The Italian Army in the Battle for Sicily: July-August 1943

The Italian Army in the Battle for Sicily recounts the Sicilian campaign during the summer of 1943, as experienced through the actions of the Italian units tasked with confronting the superior Allied forces. The Italians were equipped with inadequate weaponry and resources, but despite these challenges, they largely succeeded in mounting a tenacious resistance to the invasion, despite the collapse of some units. The numerous Gold Medals for Military Valor awarded, many posthumously, stand as a testament to this effort. Their steadfastness enabled the Italian-German forces to retreat towards the mainland without allowing the situation to devolve into a rout. The Italian Army in the Battle for Sicily was written to honour the sacrifice and heroism of the Italian soldiers, who were called to defend their homeland, yet were subsequently forgotten by their own commanders, their governments, and later by the official historiography. Read more