ,\1111\lllrllllRhOll1 lht, pt'riod\\,1" lh(" ),119:t\ I\!lichW.I' illiroelll("('d ill lhal

\C,tL Thi" \\':1'" painu'dJ.:lt'\-gn~el1: wail IYI~ it""",llh 11:((1 :. hlal" ~tCll~

cilled hr;lllch III "en in'

had!,;l' 011111(' lroll! I\'ilh thi'1l11111Ill"r of tilt' \luit ill IhL"Cl·ntn'. !Jllrillg' till' l':trhl<tl11paigll~ th,' old \ll~116

. \dri:Ill' hdlllel \\d" ,till ill

tl~ with .,OI1J(" IInih "Hch

.l" .\nti-.-\ircr:lf, Iroop'.lilt' Sanitan LVI p' ;u,d.Black.>.hin..,· IIni". C(,:t't.IJdi\isiol1.'> fonnen in 1~1:\9-4:\

1tI (It-fcnd Ihe cU:btline 01!l,th I\l.·rt" ""j"(IlI(\-litlt: lilliI-"

,HId m:'lr1\ of thl:"I' ItOOp""(Till illSt) lU h;I\ ...• \\(lrll th~'

r\drian hdlll~'1. 21

23

TWo Alpini 01 the 'Monle Cervino'Ski On in Russia draggl"i kit ona 'ledge. Both wear the two­piece white camouflage suit.Issued mainly to the Alpini;unusually they are not weari"ithe white helmet co...er; note the

black stencilled Alplnl badj1e onthe grey-green paint finish. andalso the crow's leath., risinglrom its boss on the lett ,ide ­this was attached by a wire clipwhich passed unde, the helmetrIm, Unique to this corp.'equipment are the lour whilenedcan...as po\>Ches on the belt.(USSME)

Sokliers from the 'MonteCervino' Bn _ari"i the l>elmetcover. with the leathe, aIlached.

Note the wrist and ankle strapsof the Iwo....iece snow svit, andat lett the rear detail of the fou....pouch ammunition belt. see alsoPlate F3. (Ma,co Novaresel

\kmiOll 'holild ,,1'0 I)t"m,lrll' 01 the ~re\-grcel\

Iluollcll capi..· IHlnl b\ lhe1,111" dnd fill'. t"pl,("j:tll~

dUI illg" the earl\ part or the\\'.11". rhi" wa, a [...1l(;e·JcI1~th

pUllCho \';Ih ,I I:lrgc cullar\lhidl fastened:1I 111l' neck,

Ahhnugh of 'Irchaic apl>­eJI,mcL' Ihe capt.· did giH'Iud" needed <''''-:1 prn­

It·( 111111 \,hen wt.',uinK tht'

ptll,r-qualil\ gn:atcCJat. andlid' popular with tT'lI(JP~

'lit II ;L" I1w ,\Ipini whoLll t>d coldcr condilions.I ILL' main pallt·nt 01 c-apl.'ill "'1: w;\:. llll' ~l ]1.107. and

;lllhollg'h a kUI:1' I~Pl' \I-.IS

illlrndllced it \l'a<; {''i~l'n·

llollh the :.ame as the earlil'r

mudd.

Winter clothingI ilL' It.llian .\.nll\ W;'I~ St.'1II10 light in Rll ...~b \lilh lilll!' '1)('6<11 ('quipmentm dUlhil1g :.lIil,lbll' for the je\cre conditions thai 'he\' \\Imld ~"co.unt~·r

lh("ft.· - Italian llnifunlls had nOI 1'\l'1I been adequale for Ihe- hg:lllllIg III

(.1 L·I.·Il' in the winter of IYoJll -I I ..-\.\, tilt' CSIR \\t.'re 1I~lIhpOrl('d throllg-hF.t'U-nl [lirnpL' b\ tl~lil1 their cOllll11,mder. C-<-'n ~k"l'. tuollll.lllel-" inlOhI'> 01\11 hands, Whi1~ in Rllln;ll1ia ItL' bouglll ,I br~t' Illllllher of nt't'('L'

h,ll~ to is~uc I,D the troops - IOCilih C;tlkd r;WlllfI. IILe,l' \\"l're cOlTlll1onl>1\0111 by Ihe RliltlilniHII poplll:l1ion, Al1nlhcr 11'1ll' of' llec(e.. lim.'d hal

Greatcoats

r!lC' "Iandard ;tlfal1ln gn':ncoa\ Ihrotl,l.(htJlIl Iht' \\":If \\~h IhL' ~1193oJ

,inglc-hl'easll.'d pallcrn. \\'hieh lIitS mad.. frolll a cO;lr~e 1,001 cloth or a

"\lllhC'tic' mate-rial 1.llkcl 'Lallital'. CO:ll~ made [rom lhl' l,tlll'!" \1('1'1' ...aidIII 11.111' l)(:t·1I \·inlt.llh thele"s. as the 1lI.tlcrial had no \\~tnllth-gi\'ing

prllpt-nie":"It .111. fhe gl·c.lleoal had t\\l1 ,idt' pockl'ts \,ilh flap:., and 1\,'0

,I<I'h chest pocL.ct.<. \,hidl conle-lllt' u'L'cI for \\-arllling tht' h,lmk till.' iilclrolll bUHon" \\t·rt· co\en'd \Iith a lh flap. and lht· ('(\;It had plain"holllcl(-'r "lI.lP~. In<;igni:l Ull the guo-.lIcoat wI're u$ualh limited to \,hile

llIelal national st:tr~ Ull the cullar illld r.mL. cht'."\Tnn~ uti the upper!Iolcc\c. The rnotlnlt'(\ II·OOps· \·el-..ion IIMI a broadt,J' <;h:IIII collar and

mort' gt'Il('fOll"l\ cm ~kin.l<,

A \\'7Irmel". paddl'd, doul)k-lm'a'lccI I"t.:f~ion I,'jlh a relllo\'abll' cloth

lining-abu (;:-.:i~lt'd, bill il is 1101 knowTl illhcst· \\\::rt.: gem'lOll i'~lll' or were

acquired onh b\ tht' lucl\ k\\'. A doubk-brc<lslI·d IkcCL'·lillt'd coal i.s also

'l'I'n ill photos of CSIR ollict.:r'i. TIlt' wllldard ollic(:r" grt.·alCll<l1 wasdouble-bre;L~Il'd alld Illilcle from high qualil\ \\'oolkll Chill,. "Olllt:times

of;1 nOlin'ahh lighler grt'\; it had tWtl 1'\1\\" of Ihrt"t' frollt bunons. and110 <;houlder "traps. ~ihcl' "wno IIl'rt' \1'01"11 on the poinb of tIll.' large

rollar. :md ranl i1hib'llia on the forearm!>.

Olhl'r I\'IX:" of office.... · CoalS st"en in tl'e includl'd a \t>n populardoublt.'·brtlSlt>d '"indehe"IL'r' "-pt.' ('l'C Plate (3). II \\~15 made- fmm

hard-wcaring /)ru\\'11 cam"3Swith a c:II1\·01" belt and

brO\\'n leather shoulderpatches, A d:lr" 1>1'0\'11 Or

bl:u;k kllll,cr double­

brcasted coat "<IS al~o secJlbill \\";:L<; not in \\'idl'~pread

tl~: this \\~h of Ihe same~t\le as the lemher coalSissued 10 tanl ("I'l'\'-" (seePlate D I) ;Illel m:l\' ha\'e

been purchased pri\<ltelrb... indi\idual:.. As in C\'cI1arlm. offiCe-no ah,~t\"S had

tht.' option of bmillg bener{'{Jllipmelll than theirM;mdard paltern. ;lIld tbis

\Ias plirliclilarh' Inle "'hell

i I came 10 coats,~__"~·,""",""oL

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Ollt' illiernling- fllOlll(lIe i~ Ih.u phulograph, (If lilt' tig-illing \,ith

FI~tll("t· in Ihl' \\'e-'lem .\lp' in JUIl(' 19·40 ~how "Ollle ~Idier; of lhe'C""LTia' InJ:ultn Dili,illll \\'l'aring IhL' C:1(~ch()<.lcn-ali,1II ~1l9;\llwhneL

It b. nUl I..Il0wII \"1\ lilt" 1t,Ilian .\rlll\ 'huulcllx' \\L.,tring ,hl ',<" lu,'lmets ai

111;11 lillie or from \,hal"UUrCf" lhl'\ eamL': Ihe nnh IUJ.{ical c:-.pl.mation isIh:H lht'\ \,ere ~upplil,t1 h\ IIII' Col'nn.lm lrom :.Iock. acquin·c1 follm,ingIhl' f)ccupalion uf C/I'("hll~IO\"':lki.l in I Y:~~J.

In this~ phototraph acaptain hands over mall fromhome to one 01 hi, men. Twotypes 01 fleece hat .,. beIngWOrn: the offiee, ha, the patternIssued mostly to the Alplnl InRussia, and the $<Ildler the'dacula' acquired In Rumania.The private Is also wearing thepadded versIon 01 the M1934greatcoat, which I' double_breasted and hn a removablelining. His bandolier has a8ersaglleri-type ammunitionpow;h allached to the end,suggesting that he belongs tothat corps. (Robert StedmanCollection)

22

24

An Inlantry officer on the Eastern

Front wears 1M type 01 'Ieeeecap generally seen In use by the

Alplnl: typically, he has the

brll:neh/rtl9lment badge from a

bust/rill sewn to the frOnt flap.

The greatcoat Is double·breasledwith a deep (:ollar, and lIaeeelining can be seen at the open

neck. {Frnnco Mealu"nl Archive')

\\0111 h~ thl" It;tli:tll~ rc-,j'lrlhkd tilt' Soviet paltelll, \Iilh l,.'ar 11;1])' \\liichcould he worn lip 0" dOIIl1. Tid, Illw II;!:!> i"lIed In Iht· .\Ipini In quitebfY;~ llmnbl:]", alld IIftt'll h.Hl ,I Im,llIlu haclg'l' It:WIl 10 tht" IrOll1.

111 \Ill>\\'\ cunditio,,, 1\\0 "'IW' 01 'Ihilt: 1\\'(rpil:C(' CO\CClll\ WITt

.lpp.m·mh w.ed in Rll~\i.1. rile lir~l h.ld bCl'11 (\ndopt·d hdcln' Ill<.' war;).nd i~lIcd hl ,...rit,u,> unit\; it 111.[\ hale' IWell llIH:,·-pl(~("e. but detaih arc

dubin.'. TIl<-' "<-'("(>lid 1\ pc wa" a r\..o-pien· "llit \,illl a dl ,\11"11 il1g-fa"lclU'd\tIllar and \lTIst "traps on th<-·j,lcl..tet ,md .llIl..k "It .Ip" (Ill IIw loo"c·fill..ingIrQUk'r". Thi:,> lW\, 1\ IX' "I'<-'Ill" 10 h.l\ I' hn'n i"" ,ed III Ihe .\lpini IIlIh, andp<-'rhap" unll to .1 fe\, ","k" llnil~ "lIch .1" tlh' '~IUll1<-' Ccnillu' Ski1~,ltl,l]iIHl ("ee 1'1:11<: Fj). I'riolit\ ill 111<-' i'~llt, l,f II,t,'<t, "Uil" "cellb alwa\'S10 h.IH:' lx.'cn e'yo\{:,d fil... th hI lht· \Ipilli. ,llld tht'n h\ lhe Ikr~,aglicri,asIhc~ Mt' Ih(.' truop" ""u:llh "n'n wearin!!: lhcm,

\\'l1it(.' call\"aS helmet CO\'t'r" \,en' \,orn Ilith tlh' \lhil(' cO\er:llh, andWllletiml'S with till' grt·\i.Tft·I'1l 1I11if"nn. "'llpli"mgh. Ihe \Ipim ~till \\oreIllcil ('(1]1)III"(.'d POlll-lxlIl ,llld fcather on thl' \,hilt' helllleltlller. I,'hichIIIIl"t ha\(' rather deft":ued the Ubjl-<:I tit till' CInHlunagl·. SlIllIe -\lpini\\'ere t:'It::'n *t'll HI l,e,11 Ihl'ir fallHtll" fdt 1Mb, \';Ih Ih", brim pllllt:'d down,11 Ill(' bad, to i,<l\l' a lillie n,tl"a prmcclioll Irom tht' cold. Lud.,1 "o]diersllli~hl abo rl'cl'in' a I.uulb\loul "liIlO,1I 10 Iw I,orn \I'ilh Ihl' whiteet)\{:'I-alk ag-aill. thc~ 1't::'IC lar~dl i",m'd 10;1 kw dill' uni!.",

.\p<lrt fmm IIll' {'(IH'rall" 10thl'-liltillg \lhill' luxxkd GilX:''' I,'cre ,11:-0\lorn. nle-\Jpini Iud a <;(K'"a!l(.'d '(fIl"i'f1~'cilJ: "0 high" Ilt,lI il I'~" II"lI,lIh'worn o\(~r the top ullhe ullilurm. hl'lIm'l ,1Ild ('(luipmcllllor ~uard dut\.

Foul\\l:"<If "till brgl'h {'(1I1"1"lt'd I)f Ihe "lalld,lrel hobn,likd I)I)VI, \I hichW:L" of lillk 1I"t:' III extreme cold .ll1d c;lU'<t'd largt' 1Il1lt1lx"'" of frll"rbitec;lslIalties, "k-qUl"S.... frllm thl' .lflll\ ill Ru,,,ia f(,r kit hoOl~ like the ~.:)\lCl

t'(lI,.iki fell Ull deaf ea,...: li\...(' the other ,muie" 011 lhe Rtl!'.."i;lIl From theIr,lli,lI1\ \lurt' imprmlsed 100111'(',11 10 In 10 prolcU Iheir fecI. though"01111' ~oldier:,> \,'I'n' is:me<i I,ith GIllI;L" u\(Thoot", which helped greall~.

Sp<'cial I,ilrtt-'r c!IHlli,IJ;"01 all rlpl'" wa~ ah'~l\.. in "horl "lIppll :l'ld tilern;~jllllt~' of "ol<li"l-'; 011 rht' Ihl"sian Front h,lcltu 1ll,lkl' do I..ith lhe hasictlllift)nn wilh the addition ofl\(I()1 glmi''', ,,(',Int'" and b:,lad,I\";IS.

Chemical and burn protectionSp('cial prolt'(1he ('[othiliA: I,'a:,> 1,'Iml IJ~ "pt'dali,t troop', and included a~~TC\ asbcstoll lluil I\hidl wa, "uppo"ed 10 he wom b.. flame·throwerIlperalor", Tllt'jackel was dOllhk·brc:t:'>led, lite righr side Iwirlg prrlledano...s rhe che"r :'md fastening IeI'd I' i lh llll' ld'l an rr, Bor h lite l'ollar :mdc\lffs fastl'ned lighll> I,irll hUlltlll'" and whl'n worn with lilt' loose·fillinglrull,"cr~ and a hood ~I\·t' OH~t;\1l prolCctiol1 11) lht' bod\', Thl' hood"l'I'III" 10 han' Cl)me in 111'0 I\Ve:.: 0111;: iliCOrp{)I~Ht'd l.{og-!{1e~. and theother' left the fact:' e"qxlwd and \1''''' \\'urn whit a ~sll1a:'>\... without theGllli"ll'r fiul:'d, .-\1thollgh rht' "Ilit lllmt h:l\e bccn Icn hot mrd uncom·fonahle ir W:h worn en"n in thl' I'XtrCllll' hC.ll uf:'-Jonh .\fl'ica. ]Iuwl'\·er.photo,'p-aphic 1'l'idt:llU' illdicatn lhal man\' flame-Ihrower operaLOrsWl'lI1 inlO anilHl \\'illl no prou·cth(.' ~(':tr at all- I,!lelhel' hI elwin' III' by11l'n',,~it\ i" not kl1own,

on\(:, del'e!opml'lll oj chemicil 1"lrfarl' had bl'l'o j:;"hl'lI ... gn'at clt'al ofemphasi~ in Ihe prl'-war \\·<It.... 111(' 1t.IHan" had lI:,>ed g;:IS in bOlh theirCOmllll'''l of Elhiupia ,md the "lIppl'C~ioll of ldx:l1ion ill Lil}\,t in theI~)~(k. C1u.:'mic;lllroop~,,'ere i""lIcd lIilh ruhbl'ri'-t,cl (0\t'1~11l,> "imilar 10

2

WESTERN ALPS, 19401; Gunner, 58th ArtIllery Reg\, 'CaglIatt • Inf DIv2: Caporale, 8WI IntMtJy Reg\, 'CoNtINI' Inf DIv

3: Sefvente, "VIII d'OI"co' an.4th Alpine Reg\, .,.~'AlpIne DIv

3

A

B

GREECE, 1940-411:~ 31.t 1m Re1lt. 'SMnII' kif Dtv2: SoId8tD. 77th 1m Regt, 'lIJpl cI T",*-' lilt DI¥

3:~ .......1.~ LegIon MVSN, 1Q41

,3

GREECE, 1940-411: CapItano, 'EdoIo' Alpine en, 5th AIplne Regt, 'l'I1dentInII'~ DI¥

2:~cI~Army~llMO

3:~. 54th Inf Regl, 'Sfon:~'1nfDIV, 1M1

, 3

c

YUGOSLAVIA, 19411: T-me, 'C&ntauro' Armoured 0Iv

2; S&rgente, 3rd Motorcycle Coy, 3rd 8erIagllerl Regt, 3rd Celere 0101 'PrincIpe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta'3; Capor1lle mellillil!ore, 23rcI Sect«, Frontier Guaf'ds

RUSSIAN FRONT, 1941-431: $oId8to, 'SlIvola' Dntgoon Regt:, 19412; Cossack volunteer, Gruppo SaYoia, 1M23: Camlcla nere soeIta, MYSN 14th M Bn 'L.eonessa'. '23 Marzo' Reglmentlll Group,1941

D

2 3 2 3

E

RUSSIAN FRONT, 19421: Volunteer, italian ero.tlan L.e&1on2: 8ef'gente, 79th I'" Regt, 'Puublo' Inf Dlv3: Alplno, 'Monte Cervlno' Ski a.ttaIlon

OCCUPAllON OF YUGOSLAVIA., '941-431: Cepe rmlnlpolo, MVSN 67th Bn 'T_'; Olllmatia. 1942

2: SoIdeto, 84th .'" Regt, 'VeneZJe' Inf DIY, 19423: Capo ItqUItdra, MVAC; Dalmatia. 1942

F

, 3, 3

G

OCCUPATION OF THE BALKANS. 1941-431: V,ee-brig<ldiere, 81h Bn, Royal Finance Guard; Greece, 1941

2: Appunlato, 13th Mobile Bn. Royal Carabiniers, 'Firenze' Inl Diy; Albania, 1942

3: Sergente maggiore. 27th Bn. 11th Barsagl;",1 Aegt, lSI Celere Diy 'Eugenia di Savoia'; Yugoslav;a

H

, 3

the !l:l1lw-throwl':t" "llit but ljghl~r f1uinf{ ;Irnllncl the face and olhert'xllt'miries. Cnbe;lrably hOI even in the sOlHhem European climate.lhe~\' '\t~rt:' soon dis(Qll!i Ilued II liell Ihe Ihn::a! tlf chtillical \\"..lrfilH: btkd.

Other prOlt'rtil'(' ile1l1.~ inclllded :lSbc"II)~ 1l1illetl~ worn bv machinegUll erel"s when ch;lng-ing" the hot batrels of their ,,-capons. Gn:,.'\'-grt'l:tlk'llht'r gimes Wilh ringmail protecting the p<llnl~ were also UM.::d bylll()nar and lllachitw gUll (T(>\I'~ for the ~anl(" n'a~on,

FatiguesF,llig-u{' llnifonns wcr(' i~Slll'd hI hl' II'On1 as work c1()lh("~ whenpt'l ll)rlllill~ menial ttl.$ks in the barracks and on work details. The\lllifllrtlL cunsisled uf a Illeelill111 grey loo~e-fiuillg COIIOtl jacket ,melp,L1H;'!OOl1 trouSt:ni mad" of poor qllality m:uerial. Insignia on IheL111i1unn consisted of white c101h stars on the collar. and r'ank chevrons"III're appropriate, There is e\'idence (hal fatigl((;s were SOlllt:lilllt:S wornun the march in Sll11lnlcnime. pr(,~ulll:lbl)' 10 Si\\'{' wear and leu un thetP~'\-green woo]lIlliform and for greater comfort.

*Personal equipmentrhl' ~talldard rille '''-<is eill1(;1' Lht: (0.11891 ~lalllllitllCI' CarCltll0 in 6.5111111or TIll' slighlly modl'rni.~Nl 1'<1 1891 /19~8 \'t'rsion firing;' 7.~5mlll round;t:,lfh had a six·rolllld fixed mag-azine.

The Italian soldier's personal equiprncl1\ in the inf:llllry and otlter11IlrrlOIlnll'd hratldl('s cUllsi"tl'd ofa grt'y"gr('I'1l k;lllwr hettll'ilh a sitlgle­eLI\\' buckk usually \fom on:scr 10 the lell. "1\1"0 leather canridg-e­pouches \,'crc wurn Log-ether at the front, each carrying fOllr six-rollnd

A mixed group of sii soldiers

stand In a Russian town having

Just received medals lor bravery.

From lett to right, a se'1l'entemaggiore and two privates of the

Bersaglleri; a caporale maggiore

of artillery; and an officer and

se'1l'ente maggiore of Infantry,

The three Bersaglieri and theartilleryman are wearing the

greatcoat Issued to mounted

troops with the large shawl

collar. The Infantry Officer wears

the Officers' double-breasted

model of the M1934 9reatcoat,and the NCO the single-breasted

version. There is also an

interesting mix of equipment; the

two Bersaglie.i privates wear

their own special belt with twosmall cartridge pouches, the

gunner the two-pocket bandolier,

the infantry officer a 'Sam

Browne' belt with holstered

Beretta M1934, and the Inlantry

NCO the standard belt with twinpouches. (USSMEj

(lips vf rilk ammuniliun.Thnl' \ll.:re "llppOllt'd hI,I IOllp('d "trap I\hi( Iila:)l~ned to D~ring<; hehinrl,he pouches and pa!'-"ed,lrOlllld 111(' ned.. - frolll lht· "<"\'It"I"poinl 01 \"eig-hl di~lri­

hutioll Ihi, wa.' a poorelc!l·.. il-:l1 Ih,lIl Ihe ,: ur ,­'",IP~ u:;ed In otht'r annlt'~.

The IXl\onel \I-,b carriedin :t nutl'lI grel lIlelal,cahbard faslenC"d to 111<.'

bdt ,It the Ieli hip b\'lIIc;lI\"of a gn'~-g!'(:clI It-atherfroA"' An entrc!1chinA" 1001could abo be- \I"{lrn un lhe1)1'11 ill a combination frog'with tIlt: ha\"tllH'1.

The ~1I93Y kn:.llhack \\onl un tlte back acculI1odatct! the soldier'sPI'I ,on<ll \...il. Slung O\er the righl :.huulder hc <tho ran icc! :l g:a:'llla~\... hag01 dthn ~11933 or i\r 1935 lIIodel. A liJ.:"hl call'~~ h:t\·et....lck or '''Ielicallxlg' I\<IS also sOlIwumc:. carried slung: and both I"pe~ of gasma..k bag'('ned .I!'- ex (1";1 :.IO\I<lgt:' ~paCt· I,hell the gasm:ts\... 1,,1' di:-cankcl afll'r thelhre:u of h'd'> atl;lc\'" dimilli~ht'li. FllIled l\luminiulIl wah'rlxlu!es. wom,lung o\t"r tht:' left ~houldel'. came in two different :.ill·' - ..I hlrgt.·rl,lpaci" 1\ IX' \,,~ b"ued tll ,\Jpini.

Thc mO:oot IIp-tcKI;ltC item - \,ell ahead of ib lillie \\lwl1 fi ....1introduced - \\-as the ;\119:"»"-) camounaged tent :'>t"clion 01' :.heller quaneI'.Oftighll~ I,men COtton duc\... plinted with a camolillage panefll offorcstgrl.-·('n. dlc,mUl brOlm and gl'l.... lhi, could hejoinf'd Wilh 011,('1"" 10 makea lig-hl tenl. It could also be adapled Jor \,'ear as a poncho \dlich g'wt"proteCiion against the e1eI1lCrlL~ as \,ell as prodding good c,lIlloLlJlagc.

CroatIan Legion volunleers en

rou'e for the Russian Front

parade their "eg - note the

'vandyked' edging In the oldAustOO-Hungarian style - and the

MVSH penl\llnl which shows that

'hey weAl offieially part of that

orvanisation. On the lett afl'/l 0'

l!'te nag-bearer. gAla'eoal eanbe seen the eh.equerboard shield

01 the Legion. and on the collar

the white ~tal fasees of the

MVSN. (USSME)

Russle, 1942: lhe crew of a

41mm antI-tank gun prepare lor

aclion. By this stage in the war

the '47132' had becomeinelleeliva a9ainst Soviet afl'/lour,

bul these were lhe best lhe

Italians had - and even they weAl

In shan supply. In this cold lhe

erew hava only the standardSlngla-breasled greatcoats wTth

baleelavas aod gloves. (USSME)

1/ll~li/j(L, ,'xacth til(' sameas lht' 1{rc\"-grcen .\nn~{\"J't" bUl d~ed hlacl.... These.;"ere \\orn from Ihe mid­1930:00 ,Ind \,'ere \'enpopular \,'ilh ollicers of Ih~'~I BilliaIiOIl\·.

TIll' ~l\'SN had a com­plcteh' diITerem rank S\"Slemba.o;ed Iloljonall~ (In anciclIlImlx'rial Roman titles._-\hhough some ~l\ 'S1'\ rankshad direcl equi\<iknb ill theRO\<i1 Anm'. olhers did not(S{.'C chan on pag-e 12).

Foreign volunteers:Albanian troopsAlbanian ~IVS:\ Li.:gion

\Ollllllcers wore a l\hilC fell fCI I,'ith thc Blackshirt hadge orl the front;l11i\ dOt·, M'elll frol1l photographic ('\;dence m have been I\'on} innmlb:lI ..I[ollg-~ide the \l193:~ hl..'ll1wt. Thl' rest of the 1I1lirOflll andin:ooigniil wcr~ of ~lalldard ~IVS:\ t\IX:' the vnl~ (Hher di'linguishingfe.1tI1l e being a ,mall round I);ll...elile hadge \I"om un the left slee\'e (secl'l,lle B:{).

G'1cci.l1ori d·.\lbania unib raised ill 19-11 \IUfC normal lIalianuniforlll wilh lheiruwn cull.lr in,ignia. Thi~ consisted ofa red patch \,;tI)hhli' e<lge alld;1 black di:t~onal ~Iript'. bearing a while metal 3Illclorx:­cre:)(t"d ·Sk.'1.l1derbeg· helmel ilbo\~' the usual "tar,

The _\lbanian RO\,11 Guard wore 'landaI'd halian unifonn \\;th apurple T-,haped collar il1~i~llia I';lh a smr and:m antelope head lts wornon the Skanderbef{ helmt:1. The\ also \,"orc tilt:' ~119:\3 ~ted hdmel \,'ilh,I blilcl... ~Iellcilkd Skandt'rlx-p; helmet on the frolll,

MVSN AND FOREIGN TROOPS'UNIFORMS

The ~IVS:'\' or Blad.shirlllllits \\"ore lhe same basic llllili.lfI11 as lhe Roya!1\rIllV "illl a fcw slighl dirfcrCl1re~.

Collar il\~ihrnia 011 th,: standard nmic was a black double name with <I

small ~ih'er fasces instead of lhe star of thl:" Ro\'al .\1"111\. The 'MBaH,thOU)' h,ld a red st\li~cd !cUe!' ~I (III the blac\... IhllllC' with the ~ihcr

fa~cl" pa!>~ing Ihrnugh it. B1,le\... COli 011 ~hiru \,'ere oflen \\11111 under theIUnk instead of Ihe gre\i;reen Afl1l\ l\-PC: and a nan'O\\ blad.. :.uilX' \\~<b

often \,om dO\I n the :.ide of the IXllllilloons. Thoe ,\cn.: oftcll wurn WilhhlaC'k \\001 "OCh pulll'd up 10 jll" belOl\ tht" I...net'. and ')\el" the lOpof the"e a pair of white sods ,,;th Ihe lOpS rolled down over Ihe lOpuflhe booL

Coml,.11 headgear \',1' the 1I\lIal ~11933 ~tecllwhll('l: hill ;1 \{lfl hlacl...fell ft:'1 \\;111 a hanging las:ood '''IS wom instead of Illl' Im..uirw. and

34 sometimes in comb:tL One item IIniqu~ to lhe ;\I\"S:-: \\,ts the hl,tel...

OPPOSITE Slovenlan MVAC

reerul,s parade with their Italian

eomrades; all wear lhe blaek

beret in widespread use by lhesetroops, Cap badges were either a

silver death..·head or II small

Roman sword with a round

buckler in Ihe eentre. The tunles

and trousers 01 tha rank and fila

would aP98ar to be M1940italian Issue dyed black. while

the MVAC ot!"oeer on the right Is

wearing greY-ireen (nota the

light eolour 0' the lUlian oKoeer's

u"ilorm). Ri'l.. and equipmentare ell Italian Army Issue; this

group seem IO<I!ry well dressedand kitted out. (Modem History

Museum, Llubjana)

MVAC troopsThe Yllgo,ladan :\IVAC vol­unteer:. wcre dressed in awide V<lricl} of uniformswi! h each re!{ion having:its own distinCt Lvpe:these often included it mixof harian ilnd pre.'-w:<rYllgo~la\'ian Am1\' items.SIO\enian \"Olulllccr, \\'oret.'ither lI.dian or Yugo­sl:,,;al1 !Ullin, iniliallv \\;thYugo..la\;.lIl ,idecaps. Thewearing of bbck bercts was\\idespread, and these \\'ereusuallv adorned withbadges uf all(' of IWO Iypcs.

One had a ,lull \\;Ih either 35

,I

t,,,,,•

36

A group 01 Alplnl arWlerymen In

shirt sleeve order manhandle 8

6Smm mountain gun during an

anti·partisan operation in

Yugoslav!a. Some 01 them have

put sprigs of foliage in their hat

bands. With their cotton shirts

they wear the wool pantaloon

trouse.... in a 100M and baggystyle often _ 8ntOni the

Alpini. (James Bun!)

no~sed bonn h~hillcl illll' a tlag-W'I' ill iL~ ICt'lh: t!ll' other \\";I~:l simpleglat/ill) S\ford. sornetillle~ "ilh a srnall rOlllu! ~hi<.:ld ill 1'10111.

[11 19-12 rllt' lla1iall~ issw.:d ~ol1le ,'oI1l11l{'ers with ~.!)OO lropinduniform.. dn:d a l;tll or light brO\\'l1 colour. Sllwcnian 1\1\':\C "l)lull!ecrsl\t're abo b$ued b\ earh' 19-1;1 with a wintCl" uniform II hich consiswd ofa bl.lck u\('rco:l1. jacket and trou$t'r<: \,"orn \Iith :l. Ilhilt" ,hin. SollieSlonmian M\'AC OffiCTI' "'('re aho pro'ick-d b' lh('ir emplovcf": \Iithgood qllalit~ Italian onicers' uniform"

,\11\ ChcUJik \vlUllleero who \\ere ahc;orbed imo \1\'\( llllib \"ouldh:n-c \'"0111 lheir ll,u;IIe.-'x-Yugu:,!;,,·ian Anm ullilonn~ :1llc1 do om ~-t.'m toha\'c adopted .\1\'.\(. r.m!.. iJl~i~nia,

Oil(: ~Illallllllil \Ihich wore its 0\"1 unique uniform \I,b liw 'Olien'\'ululllrcr Baltalitlli. a 2S8-slrong lInil raised in the- area around the port01 Callaro in Montclll'W'O, nl('~ \I'fire: gn:\-green lllnic~, trullsc:rs andI)('rct~ wilh large n:d U\<ll cap b:ldg-e<;, On the collar of lht, 11l1lie they hadsm;lll hadgl's in lilt' shape 01'111'0 whitt' tIIl'lal crosse-d Roman sword~, andthc S:Hne symbol :lppean-d in lilt' middk oflhe cap badg'l:, Other ImiLS,like the .\loslclll 'Sall(ljak' ~Iilitia of \';I<;tern .\IOlllcllcgro, while part oftlw ;\1\':\(; forcl's wen' drl.~d in ci\"ilian clolhes and wcn' al1l1t'<i with\,'hatewr tht,\· could gCAt hold of. Ilhieh was prooabl\' lhe usualcs-\'ugosl;:l\iall equipment,

IlclrllC"b \,'cn' 'cldom \\onl Out t\IO model<; that Wt'f(' ill 1I'-C \l"l're theAdrian _\11915 mudd :mel!ll{' [J.l.'ch .\11931. Both t\"J>eS\lere lonncrh inw,e b\ !lle Yug(l'll;nian ;\n1l\, :mel in tht, C'".tSt' 01 thc ,\drian theYugo...la\iilll CO:lI of anns oadge- \''as rCffiO\'ed from Iht, rrom. TheSlo\"t~l1ian 'I.egiull of Death: it 1.700-~lrong MVAC unil, cen,.inh woreboth t\"pes of helmet \Iith chilian ,lI1d cll.-Yllgtl::>la\"ian ,\rlll' clothingI,-Ilell lormed in ,\ugust 19-12,

~I\'A(; n.ltlks \\"ITt' ~hU\\"ll by the wcaring ot small triall/.'1llar pien's ofdOlh or lll('tal. citlll'r on a hlue antlh:llltl on lhe lell slt::L:\'c, or all the

IIl.nt (If lilt' IllTl'1 or olher hl"ldgt.',ll 'Iigh!l\" On-)~'IIO Iht" left. While nOIlllli\t'pmlh c1i<;pl.l\·l.'d 'udl in'iKlli,' <10 'l."C'1Il tll b'l\l' Ix'ell worn h, the111f11l'ITglll,ll IllliL' Irom Slmeni,l .mel Dalmali;l:Rl,d c1ullt tli,lllg:II' - Slillitd 'UIXOIIIIII,IIHIf'1"Kt,c1 c10lh tri,lll~1e Ikaring: "hilt, I loth 'I,ll' - SlIll,ltll.lIll1ll1'lll<ler, -11(1\' doth ll"i'lllgie - Plalooll ,ulxllmmande:r\dl~I\1 dlllh niall/{It.' bc'ltillg IIIClal ,tar - Platooll COll\1Tl;lnder-.i!ll'r melal tri:I1l/{It, - Compall\ 'llh-<:01lll11<lllcleJ"'1 h ,'I' l\Ielal II i;lllglt, ht.':uillg: ~ih er <;t:u' - Com pam CI mllll:lnc!'T(,lllr!Il\('lallriallgh' - Balt:llitlll 'lll"'{"lHnlll:llldt.'r(,old metallri,ll1g"le be'lring" g"flld ,,1:11' - l\alt:tlioll IOtlllll:ll1(lt;r

Croatian Legion

1 he Croalian l\'~ion r:li,ed 1<1 fig:llI 1111 thl' Rlb,i'llI FrutH \\ore Italiall\1 1111 1l11iltlrm~ willi .\1\'S~ insig-nia <;i nce Ih!::\' \\'ert' (llliri:llh 1><111 (If lilatt>rl..,"U1i~iIl(lll, \ ,iher 'hidd "ilh tht" litle 'IIn'II.:.I...;I' al the tOp :lome;11\'(1 and \dUll' c1l1'quer-bo.·lfd 'hidd ",L'- \\urn \Ill tht, kfl <;11"<"\'(" 01 theIlIlk Ot gn',l1cu;n, _\11933 sleel hl'lmeL" \\"l.·re i:'~Ill'd, hut lilt' gn';ll

llMjuriPo (If Ic'/{illllll;lirt" M'l.'t1\ to Il,ll!:: worn !lIe ~1,llldard ''''{flrM sidl' (':"tJ>

,itb an .\1\'1\:" b,ldK" Oil tilt' frllnt. (St'I' rlalt' Fl.)

Cossack Volunteers

I he "lll:lll CO"'~;lCk \ol\lrltl'(·r llllit rai'l"t! h~ the !tali,lll .\rnn- 011 lher,l:ilC'rrl FrOlll \l'a~ originalil" j"SIK(\ Ililh 1l:di~1ll tllllic'., and hrt'l"ClH's.l-,-Sll\'it'l r.()'~:l(k lrOl1'erii \\ere al~(} I,'om. A ch('wol1 in the 1{1Is~i:ln

n,ll irmal colollr~of wit ill', hille' :tnd Il'cI I,.a, worn \Ill Ihe left slet'\'c of thetunic, ,md II<IS the onh di~tillg"l1i.,hillg- in,il!nia of till' Ullit. (5011I('

'1Illrce~ ....1\ Illal 1111' llll'\fllll II.', IIIInl Ull tJ,c rig:hl "lee\·e.-', hut a ... tll('1t,llian Arm\' al\\<I\' \HIl"(' lI11il ,lilt! utill'r in,iglli,. 011 the left ann it ist.lirh saf(' ttl ,bsume that their Rlh....i;1II aU'l(iliarie, f,,\Ilmnl SlIil.) Lltcl'thl' l""')''loi;I(:l, \Wlt' allo\\cd to \\e'II' tl1('ir 0"'11 nalional drbo.-> \Ihie-II

t lIl"isted of Ihe hlacl.. Trlln1u-sska hed-kngth coal \\ilh the 'illne chenonJll~iglliaon till' ,Iec\e. Iklth Po-p<'<; nflll1ifonn \Icn' WOrtl with the Co~<::k

l.unIN\ooljJojmr!m cap, 'Ihich came ill white or black. (Sec Plale E2.)

A Blac;kshirt of .n 'M B.tullon'

stationed In Yugosl....i. 10 tight

partisans man::tles pasl with ..

Breda M1930 light mac;hine gUf'l

on his shouldef", The Insignia of a

~ 5ty1ised 'M' tor Mussol;ni

with II si....er lase" through the

middle can be ctellrty -.een on

the double black lIame collar

patch; see also Plate £3, The

resl of the uniform Is standard

M1940 Army Issue apart from the

black cation shIrt. (USSME)

This unit 01 s.k. troops on ant;­

par1is.an patrol In the mountains

01 Yugoslavia wear the two-piece

snow suits more uaually

associated with service if,

Russ;;o. By this date - winler

1942/43 - the br10nch badge was

nO tonger stencilled on the Sleethelmet. They Wllar standard

leather equipment, and the

foreground man is usinlill

can...as 'taetleal b.ll' to earry his

llear, (USSME) 37

I3ue.IVt11ItII strope

CoiJar patch

-V. Y-occ

V. V-Q(;(;

""'9

"32

,55,56

93.9'

113,114")'32

"

Ko,A .. Alb8no<t C_CorSlCS F F~h~.G G~ C8ITlpa,gn. 9¥ Gani50n d!Jlies.• 9 Sar-gar - $Brdoa g;mson: NAt. North Ah::a.occ • ~10"l duloe!1l!1 9 G-oo::. oeeupallOl1 01Gfeece: R Russia Sa- Sa.<OOia. SK: .. Sldty.\IF 0 Vd'Iy France loocupa:G1 oos·-No-. 421.Y.Y~~

Notes: MQst ollhase 'spll(;iaItsl rolli'de$lglauons we-a targety IlOIQll<ll'

e,g, the 'mounlain' (as apposecllO AlponeldMS01 d'iered 'rQrT1 CI stanOar'd If'Ilanlry

dMsrJn only" havlng some ITIIIIe-l:loIne~..,

Table A: Infantry Divisions serving in Europe 1940.43

K"," Mouolllilr1 dMslon

"""""'" """"'"......."""'" """"'".. As:5au/llandlng ctveon> ,... landng dMaon

list. 2nd. 3rd Granale,""',g,,,

,'" 259.260

29

,,,38 F. G G-occ

•

39

MafOon/wtutB Sl~

While ovef !OO

BlackiyeHow stripes

--

•-

--••-

YA

Y. Y-QCI;

G. Aocc

Y. YiA-occ

f. NAl

F. G Y. G-occ

G. G-«e

YA

A

'.A

G. '"

Y A·occ

G. G·OCC

F,G.R

Y.""

F NAt

G, c;rv«x;

,,,., ..

IF'

""

'"

'"

'"53

TO

JO

,"

""

5

'76

,

'"

"

"

'"

'"

"

52

23

J

S

JO

,"

"

'56

'52

'S

,

'56

-5,76

'.'

153.154

151.l52

49.50

79.00

910,:ll9.3:31

37,38

45,46

2:)5,236.336

3.':.J03

53."

11' 112

129,1:J:)

227.228

57.58

2n.278

29',292

91,92

81.82

255.256

31.32

207.208

83,84.383

'"

13

157

"

'"

"

JO

9

38

JO

"

'00

'0

,,.

,,,

.g

'56

,

,

'S

vo,."Tamo"

-

--Rl!IdwMe S:nPllS

8tv&Iblack st,ope

Red over green

Red!wtlIT(I '!.'lee'

---l:l--

F. Y.oa:

F. G. G-occ

Y, Y-occ

F. Y. SciJill'

G,G-occ

F G. G-oc:c

G. A-p Y

F. G. G>occ

G.G-xc

G. Sar-ga-

F. G, G-ot<:

FA

F, Y. Y-occ

G,A/Y-occ

F. C·occ

F, V, Voce

Y

F G, VF

A-occ, \IF

1,1

-"-,

28

171

""

80

23

90

'"

82

26

9B

88

'"

88

"

53

7

22

"

33

"

9

"56

13

'53

27

28

6

36"

36"

11.12.311

1,2,3

231.232,331

119,120

139,1"0.340

225226.30

51.52

21,22.321

7.8

17,18317

210211

127,128

63.~363

59.60.359

29.36

80.90

77,78

43.44.343

47,48

87,88.381

23.24

121.122

33.3'

61.68

13.74

"22

'"

36

"

23

'53

6

20

'"

"56

,",

'"33

53

""56

,

F~,

FOlIi"

",..

"'"

Friull-

3.

NotU: Duo to the prolI!eraloon 01~ NCO ranks If'.e BntI9tl~ts. \l"'E!fl here are ody appI'OJ(fTIlIl& I.Rank CAIiIU:ld 1938 lor Kr1g VmonoErmrlUIIIie. & MuSIOIn 3Rcw1k helcl ody In wartrne ./I II Gen 8POQlfIIoo to <;OI'fJl'Ia'1(l a NolCl army 8. ''0&' = .o"IC<lrCat() CO" grade~­<lIXlC*l1fld to a hg'ltr CCfT1I1'IW1d. here Col~ a bngal;ls 9 Col cornrnanong a regmenl 11 Ll CO c;ornrT18Il(IllQ Ii regrmenl. 14 Cap!-Mth 12 ye<lr'S' se".or.~ or 2G~' CQrTWl'"oSliIOr S8V0t. 15 Capl <::clrTYTIir'ld. ballllliCn 17 II w.lh 12~' liIIOOIly or 2G~'lXlrIlmS5lOO8d..-..ell 18 U corT'fTIlWldorl a~ 21 lO'>'.$~ rP lor reserve oh:ets. 22~ JWllI'lXb::ed 211 I 1,40 to

reward br.M!ry"'_ bV mer- 'M'"C)S(I!al:k 01 edIX:aDor1 prevemoo prOf'1lQbOf1 to~ Illnk. 30. In cavar,. Appo.I'UalO. 41

Royal Italian Army Rank Insignia, 25 July 1940 - 8 September 1943

~ iii • 6,"""- 2~ cJ'/UJ,Ia 3 """"""

, a.- 5. Glr>lnIe d 6. GerI!rnl! d

"""- IFoeIo·Marsr!al'1 if""""" ~a'am>ata yvo cJ'/Im'IilUI --...... ""'"'" ,""'" """ >U """ """""

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~, """"""" ,e...- 9. "'"""" 10.~ 11 T8'lIII'1re 12 T&'l!!I'lle

"""" .. """"" """'"" --.. ---, """"'" """"'" l.t Col) IUCoO

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ &13~ 1.l Pt"OO capitatlo 15. Caprraoo 16 CatJ,riVIQ 17.Primo /8'la'l~B 18 TfnYlfll~, ISona "'"", .. """"'"' ISeno III ..

lCap!ilIO) {lJevteNl'1tj

~ E [£ Q i~

19.r_'tll 20 SOtrot(lfl6rTle 21 A$pIf8flw 22 AkJrSf1Ie <11 23. Mares<::lJ1/o 24 M<llll'SCIaIo(loeIJternmt) 12nCllJoolerw1tl

_.balldgltJ """""'" ""'"(Act~19 2nd L1) ""'" twOlil lStatf Sgl)

I ~ ~ ~ V25. MlltesoailO 26 serf}enle 27. Sergenre 26 C8p0f816 29. Capor;IIe 3O~lO

"""""'" """""'" '''''''''''''' """""'" '''''''' COl """""-, ""'" "', {SenIor lM>C8 (;pi) (&nor Private)

These onsqrll8 were worn on tOll grey.QI9ll!1 MI9<:O fieId:tJn£ and Ml93ll greatcoat Colours: (1 - 7) GenefaI 01l1cel'$. I,Jf/iI::fak~: onforearms. Silver WIfe embrooclered greca. tM bars and Io::lop on greyigreen bacl<ln9: gola ",·ru 8fl'II:Ifoodere 89glD tl). Cl'C1Wl'11<l.. 5\ and sceplre {5}on brICk red back"'ll (8 - 13) Foeld ol!i(:er.;. vfI'<.d<~: on lOre9r,ns gold wt'ef~ ttw18Ol:l thIdo; bars and loop. on br'ck rea bao:;.kI'lg {8.JIll (14 - 21) Subaitlllll oIIic:8rs. vlhoaM ",ferIon: on Iorearrns goldwlr~ thn b8r$. looP!II'lCl st~ bnck red backlrlg" loop (15. 18):block SIlk ceotre 10 gold thn bar and loop (21) (22 - 25) &nor NCOs. sortufticliJll. ~ SOOlAdlV $lml>S gold I'o'II&'y6lIoW l;YilId WIth black SIll

CMlru~. (26 - 3O).)..nor NC06;wy:l seno::.o- llhlll" I1lI"O<S S8fgerrtJ e gradual,. 0r'I UIX* arms gokl'yeIow :26. 27) or red WOQl '.28-30};11IMl)"II JunioI other r3l1~~. In,.Ipa jp':vale. SClUJrQj VUOte n;l f1SIlJ1Ia Fttm t 940 ollcers' 0"ISIil"'8 0r'I IMIfYOaY undorrnsNilS 5l.IpOSed to

d'\ilr1gIllrOr'l'l golClto yellow brad

8: GREECE, 1940-4181: Caporale, 31s1 Inlantry Re91ment, 'Siena'Infantry DivisionThis junior NCO wears the standard M1940 uniform. WithMl933 helmet and Mt912 boots, as worn by the Italian Armythroughout 1940-43. On the left sleeve above hiS rankchevrons he wears the woven badge of the 'AJd,ij' troops ­an upnght glad/us between laurel and oak sprays - SlgnrfYlOgthat he has volunteered for a special assautt squad within hiSregiment. The sll'lgle gold chevron hIgh on his nght sleeve isa wound stnpe; these came in three colours - gold forwounded in act,on, Silver for wounded in service. and red forwounded In the natlOOal cause. On the grey-green collar ofthe Ml940 jaCket he wears hiS dlVl$looal patches.

The carcano Mt891 nile - whIch served [he Itahan Army

for over 50 years In vaoous models - fired a 6.5mm roundwhICh lacked Slopptng power. There had been altempls toconvert them to 7.35mm. and from 1938 some rifles In thenew cahbre were 1SSVed. The onset 01 war found thISprogramme incomplete. and from 1940 all new niles revertedto 6.5mm: bUt the 7.35mm ntles were aJready In usealongSIde lhe old cahbr9. caUSlf'lg IogISIJC rughtmares.

82: Soldato, 77th Infantry Regiment,'Lupl di Toscana' Infantry DivisionThIs Infantryman of the 'Wolves of Tuscany' DIvision wearsthe same uniform as B1 HIS equipment consists of theMl939 knapsack, \0 whICh Is faslened a Ml929 camou·flaged tent sectlOf\l'poocho, and an alumlfllUm mess tIn(which could also be cameclln its own cov9l1. The gasmaskbag IS the M 1935; later Ihe gasmask was oftendiscarded so that the bag could be used to carry other kit.H,s standard Issue walerboltle is slung on the right. and onthe left. In a comblflatlQfl frog With the bayonet. one of Ihreedifferent VarietIeS of entrenching tool.

83: Camicla nera , 1st Albanian Legion MVSN,1941This unit conSisted of Albanians recruited since the take-overof their country by Italy In April 1939. Most Albanian unitswere very unreliable - some even shot their Italian officersand desened - but Ihls panicular Legion came out of tt1e

A2: Caporale, 89th Infantry Regiment,'Cosserla' Infantry DivisionLike nearty all ItalWl t100PS flghltng m tNS campargn thecorporal still wears the M 1937 urnfonn underneath hisMl934 greatcoat The greatcoat, worn throughout the warand even Ifl Russia, lacked w3l1Tlth because It was Single­breasted. HIS cap is the popular bustma. and he is holdingthe M 1933 helmet. both WIth infantry branch badges. Hislight machIne gun IS the 6.5mm Breda M193O: a poordesign.d'uOl1lcally prone to feed problems In the field due to a din ~

altractlng cartndge IubncatlOr'l system. It nevertheless had toserve the Itahan Army throughout the war.

THE PLATES

A: WESTERN ALPS, 1940A1: Gunner, 59th Artillery Regiment,'Cagllarl' Infantry DivisionA member of the crew for a 75mm field gun. he wears theModel 1933 steel helmet with the black stencilled artillerybranch badge on the front. Underneath this he wears hisbustlna lfl lieu of a woollen cap: when used in this way thebustina soon wore out and could not be worn for Its intendedpurpose. His Ml937 Jacket has a black-faced collar piped inyellow lor the 6rtJllefy. and beanng his diVIsion's identifyingpatches - red WIth while Slnpes. and the natIOnal Silvef star.The black lealher gaiters and grey-greeo leather bandolierwere worn by a vanety of mounted UOlts as well as the artillery.

A3: Sergente, 'Val d'Orco' Battalion, 4th AlpineRegiment, 'Taurinense' Alpine DivisionThe 'Taunnense' was one of several Alpine divISIonsdeployed in this campaign in the mountainous border regionbetween France and Italy. ThIs NCO wean; the M1937uniform: his felt Alpinl hat has the green porn-pan of a 3rt!BaltallQfl altached 10 the feather-holder on the left side. Onthe left sleeve above his rank chevrons he wears thedilliSlOflal arm shield which althoUgh being phased out wasstil! worn at thiS tIme. The special equipment used by thesemountain troops includes a Ml939 mountain rucksack andclimbing rope and a Mt934 alpenstock. His rifle is thestandard M1891 6.5mm Carcano used by most Italiansoldiers during the war.

DM= """"" Alpine Inf. AJ~Any War Sl!f\Ii(;6 CootJr parchN<me No Re91 Nos. Regl No ($00 Irllll Tabla AJ

T""""""3. , F. VF-gaI. 1Al_

y.= """,-,Tridenuna 2 5.6 2 F, A·occ. R..... 3 '.9 3 G. G·occ. R~

, U , F. G. Y. R

"'''~ 5 7.11 5 F, A. G.Y-ace. \IF-occ

"" """ 6 "am 6 A="am

Notes: 1 AipnlIlnIlIrnl")' RegIS began me _ 'MIl1 \I8r)T1g runlleni 01 bafLlions. buT !rom t94'wereSl~ aT 3 battalion$ each 013~

402.• & rv Aipne Groups eadll8:l3 banaiOns

C3: Maggiore, 54th Infantry Regiment,'Sforzescs' Infantry Division, 1941This rtJajOf wears the popular 'wlndcheater' officers' coatW1deIy worn at that time. Made from coarse canvas cloth, ItIs double-breasted and has brown leathe!' shoulder patches:lorearm ranlung is worn In the usual way. He wears thebustina In grey-green wOO; hIS rank tS shown by the goldwoven star in a gold ·frame· on the lell side, and his unit bythe gold wire front badge 01 the infantry branch with the lhenumber '54' In the centre. Under hiS coat he IS wearlng anofficers' grey-green cotlon shirl and tie, and gabardinebreeches with two 2cm black stripes With e central redPiping signifying the Il1fantry branch. H,s knee high bootsmay have been purchased pnvately; they Wf!fe oftenreplaced WIth more pmctJcal ankle boots dunng the courseof the war.

the green double flames 01 the AlPim WIth the officers'pallern star, and hiS rank inS'901a tS worn on the lowersleeves. The grey-green shirt and he are also of supenorqua~ty to those of the rank and file Instead 01 puttees he hasa pair 01 nbbed woollen socks pulled up over the bottoms ofh,s pantaloons: these are worn with privately purchasedM1912 black leather cllmbiJ'lg boots. He carnes a brownleather mapcase and IS armed with a 9mm Beretta M1g34semi-automatiC pistol, tI1e favourite sidearm of the ItalianArmy.

C2: Generale di brigata, Army Headquarters,1940This bngacle general wears the offIcers' version of thebusrma made -like the rest of tus unrfOll1l- from 'ccxdeJIino'rnatenal of a greyer shade than Issue grey-greeo wool. Hisrank IS shown by the inslgn13 on the left SiCSe of the cap andon his lower sleeves. The tUOIC IS the wartime panernIntroduced iJ'l 1940 and worn concurrently With the pre-war'Baistroccfll' type With black velvet collar and piping. Hewears breeches and higl1 black leather boots, and hisBeretta M1934 is holslered on his 'Sam Browne' type belt.

D: YUGOSLAVIA. 194101: Tenente, 'Centauro' Armoured DivisionThis first lieutenant wears the black leather coat ISSued toarmoured troops in all theatres of war, and carries the leathercrasl1 helmet worn Inside hiS vehicle; during his cigarettebreak he wears a high quality buslma. He 11115 cloth rankmgsewn to the lower coat sleeves. Under the coat Ile wears theM1940 wool jackellnstead of the loose-filting blue overallsmore usually worn by most tank crews. On the j3cket collarare the patches of the armoured divlSlOllS, With a red flameon a blue badlgrounct He wears officers' woollen breechesWIth the black leall1ef leggingS sometmes worn by annouredcrews as well as mounted and artillery troops. HIS boots ambener- qualrty officers' VersIOnS of the M1912 pattern.

02: 5ergente, 3rd Motorcycle Company,3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, 3rd Celere Division'Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosla'This IS a despatch rider from one 01 the 'fast diviSions' -theterm for cavalry divisions In tile Italian Army. He wears theM1933 helmet WIth the famous COCkerel feathers of theBersaglien alltached. His pullover smock was a popular and 43

flghtmg with credit. He wears the S1arldan:l umfOll1l of theItalian Blackshlrts; the obvious distinctIve feature IS the whitefelt fez based on hiS country's national headgear. On his leftsleeve he also wears a badge made from bakelite - thedouble-headed black eagle of Albania on II red background,His rank of 'BlackshIrt' is the MVSN equivalent of an Armyprivate. so he has no rank insignia. He is armed with aCarcano M1891 carblne with Integral folding bayonet: on hiSbelt he carries the dagger used by aU Blackshirt troops, andan OTO M35 grenade - one of three types in use with theItalian Army in \fIIond War It

This enlisted soldier is In training, as shown by the white

stripe round the edge 01 hi' c:ollar. (A stripe all the way

around the c:ollar indicated offic:er trainlog, and a sectionround the front point only, NCO training.' ThiS also pro'ridesa good vl_ 01 the upper part 01 the Mt940 tunic:, wi1h its

pleated pockets and integral doth belt. (An Trye)

C: GREECE, 1940·41C1: Capitano, 'Edolo' Alpine Battalion, 5thAlpine Regiment, 'Tridentina' Alpine DivisionTh,s captain in the Alpinl wears the officers' version ollhe felthat wltl1 a. gold woven badge oflhe corps on the front: on tileleft side a black eagle's feather is mounted bel1ind a goldboss. and hiS rank is Indicated by three chevrons. He wearsthe M 1940 wool lacket and pantaloons made from a supellO(grade of material befitting htS rank. On the collar he displays

MVSN Rank Insignia, 11 June 1940 - 8 September 1943

~ ~ •,""""- , """"" 3 Gomandarlle 4, LuogotoN¥11e S~19 6..l.oOg(ItMfl'lte

.""'" .'""", - gefl6fale~ c; ....... ",,,., ...-~...- (Foeid ManNI) ",,",", s~a1O magr,potJ! """"" "" ""',(ActwoQ G!ll11 lMdtGo!I)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~7, CalIOlI8~ 8 "'""'" 9 """""

10 Cor>wIe ., "'""'" " "'"'"., ...- ., IJIJant """"" ~.,- .- ,,,,,,,,," """'" """

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~13 Fb7Io $entn! " ...... " """" 16 C8I"lIIO'W 17 GerlfI.O"lO"le 18 P,mo

"CoO ,-, C8'11<.n:Jr1f;' ., """"" =...-(Se'w:lr Capt, ""-', ISenor U)

~ ~ ~ & mlift}~m.t}~19. ea.oo manIpOIo 20 C8IXt 21 Sarrocat>O 22 "-"'~

23 "'"'"24. AxJrillll9

Os "',,-- "..pOO ro'"""", 8lUt8ntll ~po

(Looot91'18"tl (LJeutanantl !2ncl Lieulen<V'l1) m.,_ (\'1'011) (S!a.~ SgtllAcllrlg 2nd Ltl

~ ~~ .t}~

" ........ 26, Prro ColPO" CDoo

28 ~caoo 29e-. JO """"- ...- ..- """"'" -- -....." "" """""'" rs-:r- l..rce~I ""'" COO 'PrIvatel

Colours: (1 - 2) Geld """'"'- C8IXY8I d 0f0'l!: on~ s;eeves,.,~ 1 lw.e< 9'*fI on 0I<0Cl< b'<angIll,gold~ Ngie 1 Of

Ia9l;:es 12 (3 - 81 General oI'icefs. gB"Jln* 9C*' 'MI9~edgeca wll'> goIa li1SOeS, \flIIl golO oats ana~ on 9'lJY ge8"1

backJrlg golCl CJl;lWI'I ana SC«l:reon tn:I< IUd blll:""'9 ,4, bricl< red baoung to dIiln'>of'Id ~ 7, Ii - 14) FoeIOc."'uers. UJ"1(;8o~ on IQn:IarmsgoIc _ltWl ana tt-:J< bln IIJ'd do<Wrc:rd on lJtlCIO. IUd bllO<:ng '9, 10. 12) (15 - 22):il.baITAtn olt(;fn. ul!Ioo» IflIenQri: on forearms. gold .....1lllhon bars. d1amona ana 51"', tlnc>t red lloik;k"'9 to ao;l1T1()l'ld!lS I 91. gold I"" bat and tl>8/1'ICIld ....,m biack s,", zIQZ!19 (22)

(23 - 2SJ S8Ooo< NCOs. SOllUffiC>BIt. on blaoI PlP90 shoulder Slf3Pl;, S1M/f brM bars aocl badge. (26 - 30) JUllO' NCOs Mod &eI1q ome< '(II1ks,C8/)i souadra II gradual,. 00 upper sIl:lEIvoo SlIver wlI'6 126. 27] Cf red wooll2B·30)~ Juniof Olher ranks -~ n€O'e ~,. C8mICI3 r'lef8sing . wore no 11S19""'1

Notes: 1 Hl:nnry ra-i< I'1tJd Dy M.rs$oIroI, 2 Hornary In heid 171 pn:mnef11 oersmalollOO 3 tho I'q>as; prnllJll6lOr'8 rml<.. 4 ~tmenl held 171Ch&! ofSlatI, ret,'1ldCoSs: had ~'gBerlb;:l(:i<ng to croM1 iWld sceptre. 5, Maw Gen~ spoo.ll cLOOs, 7~~ a I:roijade (rag·~roJ. e. Cot>rl9 eorm~ a brigade, w.m general ol'lic:cr's cap 00dge 10. CoIOI"(ll CO'lmncir.g a 1e<;;o1, 12, LJ ~~ a.regrrent 15 Cap! ......ttl \2 years' Sf!flOrity or 2O~. ro"'lISSOlOO..-..ce 16 (;ap\al1 CCITYl'lafX!lrog II bat1<l!101'\ 16 Lt wrtn 12~' senioI'Ity or20 yooo-s'~ &el"ke. 19 l.Ieul£nrIl~ II~ 22. ~I rolnWil()«! rrt to- --..e QIlic:efs. IIboIished t<.:e 19402'J. Rank IX~e d Dil~ MQIl.!Ul!!l'lC:I' \l){rtnO iIVo...,re. rrIly I\8Ye been I1IJOOulXld 21 11 4<), D.Jl11O n!liglO ha".e been~.

42

A colonel of ••upport branch _arlng the grey-green

pe.ked .ervk:e c.p. HI. rank I. Indicated by the number 01

band. 01 braId _ "'flectt'd light obscures the$<! here, but

the..... three thIn .bove one Ihlck, divided by narrow lines

of the hat colour. He may well be a member 01 the MedicalCorp., In Which case hI. single collar flames would be

amaranth (maroon). The cap badge has the cross in the

cenlre 10 signify that he is at Army Headquarte"", or

attached to a military "hool. (Re,. Trye)

practical Item worn throughout the war. On the left sleeve Isthe red arm badge 01 the despatch rider above hisgold/yellow rank chevrons. He is wearing leather mountedtroops, and artillery leggings, and has the special belt andammunition pouches 01 the Bersaglleri. He is armed with theCarcano M1891/1938 carbine, a slightly modified version ofthe M1891.

03: Caporale maggiore, 23rd Sector,Frontier GuardsGuardia alia Frontlera units - designated as 'sectors' - werequite heavily Involved In combat dunng the invasioo ofYugOSlavia. This NCO wears the standard M1940 Army tuniCand pantaloons. the collar beanng the single gfeen namewllh red border whICh denotes the GAF Infantry arm. His halIS the same as worn by the A1plnl but wrthout the feath.,.­holder. which IS replaced by a decoratlon called the

44 'Napplna' - agcun In the green and red colours of the infantry.

On the ffont Is the metal cap badge with hiS unit number'XXIII'. The GAF wore the M1933 helmet In combat.

E: RUSSIAN FRONT, 1941·43E1: Soldato, 'Savoia' Dragoon Regiment, 1941Horsed cavalry may have been largely obsolete by thiS time.but as this reglmef1t proved, when properly deployed againsta dIsorganised enemy they could sull be deadly. On 24August 1942 at Tschebar9Vskij on the Don one squadron ofthiS unit bravely charged 2.000 Soviet Infantry with sabre andhand grenade while the rest of the regiment made adismounted attack: the enemy were routed, though at a cost.Th,s trooper wears the M1933 helmel wrth a black cross,$pOC131 to the savoia Regt. on the lror1t: hIS Mt 940 tunic hasthe regIment's black Inple flame collar patch - decoratedWith red piping II'l 1942. The other dlStmctwe rtem of thrsregiment's uniform is the red necktl9 (adopted In memory ofa wounded messenger of the regllTle1lt m the 18th centurywho reported to hIS general WIth the wMe lace collar of hISuniform covered In hIS own bIood). These bIadl leatherleggmgs were worn by other ranks In the cavalry. He 15

armed WIth a Mt891fl938 carblne and a M1871 sabffl.Captured SovIet PPSh41 sub·machme guns were verypopular- wrth the savoia troopers and were often used incomba!: one was in fact carried by the officer In command oflhelr famous charge.

E2: Cossack volunteer, Gruppo Savoia, 1942The italian 8th Army Iollowed thelr German allies' example inRuSSIa and rect'lJlted Ih91r own sman Unit or sotnia 01Cossacks In September 1942; tolal strength was a coIooel.four other officers and 360 Cossacks. The Unit was even­tually attached to the lancers 01 the 'Novaria' Reg!.: after theItalian WIthdrawal from RUSSIa they JOIned German CossackUnits. This volunteer wears a red-topped black lambswoolpapacha cap; an Italian M1940 }8Cket issued to him by hiSnew employers: and ex-Red Army breeches and OOOIS_ Onthe left sleeve he has a chevron national insignia In theRUSSIan colours of white, blue and red. He retainS Red Armyleather equipment and his Moisln Nagant M1910 rlne. and isshOWing his Italian comrade his traditional shashka sabre.

E3: Camicia nera scelta, MVSN 14th M Battalion'Leonessa', '23 Marzo' Re9imental Group, 1941'M' (for Mussollnij battalions were raised from battle-provenBlackshirt volunteers and were given a more active combatrole than their less reliable fellow fascists, These units wereparticularly active in fighting partisans In Yugoslavia andwere Included in the 81h Army sent to Russia, This seniorprivate wears the MVSN black fez, which was often seen incombat, and the collar patch of double black flames with anentwined red M and Silver fasces, As an LMG gunner he hason his belt a holstered pistol, and also the tools and sparespouch for the Breda Mt930.

F: RUSSIAN FRONT, 1942Fl: Volunteer, Italian Croatian LegionThIs small UOll, recnuted In Croatia dunng the Italian OCCU­pallOn for service in RUSSIa, was made up of an Infantrybattalion, a mortar company and an anti-lank company. lhisvolunteer wears the M1934 wool grealcoat - totally onad­equate for Russl3n winter coodllions: on the left sleeve IS the

CrooMn nallonal shield, a red and sllver)whlte chequerboardsh!eld beneath 'Hrvatska' ('Croatia' In Croatian). Because theLegion was ostensibly a Blackshirt uMlt he has the whitemelal fasces of that movement on hiS coat coilar and theMVSN cap badge on hiS bustlna, which he wears With theflaps pulled down ove..- a privately acquired balaclava. Inthese condltoos the ISSue M19t2 hobnailed boots were avirtual guarantee of frostbite. His nfle IS the maiMed M1938verslOl1 of the 6.5mm M1891 Carcano; he has a Breda 35grenade fastened to hiS belt,

F2: Sergente, 79th Infantry Regiment,'Pasubio' Infantry DivisionThis NCO has managed to eqUIp himself better than mosllorthe RUSSIan wmter. He is weanng the padded, hned. double­breasted verSion of the greatcoat, and has been supphedWith a Rumarnan CI8CUJa fleece cap pun:hased by hiScornmandJOg officer nus was not standard Issue. though togive It a more official look many soldiers sewed on thebadges from their forage caps. ThIS man has been veryfortunate in gettIng hold of a pair 01 Insulated canvasoverboots, and has a woollen balaclava and 'tngger finger'm,ttens. He carnes a PolISh Marosczek WZ35 antHank nfle,

~. - ...,.....,"'= ..,

TWo Carabinieri on lIuard outside a railway statton

somewhere In oecupied '(!>goslavla In 1942. 80th wear the

'Iucema' blcom hal wtth the i~y-llreen cloth cover andblack badlle, the MHI34 .Ingle-breasted greatcoat, puttees,

and the M18i1 black leather bandolier. The Carabinieriperlormfll M'(:urlty pollee duties throughOYt the oc:c:upied

a.... In addition 10 lhelr primary role as military police, see

Plate H2.(USSME)

An MVSN 8lack.hlrt from the 15th 8n, an.c:hed 10 the 'Lupi

di Tosc:.ana' Oivision on the Greek·A1banian border. On the

collar note the MVSN'$ black double flames with white metal

lasees. The .....,,11 gold 'honOYr badge' of thh; division can

just be seen .bove the medal rfbbons on his "'It bre3st ­two howllnll wolve.' Mad. In an oval wreath. lUSSME)

whICh was supplied in large numbers to the C51R by theGennans from war booty. ThaI they accepted such anobsolete item shows how desperate they were for some kindof weapon to use agaJOst the Soviet armour.

F3: Alpino, 'Monte Cervino' Ski BattalionThis elite unit was added to the strength of the 8th Armyin Russia because of its expertise in fighting in winterconditions. The coverall is a two-piece garment, the tophaVing laces up the front and sides so that It could be pulledtight. Rank chevrons were sometimes worn on the sleeve ofthe coverall, but not generally - although the strongtraditions of the Alplni seem to have won out over commonsense In the case of the red boss and black crow's featherworn on the while helmet cover. (Feather-holders werefastened to the helmet With a wire mount which clippedunder its rim,) His special whlle·coloured canvas cartridgepouch beJt was unique to the Alplnl and had four pouchesInstead of the usual two. His weapon is the M189t/193Bcarbine With folding bayonet.

G: OCCUPATION OF YUGOSLAVIA, 1941-43G1: Capo manlpolo, 67th Blackshirt Battalion'Toscano', Dalmatia 1942This Itahan Blackshirt officer in command of local YugoslavMVAC troops holds the rank equivalent to a Royal Army~eutenant. His M1940 wool J8ckel has double black collarnames WIth small red fasces; the forearm ranking hasdiamonds JOstead of loops In the top ~ne of braid. On active 45

4.

service he wears a pullover with his wartime patternbreeches, although he retams the smart but impracticalofficers' high boots. His helmet has the black stencilledbadge 01 the MVSN on the front: tucked InlO hiS belt IS hISblack MVSN buSfmil, worn In limited numbers from the mtd­19305. HIS belt supports a holstered Beretta pistol. hiSMVSN dagger, and a can....as pouch With 30·roundmagazines for hiS 9mm Berena M1938A sub-machine gun.Unlike most Italian small arms of the second World War thiSSMG was h'9hly regarded by all who encountered it.

G2: Soldato, 84th Infantry Regiment,'Venezia' Infantry Diyision, 1942ThIs private of the 'Venezia' Infanlry DIY1StOl'l wears hisM1929 camouflaged tent section arranged as a poncho: thiswas the first camoullage-printed Item issued as stallClard 10any army. and In lhls at leasl the Italtan Army was ahead of

Thi. Carablnl-ere ~tationed in

Greece Is • yic;e-brigMJlere,equlyalent to an infantrysergeant. The collar patches 01

the Carabinieri Reali

are .ilyer a.ce and black with the

usual silver slar. the sleeve

chevrons are also in lhe

Cllrbinieri's distincti"e silver.The M1891 blllck 1.lIther

bandolier was widely worn by the

Carabinieri In place of the

sliindard belt. See also Plate H2.

(Ff3~o Mesturini ArchiYe-s)

OPf'OSITE MVSN Centurlone

(Cllptain' in standard .ervicedresSoCap and unifonn wfttt blad<

cotton shirt and tie. jRe. Trye)

its time. Foliage Js attached to his helmet by means of a cordpassed tltrough the air ....ents. UIlCl~ the poncho he iswearing standard M1940 uniform: note the combmatlon oflong socks and puttees, often seen in the field, Note theflghllflQ knlfe on his belt, the Royal Army ....ersJon of theBlackslllrts' dagger.

G3: Capo squadra, MVAC; Dalmatia, 1942This colourful character is a squad leader in lhe DalmatianMVAC. the 'Voluntary Antl·CommunlSt Militia' raised !rom thepeoples oflhe variOUS regIOnS of ttalian-ocwpH!d YugoslaYl3to help fight the PartISans. The distJr'lctlVe headgear IS a softskull cap WIth a piece 01 black cloth tied around It andhang,ng down behind: on the front is the skull and daggerbadge peculiar 10 the Dalmatian MVAC mounted on atncolour cockade. The DalmatJan MVAC were dl....ided into100-slrong companIes called bande. segregated along

rebglOUS hnes; there were SIX Roman catholic and IWOOrthodox banda, the religIOUs affill3tM:Jn berng shown bY thecolour of the skull cap - CatholIC Units wore red andOrthodox companies orange. The rest of the Uniform isItahan M1940: note the white rolled socks worn o....er theputtees at the bottom, a common Italian practice In lhe field.His rank is shown by his blue armband WIth a red clothtnangte beanng a while cloth star. HIS nlle IS an ex­Yugosla....ian Army Mauser M1924

H: OCCUPATION OF THE BALKANS, 1941-43Ht: Vice-brigadiere, 8th Battalion,Royal Finance Guard; Epirus, Greece, 1941The Finance Guard were an IOtegral part of the Army With apeacetime role as an antl-smuggfing and anti-esptanageservICe. TheIr wartnne responsiblhty for intemal and elClemalsecunty led to small umlS being posted throughout occupiedteffltones: and these became relatively easy targets forPartIsan attacks. The Finance Guard had a slightly differentrank system Irom ihe rest of the Army - thiS vice-brigadiereIS the equl....a1ent to a sergeant. HIS uniform IS the StandardArmy ISsue WIth the yellow dCXJble narne collar patch of theFinance Guard, and his helmet IS varnished as was the usualpractice With these troops. The M 1935 gasmask bag is hereused to carry grenades. as was often the case during thewar. His weapon IS the M1891/1924 carbine.

H2: Appuntato, 13th Mobile Battalion,Royal Carabiniers, 'Firenze' Infantry Division;

Albania, 1942The Carabinieri Reali were the senior corps of the IlalianArmy, and fulfilled the role of military pollee. They had theirown unique system of ranks: thiS appuntBlo is the equivalentto a caporoJe maggiore in the Infantry branch. He wears thelfadilJonal '/ucema' blcom hat; made 01 black fetl, In the fieldthiS was worn wfth a grey-green cloth cover WIth a clothYerSIOO of the cap badge on the froot. "The rest of the uniformIS normal M1940 ISSue. WIth the lafge, dlstmctive collarpatches of the Royal Carabiniers, As he Is on guard duty hewears basic equipment, including the grey-green leathermounted troops' bandolier for his carbine ammunition butWIth a holstered 10.35mm Bodeo Glisentl M1889 revoI....er

attached to the end.

H3: Sergente maggiore, 271h Battalion,t Hh BersagJieri Regiment,1st Celere Diyision 'Eugenio di Sa ....oia';YugoslayiaThIS sergeant-maJOf of the elite light Infantry corps Is relaxingIn shift sleeve CW'def. whICh COllStSIS of a grey-green I\arvleIshift with ZIp collar and hIS rank chevrons on the left sleeve.(Officers when weanng shirt steeve ordef would displayabo....e the left breast pocket tne same system 01 rank starsas worn on the side of thebustina.) He is proudly wearing thered fetl fez wrth blue tassel WhiCh, along With the cockerelfeather plume worn on the servICe hat and helmet. was themain dlstinc\lOfl 01 the Ber.>aglien. (The fez was 'presenled'as a compliment 10 their bravery by the French Zouaves,alongSide whom the old Sardinian Army lought in the CrimeaIn 1854-56.) He IS about to take a dnnk from a standard Issuewater bottle, and he carries hiS food in the can....as 'tactical

bag' at his feet. 47

Hen·iIlt·AnnI 326; The GerrnilnArmy 1919-45 (1)Eutll!:m Front 1941-0

Tex! by Nogel -thomas, coIolr pl,llesby Stephen~ ThII!: O!F"'sabCn~~1.rIf0fTT\5cfthe limVlCt~ptw5f. Ircm OpentJOn~,"~'9iltoS~n~ 1942-'1)

IS8N I 855]2 195 ]

Hen-ilf-Arms 216: The Red Annyof the Great Patriotic War 19<41_ 45

Text by S~28!oga.colour" plates byRor! Vo/stad In V1e m.t five rnooth5 of theGeTnan otWo<Jt' the SoY>ets lost aibouIku mioon me+ ¥ld 2O.CXXl~~ VI:!: tIW FWd Nmr lTIIl'IiIged tohold. Sl:eadIIr arowrw ...~ ¥ld~~~~ afteryeM"S of bitter~qn~hy firoally~ the Germanstwd< to the~~~ of Ber1ln rneIfISBN 0 850'45 939 7

Meo-at·Anm; lll: The Gemun Army1919_45 (I) BIIt:drriet;

rext byN~ Tlunas. ccbr plates bySTephe1 Ancnv. A COI'lClSt' ntroei.Ia>orIto :tieCti~ of the anny on the..IUtbre& Qf war, and to the Nor.NegIan.PoIrsh and W ~ 0nJpean~of 1939~~we tOYeI"iIge oflM'IIfOO'TTlS. on5lB"la and equapme!'lt. 'O"odudIng--ISBN I 85532 619 6

Men-at-Arms 169: Resin..nceWarfare 1940_45

Text by Cat10s Cloa. ero /llI"ado. co/Q.Jlplates by Palll HarlllQl' The occupauon ofWesternE~ by the WehmlaChlbrought dbouI the birth 01~e~u on ~;t>e courr:ne-. ,'!«te ~

TI\I5 filSOl'l<!'~ booi< e ...,.; the true~OI)' of re! e .......~ theoc~."",~

ISBN 0 850'15 638 X

Men-ilt-Annli 142: P;jlrti"" Warfare1941_45

Text by f'e.fer At::ibon .:l Ng("~cbr~ t". "'kOlioppe.1~l~

tr Germ.in~ ()(cuooeo f~ Greere oII'dYugo_tNon~~of~61

~ The fr'Onl Ilfle lrlXJl,n \oQOr1 r'l"oOve<l0<1, but the IVI;ggle was far from over (O!'

the baM. of resrst.lrxe fot11ef' ",no ""~)!f:'d

.,~ ....<If ~g.l-'l'IS1 u- ,etupatlOO

k-"<:~ "'1 l~ - ~e'lt'. • t"draw....

ISBN 0 8SCH5 $1] 8

Men.at-Arms IJ I; Genn;any'lEastem Front Allies 1941-45

1el<1 W" Pete- Abbott "ICl Nlgo:!! Thoma;,"oIo.r plates by Mike 0<Ippell The 19~.,.. IE a !me 01~ tenKl" iOr tt>e

Ierso.aldofE.a:stem E.... ~I"">Jro~~ 1'!tleraneWtJClbe

pI,l(!'!dOl"'vveswm~~

~ to ' ~ ""as; r'IegI'£'be ... t!''"'''C\

:r eft~ '" lt1 ~1e a~<"m3t >Ie but tobecome Oems of Mher- Gem'>dny Of' R.l.&""

ISBN 085045 'l75 I

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while lhe man al lar right hal the all grey-green M1940. The

soldier in the left loreground seeml to have cut the lleeveloff a lilandard ",sue wool Iweater. (USSMEj

A group of Alpinl rela.lng over" lIame of cardll in a reararll!:a of u.. Gf'MIk Front in 11141 remind us of u.. motlll!:yappearanc:e of troops In the Mid. TWo wear IlreY"ilrefll

woollll!:n ClIp., while the others have lhe fll!:" Alpine hatwithout the ulual crow'" feathen. The Alpino In the eenl",tlll wears Ihe M11137 tunie with black-faced upper eoUar,

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0-

THE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-45 (I) EUROPE 1940-43

ME -AT-ARMS

• An unrivalled source of Information on theorganisation. uniforms and equipmentof the world's military force~ pastand present

• The series covers subjects as diverse asthe Imperial Roman army and its enemies;the paratroopers and tank crews of ourown day; and hundreds of other subjectsbetween, eNer the whole world and morethan 5,000 years of history

The populdr 48~page format includesconcise text packed with specificinformation, some 40 photographs.maps and diagram~ and eight fuU-colourplates of uniformed figures.

AI its peak the hali:m Army contributed

2.5 million troops to the Axis war effort.

English-speaking readers tend to think of

this anny in tenns of the North African

campaign; but far more halian £rOOps served

in other theatres. They inv>aded, and later bore

the major burden of occup)ing, the Balkan

countries; and I~aly SCnt 250,000 troops to

fight on the Russian Front. In this, the first

of a three-part stud)', Philip Jowett covers the

European theaue - including Russia - from1940 (0 Italy's annistice with (he Allies in

1943. .\ian)' interesting uniforms, a number

of them new to most readers, are meticulously

illustrated by Stephen Andrew.

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ISBN 1-1l5532-1l64-X