Osprey, Men-at-Arms #349 The Italian Army 1940-45 (2) Africa 1940-43 (2001) OCR 8.12

mDDIJ MILITARY

j\;lEN-AT-AR~lS

HE TALIA

A

349

y

1940-45 (2) AF CA 1940-43

PI III.If> S. J()\YET'1'

S'TEPI-IE:\ _\:\))RE\Y

CONTENTS ITALY'S 'PARALLEL WAR' • Mu olini

3

trat gic vi ion

3

ITALIAN EAST AFRICA, 1940-41 PHILIP S. JOWETT was born in Leeds in 1961, and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. Before beginning his series on the Italian Army of World War II he was the author of the much praised Men-at-Arms 306: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49. A rugby league enthusiast and amateur genealogist, he is married and lives in Leeds.

• Th Italian I njal rri n rnaliland • The iava ion f rili 'h

THE EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941 •

amI aign urn mall'

THE LIBYAN CAMPAIGN, 1940-41 •

6

raziani s lore

•

7

ampai n ul11ma

THE ITALIAN ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA, 1941-43

10

• R lati n 'hip \ ilh rman f, r s • quipm nt and m ral • p d' nl13n f lit unit. • arm til' and anti-tank w ap n • 'amp'ugn UI11I11

18

UNIFORMS • East Africa • I onh Tlca· u' pi ,..L11lll,i s 'a!lcuiana mm;cioflo 'al!nr;rmo • old w ath I' clothing • headg ar· 1 g> ar f, [wear branch in.ignia • rank c insi nia· han frank . ' i \~
• th

36

COLONIAL TROOPS, 1940-43 STEPHEN ANDREW was born in 1961 in Glasgow (where he stili lives and works). In the last few years he has established himself as one of the best young illustrators of military subjects working today. An entirely self-taught art·ist, he worked as a junior in advertising and design agencies before becoming a freelance illustrator in 1993. Military history is his passion, and since 1997 he has illustrated Osprey titles including MAA 306: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49, and the five-volume sequence on the World War II German Army.

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footwear

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• Red

THE PLATES

43

INDEX

48

SERIES EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW

H I ALlAN AR Y 940-45 (2) AFRICA 1940-43

TEXT BY

PHILIP S. JOWETT COLOUR PLATES BY

STEPH EN AN DREW

m:m:m MILITARY

Fnl IlUtlloII'oId In 2001

l>I' Osptey PubIisIWIO. an. CCu1.

Dedication

CI\IpIl Way. 1loIIev. Oldofd 0X21llP. UMIIllI(,;ngOom E.......... ~

Acknowledgements M ngID - . ApWI from "If . . dIoIlirlg lor ~_or

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1-' no PI'! ol_ ~....,I-. ~ _ . , . ....... fYSltm, or _ . , "If ....... or 1lJ...,."--"" ~AcI,

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ISBH I ll5!>3Z 105 •

n.. book would 1'10( have been possible wrthoUI the ~ of a great I'IO.W1'1ber of people who hlft/'e helped ..... wrth information: St'--' ",",,-, CharIes~.Neil ctwnpion, Mike ~ Paul Cornish. DWlo Di Masua, Mar1< ClIIiI. DaVId FlIta-, St_ ~ 0a1l0 PavoMc. Glynn Roberts.xt PIUl v.walIh. For their 115S15~ Mth pI'IOlographs t ITlU51 lhanll PIero CIociaN. GeoIge Forty, Alexei Ivanov, Marco Novarme. Aot.t Sledman.xt Rex Tynl. PartJetA. thlwtIu; IT'I,$ go 10 Nigel Thomas lor hI$ great help WIth the,... cn.ts. -.:110 Cot.m Vitelt/lor hos ~. I would also ?iU 10 thank James Booi. Marcelo Ra\'lIIOli ..cI GuIdo Rosognoli lor lhlw plllence a1d lor the wiingness 10 shin ..... great knowIecIge of the Sl.OtIf8Ct wrth a IeIow ~~t. Author's note

010:1030405 lOO'T8!>432

FOR A CATALOGUE OF ALL TITLES PUBUSH£O!lV OSPREY MILITARY AND "'\IlATlON PLEASE WRITE TO; Tho M......1lnQ ~. 0spnIy PubtlIhlng lid. PO 80. 140. WelIIngbo
1nI~.ull

TN _etlng~.~ 0iNc1 USA. PO 80. l:lill, SWtIne Hooigh'Is. M' 411311.(IQIO,l1S4 Em8I- Wa"'• •,dii..luN........ OI_OiIJIIwy __ WWW__ .f~ ,PI 'oil 0 _

To 8~oid repelollon, a good deal of material of generllllppllcalion 10 lhe subject ollhls book will be loond in the 'Irst ~olllme In this series - MAA 340, The Italuln Army 194().43 {I}: Europe 194().43, which clescnbes and lIIustrales the Royal Army" 'conlill8lltal' uniform and personal equipmeot. It includes ctlarls 0' Amry and MVSN rank IflSIgfIIa: basic orgarnsatlOfl tables lor Infllfltry, Alpine, and CeIIfe divlliorts; and II chart showing the ITIIlIn component 00115, WI'JI S8'Vice ..-.d coIlIr patches of the infantry divisions which SfIfWId in EuQPlI, ncIuding Russia. A short bibIiogi4'hY lor the wtIole series will appear in the ttwd

.......

Artist's note R6aden; may c..re 10 r'IOle thilllhe ong/nal PMllongs II"om v.ftc:h the colot6 plates in thrs book 'fII'E!fe ~ . . avlJiIlIble lor pnvate sale. .... ~ copynghl: wtlatsoeYer is retIIned by the PublIshers. All enqu.jes shcUd be adO ! lsed 10:

Sl:llPhen Anlhw, 81 EllislMd. ~. Glasgow G66 2UA, ScotlMd

The Publishers I'8greI !hat they car1 enter into no uport

thos

COfT'llSl)Onder

maner

TlTl.E PAGE II. ca~lly dressed ltal~n offic... poNt: with • sentry of ~ AI&hlJrls1J ClIme! COf'PS .t Fott C.~o In Liby. befQf1l th8 out~k of •• r. T1Ie otflc..- ....... wtIlte S.hIorilo"" }Kk" with btK.k shoulder bo8rd., .nd • tropiClIl peaked cap. T1Ie ",.~to Is tumed ouf In Imm~ulate wtIlte fyll d .... turban, coat ;;ond slrulll tTou....., wfttt the brown leath8r undoUer of ttloe pattern used only b)' Colon~l s
HE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-45 (2) AFRICA 1940-43

ITALY'S 'PARALLEL WAR' c nd WOr! I ar ill Italian Arm rica for ov I' 0 aI', tablishing an f Eriu· .~, Lib a, ltaJian omaliland and ..ini ). B th taL 19 Os Ita1 had h I'

Lieutenant-Colonel Janarl, commander of the 2nd Spahis Colonial Cavalry Regiment, who led the successful Italian attack on the British Sudanese town of Kassala In July 1940. He wears a Sahariana with the black shoulder boards which carry his rank and the badge of the 2nd Spahis - the 'Hawk's Feathers' Regimem. His tropical helmet is a privately purchased 'Aden' pattern - cf Plate C2; the badge of the regiment is mounted on the tricolour national cockade. (Marcelia Ravaioli)

rwar' to reo-i

ITALIAN EAST AFRICA, 1940-41 Ilal's mpir in Ea.l fri 'on i l d of ·ri -ea (sin e 1896), ELhiopi. (inel9 ).and malilanc1(ine1925).Th> lerrilri .whihwr'

3

w

r

III

1940

III

n, of naLiv

r

. 'olonial' .

.• 1
11 of th

4

Blackshirts and native troops celebrate the capture of a fort in British Somaliland in August 1940. Looking more like a scene from 'Beau Geste' than an episode from a modem military operation, it does typify the nature of this brief campaign. The native ascaris wear a basic uniform of baggy shorts and tunic with coloured turbans as headgear. The invading force must have made a colourful impression; it was an eJlotic mixture including camel-mounted native troops and hordes of dubat Irregulars mixed in with a handful of tanks, armoured cars and motorcycle-mounted police. (Rex Tyre)

The Invasion of British Somalilan'd n 4 ,ugu. l L94() til It lian laull hed an ilvasiol of BJili'h omaliland from Ethiopia, wl'li Il was on of III fI w "u e, III a LiOI b, th Italian Arm in Ahi a during lh ec nd

ar, Thi' barren and 1111 t BliLi 'h t rriLOI \ taken b a c mbined

World

I

force ofalmo·t 35, 00 III n, of whom 30,000 were native troop and 4 0 'Metropolilan' ( ump an) per onne\. \I"hit 11' P included a 'in
ORDER OF BATTLE

10

OF BRITl H OMALILAND, A GU T 1940

General Bertoldi Column 2 l\!(V ballali ns 1 bn from' ranaLieti Ii av ia' Oi i ion 42nd, 58th, 66th. 62nd, 14 lh . 143rd 4th omali Bn 2 ilTeguJar nati bande

olonial Blls

A group of black motorcyclists of the Polizla dell'Africa Italiana, pictured after taking part in the invasion of British Somaliland. All wear brown leather crash helmets and coats and the special belt and pouches of the PAl - cf Plate 01. This well-anned trio all carry the model of the popular Beretta M1938A sub-machine gun with a folding integral bayonet. The Germans were so impressed by this efficient mixed-race organisation that they even sent personnel to the PAl training centre in anticipation of having to fulfil the same role when Germany gained her own hoped-for African conquests. (Raffaele Girlando)

General De imone' ColunUl 20lh, . 9th 4 Lb, 7th 64th, I'd tJl 40th L4_nd lonial Bn I t Oubal I' up ,mplJo Bar/de of PAl + P r m

111 pan General Bertello Column 1 t & od am I Oubal; 2nd, • I'd, th 6th uhal 10] t J02nd 01 nial Bn. ,3rd oastal Bn Reserv

1940 MVSN Militia Division Establishment

rOllp.

2 MVSN Legions of3 bns + Mortar Coy & Arty Sly Artlllery Regf

4th, rd

EnglneerBn

camel-I Armour

MGBn A/TCOy

ml an ~ lank', ] 'quadran 2 squadron' armoured car' 1

niJI r'

tank

8.000 all ranks

5

THE EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941 garri. n f Ltalian E : an I a "lhi th vinual I ur orth naval and air thr t) it \

Th

The Duke of Aosta, commanderIn-chief of Italian forces in their East African empire, awards a decoration to one of his men in 1940, Aosta earned the ungrudging respect of the British for his conduct of the 1941 East African campaign, and for his personal leadership at the battle of Amba Alagl In May. After his final surrender he insisted that his own troops clear their minefields before passing into captivity - a gesture typical of the chivalry which distinguished what could have been an ugly campaign. Here he wears the uniform of a general of the Italian air force; above the rank Insignia on his sleeve are two badges showing promotion for meritorious service. The soldier receiving the award is wearing an 'Aden' pattern helmet. (James Burd)

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10

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Italian Somaliland. summer 1940: an NCO of the Somalian dubat or 'White Turbans'. native light Infantry who earned a good reputation as skirmishers. He Is wearing a light khaki tunic and (uta skirt with a light khaki dyed turban; the coloured whistle cord around his neck Is a mark of rank. His ex-Austro-Hungarlan Army belt with four pouches is 1918 Italian war booty; he is probably armed with a Mannllcher M1995 rifle cf Plate A.2. (Marco Novarese)

22 MaJ'

11 ad-

THE LIBYAN CAMPAIGN, 1940-41 VI ilhin w

k

B Ib . th d nami h l down and kill

7

f

nLS and l1laliv 1y

8

1940 Libyan Division Establishment

_en

2/nfanlry Regts of3bns+ATCoy

""""""'" 1,400 all ranks rnc.900 E\XOP6flI1) 24:<. 65mm. 12:<. 75mm, 12:<.1(l()mm, 8 ,,41mm AT

LIBYAN UNITS, 1940·41 1 st Ubyan OiYlslon (Gen Sibille) lSI R8ggnJpp8ment.o 8th, 9th &. 10lh l..itlyallnf 80s

11 ""'-'"

th, 12th & 13th L.lbyan In! 80s

2nd Wbyan Div (Gen Peseatorl) 3rd Raggroppamemo 2nd, 6th & 7th Libyan In! 80s 4th Raggruppam6flto 3rd, 15m & 16lh UbyIln lnf Bns

(pk.Js in each dMsioo:)

""""" """""

Colonial Engineer en Raggruppamento Malelli 1st, 2nd, 41/1. 5th, 18th & 19th l.btM Inf Bns

""""'" "" """"" 1 medU'n&

1 Ii(tlt armoured

car ooys

Campaign summary 1940 /) - 20 Sr/Jlrmber Ilalian im~lsion of Eb'YI)t b)' lour-plus divisions with

wnks begins, Sih & 10th Armies advance slowly some 65 miles inlo Eb'YPl againsl liLlie resistance, and '23 M:u-LO' Oi\' takes sillall town orSidi Ilarnmi (where. according 10 Iheir propabranda, 'the trams were running as usual'), Graziani refuses to advance an}' lilrlher until he reeeh'es reinforcement.'; and supplies: these do not arrive. since priorit)' has to be, given to lhe armies bogged down in lhe disastrous Greek c;llllpaign . 'Temporary' camps across a 4o-mile fronl are slrengthened into fortresses. 9 IJrcemlJl'r /94U - 9 FdmUlI)' /1)41 Operalion ·Compass·. Gen \\Iavell. obliged 10 send troops to Crele. nevertheless recei"es 150 tanks from UK in laIc September. He plans illillliled strike :uthe Ilalian camps around Sidi Ihrranij the goals ufthis 'li\'c-da>' nlld' are 10 be flexible. su that an)' success can be exploited. 9 - /0 Drrrmuu4th Indi~ln Oi" Slorms the fortified camps or Nibeiwa and TUlIlmar and the lown of Sidi Barrani while 7th Armoured hookii soulh lhrough lhe deserl. In this spectacularly successful allack lhe isola led Italian camps an: knocked out one b)' one - although well prepared. garrisoned with abOUl 60.000 men. and protected by eXlenSlve lllinclieids against jusl this kind of ,mack. UnfOrtunalely for the Italians. an officer had been captured while GHrying plans of the minefidds. Soon after the all.\ck begins it becumes obvious lhatthe slrongholds arc siled too f;:\f apan to support one anolher. lhus allowing mobile British forces lO conCellU'll.e fur each separale al.lack. An hnportanl British asset is the Matilda Mk II lank equipping 71h Royal Tank Regiment - slow. ullder-gutlned, bill protectcd by 78mm Ii·olllal armour which makes it virtuall), in\'ulnerab\<:. E"en lhough Ilalian field gUll crews oflen light 10 the dealh il is llSllall)' in ,~.in. (The Maleui Group of Libyan uniLS beha\'e impressively al Nibciwa, member uf 7th RTR comnlcllling lh"l 'The h;1lians lila)' have been a pusho\'er afterwards, but al Njbeh\~l the)' roughtlike hell.·) In the Jirst lhree da)'s or fighting the British capwre 38,000 men, 237 field b'1111S and 73 lanks. JJ Decelllbl:r Gen 'Wavell orders 4th Indian Div to Easl Africa: il is won replaced b)' 6th AUSLralian Oi,·. Wa\'ell extends his 'l"icl" illlO a full-scale OffCllSi,·c. 20 f)rfelflurr LaSl It•• lian troops drivcn OUI of Egypt. 200

,I

1941

OPPOSITE Posing outside his tent In Ethlopialn 1941, this MVSN officer wears a white or very light khaki linen SBharlana with black cloth Shoulder boards, Under magnification the badge on the f,ont of his 'India' pattem tropical helmet can ba seen to have the crossed swords behind the fasces, Indicating that he belongs to a MVSN Legion raised among the white colonlsls 01 italian East Africa, (VIlettl Archivel

l.1aIllUlr)' - 9 FldmwI)' Western Descn Force (no\\' 13 Corps) conlinues LO adv.mce both along the coaSI - taking BMelia, Tobruk, Oerna and Benghazi - and (7th Armoured Oi\') soulh-west across lhe 'bulge' of Cyrcnaica (the cenu,l[ Libyan province) 10 Ikda FOtlltll on 5 Februar)', CUlling 011' relreating Italians following the Via Balbia round the coast. B)' the lime the Bl;tish hah at EI Agheila on 9 February thc>, have advanced 500 miles. laking 130.000 priwners (including 22 genelOlls). 845 field guns and 380 tanks, Brilish casual lies during lhe whule campaign arc SOllle 500 dead, 1.373 wounded and 56 missing, AboUl. 8,000 delllontliscd Italian Iroops cscape to safelY in Tripolitania, where the)' are soon reinforced. GlOlziani is relievcd of his command and ccnsured b)' a board of enquiry; hc is replaced b)' Gell Gariboldi.

ORDER OF BATILE ITALIAN ARMY IN LffiY

DECEMBER 1940

5th Army (Gen Gariboldi)

X Corps 'B

j

gmt • av na",' abratha' InIar

l

Divj'ion

1

, orps 'Pavia' 'Br scia',' irte' Inl' Div

Raggruppamenlo \l!o!Plfi XXIII Cort)

'23 Mal Z ,'2 llobr' MY 2nd Lib "an jIll'Di 10th Army (Gen Berti) , r! orp 'annari a' . ~ir n ' In(' Div XXI! Corp , alanzar ' In Dj. '3 , nnaio' 1 l Lib 'm Jnf Div

Elite Bersaglierl man a 47mm anti-tank gun as they await a British attack In a very exposed position. The crew all wear the grey-green wool uniform with tropical helmets, one of them adorned with the famous cockerel feathers of this corps. All of them appear to wear leather leggings, suggesting that they are from a motorcycle unit.

Diy'

Di

THE ITALIAN ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA, 1941-43

(IWM RML627)

f

10

1 FOr details of infantry unit Q(llanisaUon see Men-aI-Arms 340. The ItaliaJ1 Army 1940-45 (I); europe /940-43

1940 Motorlsed Infantry Division Establishment

mr l. h nag of m

t

r Ira

2 Infantry RegIs

of2 bns

Bersagllerl Regt of2 bns Support Cay &

M'cycIe Cc'/ M,11ery Regl MGBn

EnginoorBn 10,500 ell ranks 168 x lMG. 90 x HMG 56 x 45mm mortars 12 x 81mm mortars 12 x 47mmAl" 24 x 75mm, 12 l00mm

531 C81S, 1.170 trucks 48lraclOlS

A sergeant-major (foreground) and soldiers of the 5th Bersaglierl Regiment from the 'Centauro' Armoured Division man a 20mm Solothum anti-tank gun In a position scraped out of the rocky terrain of Libya. They look as If they have been recently issued with new uniforms. On the M1935 tropical helmets they all have the brass corps badge on the large national tricolour cockade, and the cockerel feathers fixed into a small pocket on the right side. Goggles of this type were issued from the Ethiopian campaign onwards. (Marco Novarese)

11

althou h Lh m in tr am infanu ' units w re s Idom up lO Lhi tandard. Wh n me mall r units \II III imo tion - .. Lh 31 t Batlali n a ua tal ri r as aull n in rs - Lh c nd t non. 111 small r uni with d dicat d offic rs ould b provid d with b tl r lraining and quipm t1t lhan w vailabl l til va'l 111< orit· f Italian i n1'a11l ry. The crew of a 75mm 75/46 M1934 anti-aircraft gun during the lighting In Libya, wearing a mixture of tropical and continental uniforms. The loader has tropical breeches and shirt with a grey-green wool bustina; the others wear tropical helmets. On the right the gun layer has a grey-green shirt; the man left of him is wearing a brown leather M1891 bandolier. The ItaHans made some attempt to employ this gun in the ground anti-tank role, like the deadly German 88mm, but without any particular success. (Tank Museum 29721A4)

1942 'North Africa' Type Motorised Infantry Division Establishment 2 Mot in( RegIs 0/2 bns AtmouredBn MOl Arty Regl Mol Engineer Bn MOl SUp(Jiy Regl

5.932 all ranks 74 x LMG, 74 x HMG 18 810101 mortars 36 x4701m AT 12 x 88m01 AAlAT 54 x20mmAA 24

x 750101, 24 x 1000101

52 x M tanks

12

ell had LO make d

maxim 1m prOle lion of 'rants an herman' which arri had arm ur 65mm, and verlh I ,Ih l!.alian. had handful r rman 'I' suppli d b lh ir f the L' [LOri' I Anill I • with the 'Brescia' OJ ). and the Italian foliO' I suil b' u ing aD' f their 75111111 anti-ail' rafl ULlS in the QTO lIlel I' Ie, but there W re onl' a hanellitl of both t pe in S rvi n w

Campaign summary. 1941-43

1941 Mu lini I ow a c pts Hitl 1'" ~ I' of rl11an armour>el force LO aid th Italian el fen e of th remaind I' Lib~, Th int nLi 11 i l11 l thi highL mobil erman fore , mall in nllmb 1" but U' ng in arm ur and artillery will form a hard or o[ th i for 's in onh rri a, [tali n fore ar till l provide th maj ri of i manrO\ 1', and will b rinforeed na'ircum'lan p rmil.Th Lurtwar~"'Fli g rkorp X j al 0 ommiu d t the edit ntln an th· au' in lucling th pI' t Lion uf xi' Lippi I onv weak n cl b rhe transfi I' r Th Briti'h, meanwhil , are gr \ ilhcll'awal of 7th I'm ured'. n ad· th I' division,' l I' ,'e e. al1 worn-out tanks t rca I' ba'e , 12 - 14 FebJ'LUll" en Rommel and fin uni or Oeulche 'rika f orp an-ive il Lib - 5th ight Oivi ion (Imer retitled 21 st PallZ ... Di ), to b fall w d during pril/June b' '-th Panz"r Div. lIalian [ormati n availabl ar th hak nand w akcn >d . "" na' al ratha' Inf Oivs and 'Bre. 'ia', 'Bo] Rnil' & 'Pavia' otOl'i d Div (the l nn 'm Lori' d' bing larg I, tll oreli al). The ' ri nnour d Oi" on arriv , quipp d with ] 3/40, and 'n ariboldi plae il lU1der Romm I' ommand. 31 \IIarch-4AjJr;lWiLh ani -th Ligh t Di", R m mel alta k a 'mall British advan d [ore , drivin il ba k l g clabia; n th 4th h enl r Benghazi. I riete' 0 Brescia' Div com up in uPI on. /1 April - 4 \11(/), R mm I' ontinuing llnauth ri ed advan e i lat· ,tr ng u tralian arrison in Tobruk; but hi as aults fail wiLh h avy loss, Tobruk garri on will be 'llppli d an I rorat d b a . Briti h plan clef, nsive lin· . t 1 r a Malfuh.

The crew of an M13/40 medium tank of the 'Arlete' Armoured Division relax for a photographer; note the company (colour), platoon (number of stripes) and vehicle (number) tactical marking on the side of the turret. The man leaning on the 47/32 main armament has - like General Rommel - acquired a pair of British anti-gas eye protectors as light goggles. Both men have the black leather crash helmet and coat worn over blue tanker's overalls - cf Plate el. On the glacis plate of their tank the crew have stowed some of their gear, including what looks like a rucksack of the type normally issued to the Alpini. (Marco Novarese)

13

A mixed group 01 mostly Armoured personnel and Bersaglleri pose around a M13/40 medium tank. The four officers In the left foreground are from the Bersagileri regiment attached to the armoured division. They wear Sahariana Jackets, two displaying their ranks on black shoulder boards while at least one 01 the others (sitting left) correctly but unusually shows his on the cuffs. Apart lrom the medical officer (right foreground) and two Bersagieri standing on the tank, the others all seem to be tank crewmen. The one standing beside the doctor has overalls with a coloured chest palch resembling the tactical markings usually seen on Italian tank turrets. The others wear a mixture of Jackets Including M1937 tunics and black leather coats; two have sottotenente or aspirants cuff ranking; and everyone in the photograph is wearing a bustina In various shades ot khaki. (Marco Novaresel

14

aero'

the

Id Mar hall e.. Iring Lapp im d lIpr me oml11and fall rman and Italian for in

lip litania. Wilh m r. Hower i naval

emOl/Pl1I;

nu;'

15 August 1942 Armoured Division 'Ariete' (BrigGeI1 Arena) Atmd Gp 'Mete'

52nd Tank 8n 3rt! 'Nizza' Armd GP' t'armd Bersag1len bn AA & ATbtys)

azal /Bir Ha h im lin , lLa.1ian r his dir l C mmand and ught

132nd Armoured Regt

8th, 9th & 10th Tank Bns 8th Bersagllerl Regt

2nd M'cycle 8n

rp

5th & 12th Mot 80s 132nd Armd Arty Regt

'Le'

I & II Gps - 75mm III Gp-100rnm V & VI Gps - 75/18 sernovenli

2 AA btys - 20mm 4th Anti-Tank Bn 'Granat/eri dl sardegna'

EngineerBn 6,500 all ranks 165 x M tanks

v ra1 aua ~

n Artillerymen manoeuvre a captured British 25-pounder field gun Into a new defensive position. The 25·pounder was highly regarded by the Axis forces, and was used against Its fonner owners whenever possible. The gun crew wear an assortment of bustinas, light khaki and grey-green, with and without visors. (Robert Stedman Collection)

L '

15

for d to orc! r withcLr,l\ I most fth Italian infantry, with lit tran port. ar left to their fat, 'Pavia', 'B 10 11<1.', 'Bre cia', ' r n(O' and the maj rit)" f' Ig re' ar I tr Y d:' ri l ' U' wip d Ollt. fightin with gr at . lira ; I mill" 'ri t ' . 'Littorio' manag 10 ap,

ORDER OF BATrLE ITALIAN ARMY AT EL ALAMEIN, OCTOBER 1942

011) (Cell Gioda) 'Pavia', 'Br i ' InfOi : 'F 19 r • Par' iv ri R . rp. uni ': 9th B pari th 16th orp niH 1 I

'Tr

orps (en avan'ini) ot Inf Div, 'B logna' Inf Oiv : 7th Bersaglieri R gl t Gp, pan th Arm

nt'

p

p. II rill)' RI'. erlll' i vani Fa i ti' InCDiv, 'Pi,t ia'M LlnfOiv

m.

'nim'

IA,J

AR

1943

)(Xl C011)S

.et 16

.1

rmel iv (in ani F ' "'Li' lnfDiv

Lallf'

111

r mnan

5

Relaxing around their AS41 armoured car while out on a reconnaissance patrol, this cavalry crew show a motley collection of uniforms. The sergeant-major (standing left) wears goggles on his bustina, a Sahariana and shorts, The two sitting men nearest the camera appear to wear German first-patlem desert ankle boots with green canvas uppers, (Private collection)

.'!I,XX Corp . II' rga' Inf Di\' 50th pial Bde 'Imp riali'* (*a" mbl d rom I' mnant and I' inforc m I I unil B r'agli ri, Lodi' armd r 'group. 1 th Tank Bn, sl'lIlovenli [rolll' entauro' and' up rga' Div" 'tc.

r

N, artillel

LalejallUm) Romm I hold' ar th Iii th Am>, with mnal1ls r D K (I th 2 L I Panzer, 90th r 16 tl LiO"ht Oi\' , el 111 n f'Pisl ia' r'Tri'st·,',and, w' p zia',' i vaniFa' ini'and . enLaur Div, 23 F"bnwr)', wh I for (> recle:i/-,'llat d 1't Italian nn' ( • n Me ); R mlllel t"~ke omman I of all 'i for . in theatr a' I'

HeeresO'rllpp

rika.

2- Fpbrnnl)' Baulc f £<.IS. cline: on rnim and Rommel attack II orps with 10th & 21 t P'\Ilzer Oiv!' and achiev temporal" hr ak-lhrollgh, infli ting 7,000 asualLi al d d suo ing 4' AFV . lliecl r erv rail, and blo k 'i~ advanc; • n I att n tak Omtl nd of lJ ,orp. 6 \lnrch Whil Italian. and 9 lh & 164th Li Thl Div fa e i[ontgom at 1areth lin , Romlll I 'win hi r mainin T tank' round uth t M denin ,aiming t LIt th nny orT again toast. 2nd ew Z 'L1and Ojv with hea\ r arLiIl J uppon ·ma. h lh alta k. 9 Harrl1 Romm I, in po I' health, leaves frica for the la t time. 20 I[mrh Hl.h nn allighl Jailing n 'Pi:t j''\., Ii t " , P zi(l' iovalli F'lscisli' Divs ( ther snnllcr ftaJian units in Iud /4

A group of Italians and a German look over a captured British Valentine tank In a dug-in position; there Is no evident damage, and this is probably a tank of 7th or 4th RTR lost In the South African surrender of Tobruk in June 1942. The Italians wear a typical mixture of uniforms and headgear, includln9 (left) an 'India' pattern solar topl and a grey-green shirt with light khaki breeches. (Robert Stedman Collection)

a ' rllppo ahariano' of . ven den-train'd fromier bal.talion·). By Lhe 27Lh the line is br k n. jJril In a 'Iublom fighting I' treal Lst Italian hold u ce 'i e Wadi

En£idavill as are graduall pushed illl a htinkinO" po keL in nonh asL Tllni'ia. 7 Ma Biz rt and Tuni fall. 13 'lay U1T nder f 11 i ~ IT ill Tunisia. nearly 2 000 falling into Ilied hand:. With Lhe end of l.h orth ri an ampaign lh way i n \ op n Ii I' the Ui' to pr par Ii I' the inv'~ ion of lh Italian i land of i iJ •

17

UNIFORMS utbr ak t Mica

lLaI

ma mart l1Jm-out. The crew of an 8mm M1935 Flat Revelll medium machine gun fire at a distant target, supposedly at EI Alameln on 29 October 1942. They belong to the Carabinieri Parachute Battalion which was sent to North Africa in July 1941. Both wear light khaki cotton uniforms. with the loader in rolled-up shorts. The gunner wears a M1942 visored bustlna, and a holstered Beretta M 1934 pistol. (Robert Stedman Collection)

18

f the war all om r and 0 in wer kiLt lout with th lat t', aha'riC/no' ja ket, but I than nl r th nli L d In n had b n i u I with dl m. Id r it m funif ml ntinu d t w rn, in luding th lr pi aJ p ak I ap, and lhe \ hit lin n v r.i n f th aharimlG, \ hi h ontinu d t b n i nail ri htup until the nd fth fi hting. Th tr pi al LUni \ a" a1 till wid I' worn durin th 1 41 ampai n. e"p iall b the 1V Blackshirt uni whi h mad up a lar part of th tropoLiLan [taHan for s. Ba tropi al 1 ng trou rs I ft 0 er from t11 Ethiopian ampaign r 1 35-3 w r al In no n d a' till I ing worn 11101 th nd in Ea t In th 111 xtr 111 I en during th Ih avi r du last Italian

Lheir [or r " 'Cli pasl BriLi h guard of honour how a r al mixlur 0 unifonllS. a Lwo oldier..: 'UT dl"C' 'ed cxacLl. alike, and ach man ha adapl d \ haL h has LO Lum him' I[ lIL as manl as p , ibl . North Africa

OPPOSITE, BELOW Italian Infantry advance at the double during the deser1 fighting tn 1942. All wear the now archaic-looking M1935 tropical helmet with a mixture of tropical jackets, breeche,s and shor1S, boots and sandals. The officer in the centre with a slung carbine Is wearing a distinctly lighter-coloured Sahar/ana with black shoulder boards. Their weapons are also a mixed bag of Carcano rifles and carbines, with Breda M1930 fight machine guns. BELOW Stripped to the waist and probably wearing shom, this crew man a Breda 20/65 antiaircraft gun in a fixed position reinforced with sandbags. Layers of rock were often to be found just under the sand surface, making digging-In exhaustingly difficult. All the crew wear the M1933 steel helmet painted sand-colour. (Rober1 Stedman Collection)

Th Italian Idi I' be an th fi~hLin/?; in nh d in tl mixLur r 'u' pi ar and' anon mal' UIli1Onn. Ili' air ad' tali n d in Lib
THE TROPICAL UNIFORM OF THE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-43 The Italian 1111 had been fighlin in rri a in [h laL 19th c nl1,l , and during Lhe first fmlr lecad : of lh 20lh c nUll' il had foughl man 01 nial arnpaign in NOI-Llt and Eas Afri a. Lik all olh r Eur pean 01 nial power [he Italian' had d vel p I tr pi al unifi rm fi I' lh ri an lilllat. Th xp Ii n rained during Lh . Lhi pian ampaign 19 5-193 om IIig-hLing in ib'11 kin d ut. nits whi h arri\ d a' r inforcemcnLS aftel-lun 1940 w re noL alway_ olu k '.

w

tuni cp Ii gain Ii in d r f ib 'ao 'ahariana had pai pi aled br t po ke and skin p k Ih lauer of , pan !ina typ and an im gral ~I th 1) IL I~ ne I

19

with

ith r a bu kle or bUll n. ILS m t noli eable f, ature was th d >ep should r cape whi h incorporat d ti,e bu LOn d naps of the brea t p ket. I ng-J ointed hin- p collar ould b worn open or bULLon d, and ther was a but n duff 1 nd, Th olour (lri d wid 1, Fr 111 vel lighl khaki to mll tard or greenish oli e-khaki; lh app ar to ha bl ached quiL qlli kly in the slin and with fr qu -ill wa h.ing so Iigh Ler 'had . \ r th 111 re omm n. Officer' ·alwriana.\' cam in two v rsions - th pr -1940 and Lh 1940 - I ut bOlh were worn con 'ulTcnu', h pre-1940 t1)C wa di tingllish'dl theLripl-poillLedr -p im d. b uld r bards worn on th pI' -1940 , ahariana had a bla k b of offi, r. oJonial ballaJion - iJl th colours r stripe' of their uniL ·ashe.. Rank w,hould rb ard'-lhisl
I

In the region 01 Enfidavllle, Tunisia, where the remaining italian divisions made one of their last stands early in 1943, the crew of an SPA43 desert reconalssance vehicle prepare lor a patrol. The officer wears a visored M1942 bustina and a light-coloured Sahariana. His crew sport a mixture 01 visored and unvisored caps. (Ufficio Storlco Delio Stato Maggiore Eserclto)

An infantry officer distributes uniforms in Tunisia in January 1943 as Axis lorces are built up In their Tunisian bridgehead. He is wearing an M1934 grey-green wool greatcoat with an M1942 tropical buslina showing the infantry branch badge on the front. (Rex Trye)

<

The camiciotto Sahariano 10th I' versiou of u1e Sa!lm1rL1/{/ \ as LI e v I p pulaI' nli l cI III 11 h <1\ hirt/tuni, Lh rrtmiriollo 'aharirl1lo. Th rc w r two t 'pe': th

pr -19.0 fir·t mod I was <1 pull v r garmenL. with a thr -bullon up ning at th LOp of the h t. whil th M1940 and l) e al a had thr bllitons blll op nd aLL th
Cold weather clothing

20

It.1 auld I I b forgotl n tJ1at nirfhl-wlle l mperatur S drop harpl in the Ies r. whi h an b 'trem I cold. khaki or braWl wool r, ion

of tl1e gr r-gr >n w 01 11934 greatc at wa is u>d il limit'c1 numb 1", but 1e m£!j rit orgr at'oa in u e \ ere th gr '-gre 11 m dIn n11all \' rn" I art r til ollun mal milorln. tl r it m' f tl ntil CI tal uniform \ ere also W I'll at night when available, in ludil g lhc gr' t-gre 'n \ 001 pULll vel' and knilted cap.

General Messe (left) took command of Panzerarmee Afrika, redesignated 1st Italian Army, on 23 February 1943; he thus became the first Italian officer to have field command of both Italian and German units. Messe wears a light grey cordellino officers' tunic and breeches with two black stripes. His M1942 visored bustina has the general officers' gold eagle cap badge, and a rank bar on the left. The staff lieutenant is wearing a darker grey tunic and breeches with a M1934 cap. (Alexander Turnbull library, Wellington, NZ)

HEADGEAR The bustina

Head ear for enli t d ranks usually con'i tcd f II {)'// ,tina f variou, pall rn ,a c rk Lropi al h Imet or th M1933 :te I h 1m l. Th tropical UlIstill(L ame in v ral mod Is. lh> ,fir't being a Ii ht khaki U n or linen ersion of th Standard gre -green \ 0 I headgear of tile COl tin mal uniform. lOmer unofliciaJ er jon, available to ofrl'cr' from lh lalc 1 30s and popular at th 'tan of the ri an ampaign, had a ufD n d cI Lh front Oap/ isor; this was also pri ately pur ha d b r nli t d mcn. The lle t typ to b r cogni ed was ffi ialJ de'i nated Lh 1942, aIlhough it had been imroclu d a f W 'ear' earli r. Thi mod I had a oft visor. and 'a111(' in a \rari t r 'hade of k.haki. rt al 0 'how'd 'Iight
21

Rank & Branch Insignia, Royal Army & Royal Colonial Troops, " 25 July 1940-12 May 1943 These insignia are illustrated as wom on the shoulder boards of the SBhariana. and on he upper sleeves. Officers' branch badges on the shoulder boards were embroldered In gold wire Colours: (1-7) General of ICers (ufficiafi generali): Sliver braid boards piped brick red; gold insignia embroidered on bIlck red backing; silver eagles (6. 7). (8-13) Field offlcers (uff/CIai/ superion): Black cloth boards piped ,n branch colours, gold braid inner edging. gold Insignia embroidered on brick red backing (8.9.11); Sllver eagle (8). (14-19) Subaltem officers (ufficiali InffJrion}: Black cloth boards plped In branch colours, gold embroidered InSignia, gold braid bar (14.16). black star edged gold (19). (20-23) senior NGOs (marescialll): Black cloth boards piped in branch colours. gold braid with I:llack silk cenlre SlJ1p8S. (24-27) Junior NCOs (sergenl~: Black clolh boards piped in branch colours: gold braid chevrons separated on grey-green doth backing on bolh upper sleeves. (28-30) Other ranks: Plain khakl shoulder straps. Senior Other ranks (gracflJalJ): Red wool chevrons on grey-green cloth backing on both upper sleeves. Privates (rruppa} had no InsogJ1la. Snce there were more separate grades than in the Bntish Army the eqUMlienl non-commssioned ranks shOwn In brackets are very approximate.

1 Primo MaresclBilo dell'lmpero (Field Marsha~ 2. Maresoallo d'ltaJll3 (Foeld Marshal) 3. Generale d'armala (General) 4. Generale designalO d'armal8 (AclmgGen)

5. Generale di corpo d'armata (LIGen)

2

3

4

5

6. Generale di dlVisione (Maj Gen) 7 Genera/e di brigalB IBrigadier) 8. Co/onello /9s (Colonel) 9. Colonello 1II00are (Colonel) 10, ColoneJlo (Colonel) 11. Tenente colonello rgs (L1 Col) 12. Tenente colOnello (L1 CoQ 13. Maggrore (Major) 14. Primo C
6

15. captlaflO (Captain) 16. Primo lenenle (senior LJeutenant) 17. Tenents (LJeutenant) 18.

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Sotlolenenre (2nd UJ

'9. Asp;ante ufficiale (Acting 2nd L1) 20. Aiurante dl battagffa (WOI) 21. MatescIalJo maggiore (WOII) 22. MaresciafJo capo (Stall Sgl) 23, Maresclallo ord/natIO (sergeant) 24. Sergenre meggkxe (lance Sgt) 25. Sergente ml3ggiore (Lance Sg!) 26. Sergente (Corporal) 27. Caparale maggiOfe (Senior Lance Gpl) 28 caporale (Lance Cpll 29. SoIdato scelto (Senior Pnvale) 30. So/data (Privale)

Notes:

o

22

30

t. Rank created 1938 or Klng Vrt one Emanuele '" & MUssolln, 8. 'igs' = inc;aricalo con grado

supenore - appointed 0 a higher command: here a Colonel commandIng e brigade. 9. LJeutenant-Colooei commanding a regiment. 29. In cavalry, Appunl8to.

ffi rs' tropi a] h 1m ts am in lhr b' i typ ,Lh !:irst b in f th am paLt rn a th th I' ranks' but pI' babl of upeli r manuhClllf . th oLh I' two mod I w I' pd .uely I urchased. The so-called India' pattern w'as a more compact pc of alar tope as O[L n I niaJffi iaJ in lndi , and \Va' mainJ worn during lh ad 'tage f th war in rtll and East Africa. That kn wn as lh • den' pauern \ . a pilh h 1m t with a much lhj ker brim' i Oauer crown had a m tal ventilat I' aL ll1 ap x.' d n' helm ts came in variou had and w r n in lighl brown, Ii rht khaki and an off-wI it lour. Both 'India' and' d n typ had a mall '-fold cI fals jHlggriofmat hin olour around th bas. ( 'e pLat 2 & 3 tor' den & 'India' heLmers.) Steel helmets

Th Ml933·t el h 1m l wa wid I worn in North Afri a cu d came ith I' in lh riginaJ gr '·gr- n finish r I aint d
Lik UP onlin ntal m eI >1 th u'opical r'i n of II • peaked (vi oreel) I i ap wa wom b o Uicer. wh n lit r th from lin . (l \ a u llaU mad> flighL khaki maleri·tl and had a brm n leaUl r i' r and chin 'trap. Th old braid I nk 'tape' ar unci lh bCUld w re th cun as on lh OOlin mal cap, \ 'lh khaki mat riaJ h win benve n ea h 'u'i, . Ilalian olIi er of the ,0loniaJ I'm might \ ar the peak d cap with eith r a red or gre n ntre t lh baclg: I' d for 'upport bran hes r h adquart r', and gre n for olonial (Lndi nOli) ballaJi n', nl'1ringJ I' gulalj 11 governing th eel LU had b n chang d v raJ lim 'in ] 927; al )J1 Lime pd 'j nifi eI offi I' ' I ing in Italian'asL 'I'i a and gT n UlO I ing in Lil a. Legwear

OPPOSITE Branch badges (numbered as illustrated opposite), with piping colours: General steff - crowned eagle (2-71. golden yellow./nfanlfy (9), searlet 8elsagllen (10). crimson Armour (191. scarlet Armoured Cavalry, not Illustrated (crown, crossed glJns. buglehom with lank In centre), wnite. Reid Artillery (1 B1. orange yellow. Engineers (14), cnmson. Medical Corps (12). light cnmson. Royal Colonial Troops: Colonial Infanlfy (15, 17), scarlet. Savoy Grenadiers (11), blue. Libyan Infantry. Somali Arab & Ital/an East African Colomal battalions (13), one" or two·colour battalion PtPll1gs - see PBge 39. Libyan ArlJllery (161. orange.

Trou 'er' wom in Afri a w r Ll lIall 0 the bre hes pall m in lighl khaki linen, mined by r -gr n woollen pulte . Lighl khaki caLf-L 'ngth pamaJ )on lrou r' 0 Lhe 'wn t Ie a lh fi r th ontin nlal gr -green \ 0 I unifornl weI' w rn, bUL wer I mmon. Ollic rs wore khaki linen br e I \ ill U 'trip . d wn lh 'i L; m al wor lh ontin mal uniCornl onlellino br h in lighl gre r-gr n 'abardin', with. id -'uip . in onjlll1 Lion WiUl tropi al tunic and cap, Practical Ii hl khaki linen shorts were widely worn, and although an olli ial mod 1 was i 'u ·d mall)' were mad from cut-clown pantaloons. hOI1:ages r tr pical g CU" led to th w cuing of larg quantiti of Briti -h uniform afl r tor f, 11 il1l I aJiWl hands at Lhe faJl f obruk, and BriO. h khaki dlill u-opi al horts m to hav b n widel adopt ell I IlaJian u'oop , Brown Lath 1'1 in' w re w rn in rri a and, lik th ol1linental bla k I aLh r typ . cam in £ w cLi1:"£ r nt m d I, ne uniqu Afri a w I' worn b' Lh Polizia D II' Ji a lraliana (e below), Footwear

Fa twear

r

r th> orrunary

Idi

I'

was u uall, a brown I

th r I'e Ion

[

23

Lh lIni

Tropical equipment onl' a Ii w it m'

f u' pical qll.ipm Ii a. The' in Iud d d and-colour d ver ion of the ommon us the camoul1ag n. th r p ronal quipm nL wa

24

ABOVE Lieutenant-Colonel Flechter, commander of the Department of Tapa-Cartography of the Italian Army in North Africa, poses for the camera in 1941. This mappln9 expert came to this appointment from the Divisional Artillery School, as shown by the badge on his 'India' pattern tropical helmet and on his yellow-piped black cloth shoulder boards. It is interesting that he wears these, rather than cuff rank, on this tropical tunic note that it is not a Sahariana. (Franco Festa Archives)

INVASION OF BRITISH SOMALILAND, 1940 1: Jusbasci. 661h (Eritrean) Colonial Bn, 17th Colonial Bde 2: 'Oubal' chief-commander 3: Camicia nera, MVSN 11th Blackshirt Legion

A

.. L1BYA,1940-41 1; Soldato, 64th Artillery Regt, 'Catanzaro' In! Diy 2: Muntaz, 3rd Bn 'Nalut', 4th Group, 2nd Libyan Diy 3: Primo capo squadra, 231 st Legion, '28 Ottobre' MVSN Diy

B

LIBYA 1941 1: Tank crewman, 132nd Armd Regl, 'Ariete' Armd Diy

2: Generale di dlYisione, 'Sirle' Inl Diy 3: Maggiore, 116th Inl Regt, 'Mannarica' Inf Diy

2

3

c

ITALIAN EAST AFRICA, 1941 1: Guardia di pollzia. Pollzia dell'Africa Italiana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2: Capitano. 10th (Eritrean) Colonial Bn 3: Centurione. MVSN 10th Blackshirt Legion. 'Africa' lnf Div; Addis Ababa. Ethiopia

2

D

3

BAlTLE OF KEREN. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1941 1: Soldato, 11th Regt, 'Granalleri di Savoia' Div 2: BUlucbasci, 5th (Eritrean) Colonial Bn 3: Caporale, 'Uork Amba' Alpini Bn

E

NORTH AFRICA, 1942 1: Marine, 'San Marco' Marine Bn 2: Caporale maggiore. 27th Inf Regt, 'Pavia' Inf Div 3: Soldato, 31st Guastatori Bn

F

BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1942 1: Sottotenente, 21st Mot Arty Regt, 'Trieste' Mot Div 2: Sergente maggiore, 7th Bersaglieri Regt, 'Trento' Mot Div 3: Sergente, 'Folgore' Parachute Div

2

3

G

TUNISIA, 1942-43 1: Soldalo, 91sllnl Regl, 'Superga' Assault Landing Oiv 2: Camicia nera scella, 'Giovani Fascisti' Inl Oiv 3: Tenenle, X· Ardili, 'Camionettisli' unil

H

Table A: Infantry Divisions serving in North Africa K.,

..............,

NomtnaI dvrsJonaJ 1OI'3s: '

" . MoIorbed > _ A$$8tAI liw1dIng - • All landi1g

-.... ...... l.hifs: 7.8.96

a

7th. 81tl, 9th

GGFF.-"

No.

S&vice i1lhe6f1lt; lib -l.b,'Iw1 ~ 194(}.41 NAl .. NoI1h AIfiCM ~1Q41-42

"""'" "'"

---... "'- --""" """'" """'"

TtXl. T ~ C8I1llll9'I 1942-43

-~

25

39.<0

10.205

Lb. ""

"

19,20

"""""'" '" ""'" ......

141.142

"

Lb. ""

203

Lb

63

157,158

"

Lb

'36

1 GGFF.8B

'36

62

115. 116

"

" "

27.28

E>-..

-_.

'-

"""""..

....... ...... .....

...

'"

" "

""",.

........, '"

35.36

'"

NAt. TtXl

Lb

l.b. ""

3

NAt. TtXl

"

l.b. ""

15,16

"

Lb. ""

69.70

'"

Lb. ""

125. 126

'"

NAl. TtXl

91.92

5

T~

"

""

85,86

Trenlo"

t02

61.62.7B

TnesIO"

tOt

65,66.98

1940~43

"

""

Q>Or

-----

""'"

-_..... -----.. ----_ .---..... Ao
....

Ao
Ao
--.

""'" -.-

I!!!!!!!

,---

""'"

.... - -

""""","""

. ""

a.d,"'''''

.

= ,---

-

\\~IS

onichllly redesignated as an armoured division (divisioll!' corm.Ztlla), though lhis SlaWS was wholly fictitious. The main unil.'i at thaI dale were: 'Cimlfllli FfUci.fti' Regt (I & II BI1S. incorporating the former III Un including the AA and AT companies) 136111 IIrtilJrry lugt (one group each of truck-borne 65/17. 75/27 and 100/17 guns) An/lOlim/ Car P{aUxJ1/ 'NiZUI Cava/feria'

Captured uniforms

Shortages of tropical uniform were to be a m.~or problem for bOlh the Italians and the Germans in the desert campaign. The Italian Army's main uniform stores in Benghazi fell to the Bl;lish in February 1941: and in mid-1942 British air and na\'al superiority S(.·...ercly limited all kinds of supplies reaching the A.x:is forces in North Ar.;C
-

33

1942 Parachute Division 'Folgore' (MaiGan Fratl nO 186th & 187th Parachure In' AegIs of 3 bos each '85th Parachute Arty Reg! 8th Assault Eng an

Paratroopers of the 'Folgore' Division emerge from a dugout wearing only shorts and tropical helmets. They are Identifiable by their high jump boots, and special paratroopers' ammunitIon pouch set, with grenade pockets below cartridge pockets - see Plate G3. Most are armed with Carcano M1891 or 91/38 carbines with folding bayonets, one (left) with a Beretta M193.8A sub·machine gun. (Private collection)

34

-,

PARACHUTE UNITS Ital' fir t exp rim nLS with airborne u·oops b gan in Lib a wh n th then governor Lh air pm er Lh 01; t Iral Balbo, fi I'm d a mall unit from Inial tT p. Thi' Lib an Para hut Battali n - 'In1' ollym n f til iI"' - \ < rai' d in 19 8. and. ulTi I' 1 hea I ' in training due t I..h P r d ign r th D37 para hut I..h n in IS. n w t 'P f para hut wa inu' II' d in 19 0, and for Lh fir t Lim Lh Italian w r able on -id r mpJo in T th unit in mbal. wnd unit. th ~ 1 tali nal Para hute Bauali n f Lib ,wa form'd in 19 O. In janu81 19 1 both uni "ith 8 combined total of men were depi 'd in the ground role as the ' ruppo I lobil li nin 'in th d fen e f 0 ma, Lib a. xI an i n f Lh airb rn arm I k plat I..hrough ut 19 0 witb th fir I thr e b I..talion f Italian. bing I' i d fr m lh r nks f th arabini rio On battalion f arabini ri Pal'alr ops \\ I1L t 6 hI gr und tr p in rlh I;ta in .Jul 1941 and p rfe rm d w II. FurLh r battaJi n \ re raj d fr nt Liter units, witlt Lh intention f u'in th m in th prqj Cl d in ion of lalta. h 'F In I' 'Li hmiJ1g' - Parac:bute Divi i n \ a rid p ifi all f, r this inva i n, and I' ach d a trength f b LIt 5.00 men including servic . iLh I.he can l1ation of th in i n plan the di \ ' nr r rrh ALii in I.h Ii ht infantry r I . Alth u h m ral I \ du th can IJ tion f th p' rh ad mi 'i n for \ hi h I..h ' had b n r at d and mtin d, lhi 'mall di\ ision p 1'r nn d \. ry w II in th , -'"" baul f lam I Haifa

..

in ugu t-Septemb r 19 2 and gain d a ood r pm:ati 11. The paratr per cmpl ed un on emion I La ti s in d (i nee, and Lh ir ciano COlUlL r:..atta ' prov d u ful, if co U . evenll oth r malier en ag m n L the 'Fa I are' w Lo ee its last major a tion in the batu r El AlaI in wh re it ,gain [ou ht upcrbl while . uff ling hea\ 10 e. 1,100 dad, w und r 1111 In r. t r £1 amein u1e dh' 'ion virtuall, eased t exist, alLhough a 25th 'FoLaor . Bn wa formed [r m am ng u1e un; or . Thi onLinu d to rve tl1r u h UL th 'is r u'"eat a ro' Lib a and, although rcelu ed to a hadow uf its former elf. it foucrlu un until th nd in Tuni ia in Ma 1943. A nd parachut divisi n the 'N mb . - 'R<:lin 'loud' - \ as f, rm d, I lIL n r rea h I Ul landaI'd of training of the 'F Igore' an I wa empl d mainl' in anti-parti an p raLi n in t11 BaJkam. Plan f, r a ulird di i ion - th> , iclon '- nev r mat rial is d a. th 1943 armisti e int>n n d.

n-ist d

Fa' liar! 'S M1941 • ,..fit ing u' us r' ;anel

Polizia dell'Africa Italiana The P lizia d II'Afr-ica Italiana (PAJ) \ . r a p cial fi ref, nn d t P Ii e all Italy' Afri an I ni . Establi h d in 1937 an int !!TIt1 pan f th Ann)', thi elit rp wa giv n th L quipment and training. and wa. to prov to b· one f the mosl r liabl Ik'1.lian miliLar organi, aLions. Man of the P soLdier were mounted n motor des and a high pr p rti n of th m w r arm d with the MIg ub-machin gun. Both Italian nati naJ and native w r r dint th PAl, the bJa k Idi r makin up th maj I-it f th t th

An officer and men of the renowned 31 st Battalion of Guastatorl - Assault Engineers examine abandoned South African trenches at Tobruk; they were the first unit into the fortress In June 1942. The officer, holding a 'lare pistol, wears a Sahariana faded almost white by the sun; his black shoulder boards are piped in crImson for the Engineer Corps. Just visible on his left sleeve Is the special badge of the Guastatorl, with a sword and flaming mine on a green background - see Plate F3. All the men including the officer wear khaki Shorts, the enlisted ranks with matching short-sleeved shirts, grey-green puttees and steel helmets. (VItetti Archivel

35

outbr ak of Lh , r th P had a Lr ngth of , 45 m n in Italian ast Afri a, f, h m 4,414 w re indi n U'; in Lib a th re were 1. 27 m n. ofwhorn 732 w r Libyan, 111 PAl w re t r main a \ ell-disciplin d force throughout the ollap of Ilalian Ea t rica. and, r r spon ible for k eping th p a e in tll 'thiopian apital f ddi baba th Ji d D ree [ k vel'. PAl ranks PAl rani'

t;qlliva{t-'11.1 Army ran"

maggiore maggi r

II

Qu d IrAJ A Breda M1930 light machine gun crew In North Africa. The No.1 has fixed the Wehrmacht shield badge from a OAK tropical helmet to the left side of his headgear; many Italian soldiers adorned their tropical helmets, with graffItI and even with captured Commonwealth cap badges. Ali three men wear grey-green cotton shirts with light khaki pantaloons and, probably, grey-green puttees. (Alexei Ivanov)

COLONIAL TROOPS, 1940-43 Th

raised native troops in all th ir fri an ib a had b n h avil in ol\' I and arId ar

ontinll patrolling nd of lh Types of Colonial trooops

h Italian . 1 nial Ann}' \ an x ti mix of p t 'p . From ibya, rill' a, Italian malil nd and n \ I nqu r d Ethiopia. Lib 'an tr p \ er divid I in in~ ntry; mehcwi Ii ( am 1 Lr

36

tro p); J(lVClrl (r gular m'alry); palli (ilT gular avah ); and gntjJfJi altariani - mOLOI' d d rt in ano)'- roop re ruit d in Italian Ea t ri a

1940 Colonial (Indigenous) Brigade Establishment

includ d infantr

4 Irlfanfry ba«atlons 4 artlnBfY batteries

2,778 all ranks 72 x LMG, 26 HMG 16 x65mm mountain

guns

9 motor veI1icles 527 horses/muJes

Lieutenant of Motorlsed Artillery leaning on an 8mm Breda M1938 tank machine gun mounted on his vehicle while he scans the skyline. He Is wearing a Saharlana with black shoulder boards piped In the orangeyellow of the Artillery, light khaki shorts and bustlna, and brown leather sandals - a practical unlfonn well adapted to desert conditions.

Uniforms of Colonial troops, 1940·43

Th Italian I nia! m began lh war dr . din unu< nn' whi h '. m al u· t ighl mol' uit d t th parad gr 'lInd than th balll fi Id. an' f lh m I' c I urful and impra ti al a p t , on di app ar d. and lh indig nous Idi f ll1 lat r war p ri d w I' u 'uall dr d in dull khaki hir and h r . . th \\ I' pI" gr' d new r ruhs would hay b en fOl"tunat to I"e ivan uniform at all and photograph. of ha til, re ruited bande irr gular- in or in I' 'hammll . I h w man waring th ir own onon tuni

Inial. Idi

I'

al lh

Tunics

Thr m III typ r ja k t w I" II d b Italian 01 nial lr p during th war. Til w I" lh

37

1 29 giubba, an lh pr -194 and Nfl 4 rmlliciouo ahariano per Coloniali. h l del 192 luni had a low landing 011 r, whil lh tw t:yp of mmiciollo alwrirmo foil w d Lh . I f tb worn b' M lfopolitan tr op . AJd, u h non f lh llllli bar coilaI' in"i nia b for 1939. aft I' pril of thal year ib 'an u· op wer aUO\ ed to I ar the nationaJ tar f a 0 ' in I' ognition of t11 ir nt'\ I ·-granted Halian dtiz n hip (se hart n pag 0). footwear troO]

u ual

,w

II II' lr

pUll

oIOLll"" or

Iv lour d wai"t 'triped huriz mall' 01' ombam.nl llni Lh r aniuu' rp', \ hite"

Insignia

I olonlal soldier from Libya Eriu'ea and omaJi]and had Lhe ame t In r ranks before 1 41, and Lhe' weI' an-jed n larg· d tachable h on n lh upp r lee' S \ II as Lh rank th h vron ai' b I' iI ilia m rking lhe

38

Soldiers of an unidentified Italian Infantry unit line up for Inspection In Tunisia In February 1943. All wear grey-green M1 940 tunics and M1933 helmets with the grey-green leather belt and ammunition pouches. The we-a ring of army Issue blankets rolled over their shoulders Is unusual and may be in lieu of haversacks to carry personal belongings. These men belong to one of the divisions brought over from Italy in a last ditch effort to reinforce the shrinking Axis 'bridgehead' in Tunisia. (Robert Hunt Library)

Happy Italian prisoners of war of the 20th Infantry Regiment from the 'T\'ento' Motorlsed Division smile for the camera from their barbed wire enclosure. All wear the light khaki linen bustina note the Infantry arm-of-service badge, and the applied metal numerals '20' lust visible. All seem to wear the camiciotto Sahariano, much faded in use. Two have red cross brassards and may be stretcher bearers. (IWM E13027)

Table B: Colonial Unit Sash Colours, 1940 Key. II • Y(II1IClll S1~ H • honzcnaI &lr¥JllS.

t.ms are nlantry ballalcns ln8SI 0IherwIse I'lCIted lSI ErilI8WI, 4lh Ivabo-Somal ~ "'*"Y. 5lh SlW&'i Cavalry.

&II MIhInstI 'T~' &II enue.., 2nd Arabo-50rT8. 4l1'l ~ Cav. 2nd MehWisll'T~',

....

4th ~ ISll..l¥n lSI

SltYan cav.

3IU t.4ehiInsll"-~' 2nd ~ 2nd ~ 2nd Sevai Call. 41t1 Me/'IiInsIl 'T~' 3Id ~ 1st Nal:Io-SomllL 41h l..I:ty.ln, 3rd~Cew,

5Ih MnnSlI 'T~. 3rCl1...b,Wl. 1st ~ 'T~. 5lh ~ 3rCl N1lItIo-SOm
"'" .....

--_.... -... ..........

--_ ----.

c.v.

..........

v•

"""''''''''''

....

-""""'" -.-

-"-

-""""""

-.-

-"-

--"""'"

c.v

~

II .. 93rd Ei'llreen II .. 85m EnIroan ~ II .. 861h Entr8en ~ II .. 52nd ~. H • S5lh EnIroan ~ bkM' V .. 60th Eritr18'l ~ II. 46lh En!rM'\ H .. 4711'1 &nre.1 0"argeit:II0wn II .. 63td Entr8Brl ~

~

1I .. 5lhem.....CaY

ScMeIIO"ITISOO

II .. 871h En!reen

~V

.. 88lh~

II. 64th Enu..-. S:::ar1ettt:lLW II .. 8lllh EnIroan Sca'Ietrq1t bkM' II .. Il5lh EnIroan SC8r1eC/~ II .. 9 l h ~ SciIrIeltbrown II • 66Jtl ~ ~ v. 9Itl EnIroan Cav. H .. 13lh ~ CaY 0mI0rVJUl)le V .. 671h ~ Crrn9ln'blI8 V .. 8th ~ H .. 39Itl ~ ~

"",,,,,,c...

QmIcn'ighl bt.JI!I II. 11th ArOIbo-Som8I 01Tls0nfgelwl II. 42nd ~ H. 20th Cm"o9o"Vbrowrl II • 68lh Enlre8n ~

~

1I .. 41h~c...

~1I.69Ih~

II. 70ltt EnIroan bt.JI!I II .. 59ltl &IlI.-t Ma8nltY'IJ88O II. 45lh ~ H .. 34lh ~

~

~

~

1I.71stEntJ.-.

~

II .. 7th EIflr--. Cav II .. 72nd EntJ.-. II. 73rd ~ II. 74th Eritr9in H. 24lh EnIroan II • 75lh EnIroan

~

~"7ll blue ~

fVpIeIbrown ~

v.. 10th Entreen CaY v. 78th En!reen

i..VM bL6i~

II .. 43rCl EtIlreM. H .. 19th EriuBln II. 19th EnIroan II • 80lh Entreen

~

bt.JI!I EltJeIlJ'88'l 8lI8Ibrown

~ llk.o&'boM1 11.8151 EnIroan GreerVbrown II .. 58th EtI1tllen Gre8MMan II .. 2nd Enlre8n Cav, H • 151h Enlrean Cav 8rJ:MnItartan II • 11th EnIroan CaY Deep bU&'atnson H .. 1111'1 l.J)y.v'I 8lacklrecI bon:leI 6lh l.J)y.v'I

A8d1green H. 4th SpahI C8Y Blv&'graen CIlrltre stripe .. 13th l...i:f;al BlacWwhile Hlc:rimson 1Xlrder .. 16th Lbyan BlacWgreen Hltm'l9or1 border • I 71h U)yer1 TartMfwtot8 cer11re slrlpe.. 181h Lbyan TartarVgroon cer11rE1 stnpe • 19th LibyIln 8II.J6IcrIDSon HlWhite Cer1lT8 8~ • 10th Ubyan

"'-"""'"

wearer's years of service. and specialist skills such as sharpshooter or 1J1.IIllI>Cler. Rank. insignia lor Libyan troops wcrc changcd in December 194 I to smaller chc\'rOlls wom on the slceve itself. Ran k stars were also \\'om on the Libyan soldicr's (akin and the Erill'call soldier's (abuse. above lhe G1p b<'ldge. Years ofscnice wcre indic;ucd b)t thc number and colour of Star'S wom olll.he chevron. (For alllhcsc dcrails, sec ch,u'! on page 40.) Personal equipment

TIle pcrsollal equipmcnt of the Coloni:al soldier consisted ora belt \\;th

39

Rank Insignia, Royal Corps of Libyan Troops (Regio Corpo truppe libiche), 21 April 1939-4 February 1943 These Insignia were worn on both upper sleeves of the M1929 standing-collar tunic and the pre-1940 and M1940 camiclolto Sahariano by Ubyan nallve lroops. The upper row shows the insignia Introduced on 21 April 1939, the lower row the modified Insignia introduced 24 December 194 1. Colours: (1-4) senior NGOs (sottufflCial,]: Gold brald chevrons with black centre stripes (1): Junior NCOs (sottutrlCitl~]: Silver braid chellrons separated by narrow black chevrons (2·4). (5-6) senIOr other ranks (graduarQ: Red cloth cheVrons separaled by narrow black chevrons. The privale (so/dalo lib/co) had no insignia. Since there were more separate grades than in Ihe British Army the equillalent ranks shown In brackets are very approximate.

1• AManle Ilbico (Sergeant)

2. Sergenle maggiore IIblco (Lance Sgl)

3. sargenle capo Ilbico (Corporal)

4. Sergenle Ilbtco (Senior Lance Cpl)

5. Caporale libico (LanceCpIJ

6. Soidalo SCeilO Ilblco (senior Private)

Rank Insignia, Royal Corps of Colonial Troops (Regio Corpo truppe coloniale), 9 May 1936-3 July 1941 These Insignia were wom by native troops from ltanan East Afnca. The upper row shows the Insignia worn on the fez, lhe lower row the Inslgrlta wom on both upper sleeves. Colours - cap badges: Silver metal stars. gold metal chevron or bar. silver metal marksman's badge on battalion-colour cloth backing, Colours - sleeve badges (1-4) senior & lunlor NCDs (sUl/officlall & sergenlQ: Brick red cloth medium chevrons on black cloth tnangle; thin gold upper chevron (1, 3); gold braid wound. promotion & specially badges; service stars In gold & silver melal & brick red cloth. (5-6) sen r other ranks (gradual/): Brick red cloth medium chevrons on black cloth triangle: brick red wound & specialty badges: service stars In gold & silver metal & brick red cloth (5). gold metal star on brick red triangle (6). The privale (escanJ had no Insignia. Wound badges One bar per wound (1). Promotion badge Crown lor a fleld promotion (2), Specialty badges: Machine gun marksman - MG on tripod (3): armoured car MG marksman - MG Wheel; bandsman - lyre (4): bugler - bugle (5). Service siars Red: 1 = 2 years. 2 =6 years. 3 = 10 years. Silver' 1 = 12,2 = 14, 3 = 16 years_ Gold: 1 = 20, 2 = 24, 3 = 28 years

== **

1. Sciumbasci capo (Staff Sergeant)

40

2. SciumbascJ

3. BUlucbasci capo

(Sergeant)

(U1nceSgl)

4. Bulucbascl (Corporal)

Notes: 1. Rank Introduced 29 October 1936. Somali troops called this rank JusbasCi capo. 2. Somali troops called this rank JUsbBscl. 3. Rank IntrodUCed 29 October 1936. 6, Rank frequently abofished and reinstated.

5. Munlaz

6. Uachil

(U1nce Cpl)

(Senior Private)

or a bandolier bOlh made of natural

rai a unil w r

f or ign

\7

lum n

Libyan motorised troops of the 'Gruppo Sahariano' man a Breda 20mm anti-aircraft gun while their Italian officer watches the sky. These mobile units operated to protect the desert flanks of the Italian Army. and were among the best of their native soldiers. They are all wearing light khaki turbans, loose-fitting Jackets and trousers; and note the unit-coloured sash (left). The man in the foreground has the rank chevrons Introduced In 1939 when Libyans became Italian citIzens, together with the collar star of Savoy. (IWM HU28380j

41

A standard bearer of the Colonial 14th Cavalry Group - 'Gruppo Squadroni a Cavallo' - at Gondar in Italian East Africa in 1941; this was to be the last Italian base to hold out against the British. He wears a light khaki turban and a M1929 Colonial tunic with a low standing collar; it would be worn with loose-fitting trousers. Native troop standards were not in the Italian national colours; this one would have been In the squadron colours. Note the skull and crossed scimitars design; the motto below it reads 'E La Morte A Para A Para' - 'Death Makes All Things Equal'. (Marco Novarese)

1v

Th volum I' war Italian tropi al unifi ml , Wilh mostrinp. pal he in lh ir nali nal I ur": III In (jan v lum lIow-whit en pal h s, lh Tuni ian I' d-white-gr n, Arab' bla k-\ hil -rd. Whil nrin und rth oritrinal LitJ I tri Militari' the In ian al d ab volume I al had hi Id-shap d arm badge in til ir national colours. \1\ hen the oame II s changed to 'Fr cc Ros e' a ingle form of ap and aml badg for aU volunt r wa inu' du ed. hi 'h w d L111"e r d arrows pier ing a red ir I wilh a bla k or khaki enu' urround d b a lalll" I WI' ath. H ad ar fi r Ih unil \\1"<15 LI M42 Iwstinn fi r lh Tuni i n an I Arab; L11e Indian ,ere all ikh th' war khaki lurban·. Italian p r annel attached to me Red Arrow war L11eir former ollar pat b ,·,riLll tll P cial unit in ignia I dl ja k [ Ie . and on tll franl of ilh r an M42 btlSfiJ a or l n ill dna and-c lour d M1933 t I helm L Th TUlli ian Para hut Bn whi h all' om acLion in orth d a war para hut insi nia up limpo d II r th ir national tri olour rnostri//p..

42

In Tunisia an officer of the 'San Marco' Marines gives the enemy's range to one of his men. He wears an M1934 greatcoat and the Marines' grey-green wool beret. The foreground figure gives a good view of the Marines' uniform: an M1933 helmet painted grey-green, grey-green naval jumper complete with sailor's collar, matching trousers, and the special Marine gaiters - see Plate F3. His ammunition pouches are the type peculiar to the Marines, originally made for the Italians by a British company. (Robert Hunt Library)

THE PLATES A: INVASION OF BRITISH SOMALILAND, 1940 A 1: Jusbasci. 66th (Eritrean) Colonial Battalion, 17th Colonial Brigade This veteran of the Ethiopian War, 1935-36, is dressed in typical Colonial soldier's uniform which had changed little since that date. The khaki linen M1929 giubba tunic is worn with breeches, puttees and brown leather sandals. His tall red felt tabusc has a tassel in the battalion colours, also shown in the sash around his waist and the flag. The tabusc was often worn with a khaki cover, and its chinstrap was usually worn at the back of the head Instead of under the chin. On the front he has the silver rifle badge of a sharpshooter, and three silver stars denoting his rank of jusbasci sergeant. His rank is also shown by the stiff cotton chevrons which are tied to the upper sleeves. As the battalion standard bearer he Is holding the unit flag or 'burgee' in the battalion colours with the sewn-on white Roman numerals 'LXVI' for 66th Battalion. His rifle is the standard 6.5mm Carcano M1891, which he Is lucky to have - many Colonial soldiers were Issued with even older weapons. A2: 'Oubat' chief-commander These so-called 'White Turbans' were effective light infantry recruited from the border tribes of Somalia. Their uniform consisted 01 a khaki-dyed garment called a (ufa, and their rank was denoted by different coloured whistle cords: green, as here, was for a 'chief-commander'. red for a 'chief' and black for a 'vice-chief. Colonial troops and particularly irregulars were generally issued with elderly or captured arms and equipment. This warrior's rifle is an Austrian Mannllcher M95 taken in war booty. as was the cartridge belt. These rifles always had 'AD!' for 'Africa Orientale Italiana' burnt into their butts. A3: Camicla nera, MVSN 11th Blackshirt Legion This Blackshirt private serving with the invasion force wears the enlisted ranks' tropical helmet with the brass badge of the Colonial Blackshirt Militia of East Africa. In the severe heat 01 the desert he has taken off his tropical tunic exposing the black cotton shirt worn by all members olthe MVSN, with his light khaki pantaloons and grey-green puttees. The rest 01 his equipment is standard Army issue, and includes the waterbottle used during the Ethiopian War, 1935-36. His carbine is the 7.35mm Carcano M1938TS; the simultaneous use of a number of rifles and carbines in two different calibres bedevilled Italian Army logistics throughout the war.

B: LIBYA, 1940-41 B1: Soldato, 64th Artillery Regiment, 'Catanzaro' Infantry Division During the first desert campaign against the British, Italian artillery crews earned a reputation for bravery by manning their guns in exposed positions and often fighting to the death. After the 'Catanzaro' had been badly mauled between Buqbuq and Sollum on 9-11 December 1940 the rest 01 the division was cut off in Bardia until its surrender on 5 January. This gunner of divisional artillery is wearing the tropical tunic Introduced in the mid-1930s. Of light khaki linen, it lollows the basic design of the continental wool tunic but without the lining. On the open collar he displays the red and black mos/fine or patch of this division. overlaid with the single

An ascarl of the 17th (Eritrean) Battalion in Italian East Africa, 1940. He Is wearing the tall fez or tabusc with a khaki cover, the battalion's colours are shown by the black and white tassel falling from the crown. His waist sash is in black and white vertical stripes. Note the belt with four brown leather ammunition pouches, and a blanket and tent sheet worn in a shoulder roll. See also Plate A1. (Marco Novarese)

black, yellow-edged lIame of the artillery branch bearing the universal silver star 01 the House 01 Savoy. The tropical breeches are worn with a brown leather version 01 the strapped leggings worn by the artillery in black with continental uniform. His tropical helmet bears the national tricolour cockade behind the brass badge 01 the artillery with the cut-out regimental number '64 . The leather bandolier was standard issue lor artillery and mounted soldiers; his M1938TS Carcano carbine is also a type issued partiCUlarly to the artillery. B2: Muntaz, 3rd Battalion 'Nalut', 4th Raggruppamento, 2nd Libyan Division This muntaz or lance-corporal serves with the Libyan division which was destroyed on 7-10 December 1940 after fighting briellY against 4th Indian Division and the Matlldas of 7th RTR in delence of the Tummar camp complex. On his khaki cotton camiciotto Sahariano per Coloniali jacket he displays the large detachable rank chevrons worn by all Colonial troops, with the red star marking two years' service. His plain red sash colour shows that he belongs to the 3rd (Libyan) Battalion. The /akia cap - worn in combination with the white skullcap characteristic 01 Ubyan male costume - has the blue tassel 01 all Libyan units. It bears the star denoting his rank above the cap badge 01 Colonial Infantry. The standard issue grey-green leather belt and brace supports four ammunition pouches instead of the normal two - a habit Widespread among Libyan troops. 83: Primo capo squadra, 231st Legion, '28 Ottobre' MVSN Division This Blackshirt junior grade sergeant has the M1937 grey-green wool tunic and pantaloons worn during the Libyan campaign by a large number of troops brought over

43

from Italy as reinforcements in the summer of 1940. He has the divisional shield on his teft sleeve, above his rank; although officially out of date these were still worn by many at this time. His tropical helmet is the standard enlisted ranks' M1935 with the small fasces badge of the Italian-based Blackshirts on the front His personal equipment is standard Army issue. including the greygreen leather belt with twin ammunition pouches. He is armed with the old 6.5mm Carcano M1891 rifle, and wears on his belt an MVSN combat dagger.

An officer of the MVSN In North Africa at the outbreak of war wears a light khaki Sahariana over his black cotton shirt. He is wearing a privately purchased mid-brown cotton bustins similar to the Issue M1942 pattern, but In service from the late 1930s; this came with a detachable peak. On the front Is the gold fasces badge of the 138th Battalion, whIch belonged to the '28th of October' MVSN Division destroyed In the early fl9htlng In Libya. (VItettl Archlvel

I

c:

LIBYA 1941 C1: Tank crewman, 132nd Armoured Regiment, 'Ariete' Armoured Division This M13/40 tank crewman wears the distinctive protective clothing of ItaJlan armoured troops in both Europe and North Africa: a black leather crash helmet, goggles, a black leather double-breasted coat with the Army's universal white metal stars on the collar, and underneath this blue linen overalls. The later model M1941 overalls differed from the earlier type in having more pockets, and added elbow and knee pads. His equipment consists of the archaic grey-green M1874/89 three-pocket leather bandolier with his 9mm Beretta M1934 semi-automatic pistol in Its holster attached to the end. C2: Generale di divisione, 'Sirte' Infantry Division This is an officers' private purchase version of the tropical tunic, which because of his rank is well tailored from high quality material. On the collar he displays the divisional patches of the 'Sirte' Division; this formation was defeated at Tobruk by the 6th Australian Division on 21 January 1941. As on the continental uniform, the major-general's rank is carried

44

Field Marshal Ettore Bastlco (right), governor of Libya 1941-43 and C-in-C ltanan forces In North Africa, on his arrival at Castel Benito air base. Marshal Bastlco wears a bustlna and tropical tunic both made of the same good quanty gabardine. His rank is shown by the four stars on his cap and the four bars above a greca on his sleeve. On his upper arm note the gold wreathed sword badge of the Ardltl; and above his medal ribbons, the eagle badge of the Military Academy. The officers to his right and left both wear Sahariana jackets of differing shades. the former with a M 1942 vi.sored bustins and the latter with a tropical cap with his rank of colonel Indicated b», the lines of braiding around the band. Note the back of his jackel, showing the three-point cape effect typical of the Saharlana made before 1940, after which a single central point became the norm. (Franco Festa Archives)

on the forearms of the tunic and the shoulder boards - the latter being of sliver lace, edged with brick red and bearing the eagle and two stars. His breeches are made of the same khaki material as the tunic; they have no stripes down the side. His pith helmet Is a privately purchased 'Aden' pattern, and bears the embroidered silver eagle badge for divisional general and upward, on a brick red backing. Such tropical helmets were usually khaki but were also seen in much lighter shades, sometimes an off-white colour. C3: Maggiore, 116th Infantry Regiment, 'Marmarica' Infantry Division This division, effectively destroyed in January 1941, had been stationed in Libya at the outbreak of war. The major is wearing the privately purchased 'India' pattern cork tropical helmet. The very popUlar Sahar/ana Jacket of pre-1940 pattern has the black shoulder boards which carry his rank insignia of one gold star below the infantry badge; they are edged in gold lace for a field officer. and piped in red for the infantry. The use of mixed tropical and continental uniform items is shown by the cordeliino grey gabardine breeches, which have two black stripes flanking the red piping of the infantry. His elegant outfit is completed by a pair of officers' high brown leather boots; and he is holding a pair of Italian officers' binoculars.

D: 1T41.1A,. leAST AFRICA, 1941 D 1: Guardia di polizia, Polizia dell' Africa Italianaj Addis Ababa, Ethiopia This corporal motorcyclist wears a brown leather visored crash helmet with the small gold badge of the PAl on the front. His enlisted man's SahaJiana has brass fasces pinned directly to the collar, and his rank chevrons in red on both sleeves. The blue aiguillette fixed to his button and his shoulder strap marks his service. The light khaki breeches are worn with brown leather leggings to protect the lower leg when on his motorcycle. The PAl were well equipped, nearly

all personnel being armed with the highly regarded 9mm M1938A Beretta sub-machine gun. His ammunition belt with pouches for the short 20-round magazines was a piece of kit Issued only to the PAl; magazines were made with 10-, 20-, 30- and 40-round capacity. 02: Capitano, 10th (Eritrean) Colonial Battalion An Italian officer of one of the native battalions which made up he vast majority of troops available to defend the Italian East African empire. He is wearing a tropical peaked cap, which strictly speaking should not have been worn in the front line, but in East Africa rules rarely applied. The green centre to his cap badge shows that he is a permanent officer of this battalion and not from a support branch or assigned from Headquarters. Over his light khaki linen pre-1940 Saharlana he wears the coloured sash of his battalion, as was often the habit among European officers of Colonial units. He also has the same colours as piping around the edge of his black shoulder boards, which display his branch badge and rank insignia of three stars. His breeches. a tropical version of the continental pattern, are worn with high brown leather field boots with lacing at the foot - a feature not seen in the black continental type. He Is armed with a Model 10 semiautomatic pistol, one of the lesser known sidearms used by the Italian Army. 03: Centurione, MVSN 10th Blackshirt Legion, 'Africa' Infantry Division; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The 'Africa' Infantry Division was an Improvised formation assembled in Italian East Africa mainly from locally raised Blackshirt legions. This centurione or captain of the MVSN is wearing a tropical tunic, breeches and bustina made from sUghtly differing shades of khaki cloth. Italian East Africa was cut off from the mother country almost from the first day of the war; everything was in short supply and a great deal of improvisation took place. His rank insignia are worn on the cuffs: a gold braid diamond and three bars. The cotlar InsigOia are the usual MVSN gold fasces on black cloth double 'flames'. He is armed with the elderly Glisenti 1889 revolver - a weapon normally issued to Colonial soldiers but pressed into service by this officer due to equipment shortages.

His trousers are light khaki linen pantaloons worn with puttees and brown leather M1912 ankle boots. The M1935 pattem tropical helmet has the flaming grenade badge of the Grenadiers set on the tricolour cockade. His unit is noticeably well equipped by the standards of this isolated theatre of war. E2: Bulucbasci, 5th (Eritrean) Colonial Battalion This sergeant still proudly wears the 5th Baltation's identifying tartan sash, though many would have discarded it as surplus to requirements. His uniform is a simplified version of that worn at the outbreak of war. The /abuse has been replaced by the less prestigious and therefore unpopular bustina. He is wearing the pre-1940 camiciolto Sahariano for Colonial troops of three-button pullover construction. with his rank shown on detachable chevrons, and baggy shorts; he is barefoot - as he has been all his life. His very basic equipment consists of an old M1891 bandolier carrying ammunition for his ex-Austrian Mannlicher M95 rifle. E3: Caporale, 'Uork Amba' Alpini Battalion The 'Uork Amba' A1pini Battalion was the only unit of these specialist mountain troops in Italian East Africa. This is surprising considering the terrain. and the fact that large numbers of Alpin! had been employed In the conquest of Ethiopia five years before. This unit was named after the site of an Italian victory dUring that campaign. He wears a tropical tunic and breeches note minor detail differences from E1 - and his helmet has the green pom-pon and craw's feather of this arm of service. His equipment includes a special Alpinl walerbottle with a larger capacity than the infantry type. The carbine with folding bayonet Is the original6.5mm Carcano M1891 with adjustable backsight, not the 7.35mm 91138 modification.

E: BATTLE OF KEREN, FEBRUARY/MARCH 1941 E1: Soldato, 11 th Regiment, 'Granatieri di Savoia' Division The Savoy Grenadiers Division was one of only two divisional-size formations to fight in Italian East Africa. This private is wearing a tropical tunic with the Grenadiers' larger than normal collar patches - blue. with double white lace bars - and the by now officially obsolete divisional arm shield, on blue backing. He wears a light khaki cotton shirt with the distinctive black necktie of the Savoy Grenadiers. A Polizia dell'Africa ltaliana (PAl) motorcyclist poses prOUdly by his Moto-Guzzl In Italian East Africa. He Is wearing a light khaki Saharlana jacket with the red chevrons of his rank of corporal on the sleeves, and has a blue aigulllette hanging from his right shoulder. The distinctive crash helmet has a small brass PAl badge on the front and is made of the same brown leather as his leggings and boots. He has a Beretta M1938A sub-machine gun slung over his shoulder. See Plate D1. (Vitetti Archivel

45

green issue.) This soldier of a veteran desert division wears a British 'aertex' shirt with Italian insignia, British 'khaki drill' shorts and hobnailed black leather 'ammunition boots' - his only Italian items are the bustina, puttees, bandolier and waterbottle. On his left sleeve is the 'tank killer' badge with the number '1' in the centre, showing that he has helped destroy an enemy tank. His rifle is the 6.5mm Carcano M1941; and he holds a Breda M1935 grenade. All three types of Italian grenade were painted red and were nicknamed 'Red Devils' - they had a reputation for unreliability and lacked explosive force. The 'Pavia' Division, isolated at the far southern end of the Axis line with little transport, had no chance to retreat after B Alamein. F3: Soldato, 31st Guastatori Battalion The 31st Guastatori - Assault Engineers - were an elite unit specially trained In the laying and removal of landmines under fire. This soldier wears the M1933 steel helmet painted sand colour with the Guastatori badge stencilled in black. On the left sleeve of his first-type pUllover carnic/otto Sahariano he displays the Guastatori badge - a sword over a flaming mine on a green backing - and on the collar the flame of the Engineer branch. Light khaki linen pantaloons are worn with the usual puttees and boots. His small kit is carried in a redundant M1933 gas mask bag; a 7.35mm Carcano M1938 rifle is slung over his shoulder, and he has drawn his combat dagger to help In probing for mines during the assault on Tobruk. G: BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1942

sergeant of paratroopers wearing the M1941 light khaki tropical collarless tunic with a matching beret and trousers, Note the paratroopers' cap badge, the distinctive collar patches, and rank chevrons on his upper sleeves. Above his left breast pocket he wears the unofficial parachutist's brevet In gold-coloured metal. See Plate 03. (Franco Mesturlnl Archives)

46

F: NORTH AFRICA, 1942 F1: Marine, 'San Marco' Marine Battalion One battalion of the 'San Marco' Marine Division formed part of the garrison of Tobruk after its capture in June 1942, and gained a good reputation as a hard-fighting unil. This marine is wearing the special uniform issued to the battalion during its service in North Africa. It consists of the M1933 steel helmet with the stencilled anchor-and-crown badge of the Marine Corps; and a sand-coloured tropical jumper (complete with sailor's collar) and shorts, worn with long canvas gaiters. The webbing equipment. too, was special to the Marines; it was originally made In Britain and was modelled on the M1908 British pattern, later copied by the Italians. The excellent Beretta M1938A sub-machine gun seems to have been ISSUed in Quite large numbers to this elite unit. F2: Caporale maggiore, 27th Infantry Regiment, 'Pavia' Infantry Division Large amounts of British and Commonwealth kit were captured with the fall of Tobruk in June, and many Italian soldiers were grateful for the chance to make up for their own shortages. (DAK soldiers, too, are on record as finding British tropical uniforms more comfortable than their own olive-

G1: Sottotenente, 21 st Motorised Artillery Regiment, 'Trieste' Motorised Division This second lieutenant is dressed in the comfortable and practical Uniform worn by many Italian officers in North Africa. His bustina is the M1942 model with cloth visor, which came In several variations and was in Widespread use during the latter part of the desert war. The M1940 officer's Sahariana carries his black-backed shoulder boards edged in the yellow of the artillery, bearing the artillery badge and his rank. On the right sleeve of the jacket he displays a single silver wound bar. There were three grades: gold = war wounded; silver = wounded in service; and red = 'wounded for the national cause'. On his collar he has the blue patch of a motorised division overlaid with the artillery's single yellowedged flame. Many Italian soldiers found leather sandals, with or without socks, far more comfortable than boots. He is armed with the Italian officer's favoured sidearm. the reliable 9mm Beretta M1934 semi-automatic pistol. Forming part of the Axis mobile reserve at the northern end of the EI Alamein line, elements of 'Trieste' managed to withdraw after the battle; they were still fighting on the Mareth line in Tunisia in March 1943. G2: Sergente maggiore, 7th Bersaglieri Regiment, 'Trento' Motorised Division A sergeant-major of this famous Ight infantry corps sports their flamboyant cockerel feathers on his tropical helmet; these were also seen attached to the steel helmet. The popular second-type carnic/otto Sahariano bears here the double crimson collar flames of the Bersaglieri, and his yellow rank chevrons on both upper sleeves. The rest of his outfit Is conventional, apart from the brown leather twin cartridge pouches - a special model peculiar to the

Bersaglleri, and more compact than the standard type. The normal weapon of these mobile troops was this 7.35mm Carcano M1891/38 carbine with folding bayonet and fixed backsight. At EI Alamein the 'Trento' fought south of Kidney Ridge, facing the infantry attacks of British 30 Corps; it was effectively destroyed. G3: Sergente, 'Folgore' Parachute Division The small but elite 'Folgore' Division, shipped to North Africa In July 1942 when the planned invasion of Malta was cancelled, fought wi h great courage in the infantry role at EI Alamein, where they were largely destroyed facing British 13 Corps south of the Munassib Depression. This figure shows the special uniform worn by paratroops In North Africa, including the M1938 helmet and the collarless M1941 Sahanana-style jacket. Note the paratroops' bright blue collar patches bearing a sword and stylised wing above the star. The baggy trousers hide the tops of the high black leather jump boots with rubber soles. The ammunition pouches, also unique to the paratroops, were made of light khaki canvas; note the differences between the upper and lower (grenade) pockets. (Some 'Folgore' paratroopers carried their kit in draw-string bags when nothing else was available.) He is armed with the excellent9mm Beretta M1938A sub-machine gun; this late model. with multi-slot muzzle compensator and without provision for a bayonet. was the most common version.

H: TUNISIA, 1942-43 H 1: Soldato, 91 st Infantry Regiment, 'Superga' Assault Landing Division The 'Superga' was designated an 'assault landing' division when training to take part In the planned invasion of Malta. Instead it was sent to North Africa as a badly-needed reinforcement, and fought in the conventional Infantry role. Like most reinforcements brought over from Italy he is wearing the standard continental uniform; by the late stages of the campaign few soldiers had much in the way of tropical uniform. but most would have been grateful for the extra warmth of woollen clothing in the winter hills of Tunisia. The only notable point is the use of a sacking cover on his helmet; these were also made from camouflaged material cut from tent quarters. As the gunner in the crew of an 8mm Breda M1937 heavy machine gun he has a M1934 pistol for self-defence, holstered on his grey-green leather belt. The gas-operated M1937, fed with trays on the Hotchkiss principle. had some eccentric features but was by far the most reliable of the Italian Army's motley range of machine guns. H2: Camicia nera scelta, 'Giovani Fascisti' Division A lance-corporal in the 'Young Fascists' Division, which fought with some distinction in North Africa and Tunisia, including the defence of the Mareth line against British 8th Army In March 1943. The tasselled black felt fez was the Blackshirts' distinctive headgear; the 'GGFF' wore this or the tropical helmet in action - the division was never issued steel helmets. The collar Insignia worn on this second-type camiciotto Sahariano were unique to the 'Giovani Fascisti': a red double flame edged with yellow. His equipment is conventional; he carries his personal gear in a light canvas 'tactical bag'. and Is armed with the 7.35mm M1938 rifle. H3: Tenente, X' Arditi, 'Camionettisti' unit The 10th Arditi Regiment was formed in 1942 as a special paratroop unit trained for commando-type operations behind Allied lines. After extensive training elements of the unit were sent to Tunisia. Equipped with SPA43 Sahariana desert trucks mounting 20mm cannon and several machine guns, this 'Camionettistl' ('light truck') unit performed similar missions to the British Long Range Desert Group and SAS, and appear to have been successful in this role. A wide variety of uniforms were worn, but this lieutenant has the grey-green beret, collarless Sahariana-style jacket and baggy trousers of the paratroops. The distinctive blue double flames of the X' Ardlll are worn on the upper chest, and the Arditi badge and paratrooper brevet on the left sleeve; his rank Is worn on the cuffs in the regulation manner. He is well armed with a Beretta M1938A, M1934 pistol and a combat dagger, and has acquired a pair of German binoculars.

An 81mm mortar crew of the 'Giovani Fascisti' Division prepare to fire from a trench. Two are wearing the black rell fez with their grey-green uniform while the other, unusually, has an 'India' pattern solar topi. Wearing the fez in combat became the trademark of these units, and added to their reputation for reckless courage. The chevrons on the sleeve of his grey-green wool M1940 tunic identify the left man as a sergeant-major. See also Plate H2. (Robert Stedman Collection)

47

INDEX •;g>l"'" ill bold

f~f~r t" 1lI11.. r'I~K"

~,. 11I.!l6. " . '

·G.....",,;

' ..'a1i.:l" •.-. Arm) O. 3

'"fI........'d..-

« .•

i.'. 7

(UlOm>J

lIMo t18!l&-19-401

1.'"

"-ito, f"orifl \br>h..al.-'..-., (I8';'6.197!1 4-l

Iln•..h:ond t:.:.o".............oI'h , ....... !>-1>,8. 9. IS. Iii, 17. 17

111~_

~.!1

npI,......t '....I"" .... Ft. ».:H. Ib QM~ 4.1>.6,8.,... mid M':Ilhn dUlh,,'ll Ill. :IO-~l ..JkJN>ol ......... Ot.4.4 !t.n.~.40 4142.

"

.,.,....,........

~,ll

a.

.....lorm> A. 1. !170M, ..........0><1 ,""".... Il. I!

~(~I.

-t:oJ. u. I.'>

.~ \/rioo'MRJl'>'IIi".I!l-41 6-1 '~p.

.....ian .., , _ of !I

EI ~

bo"'" .... nod On<>t>o'M.h """,,Ion

I!H! {;., 150-I6,JJ, 1<0-47 ....,." u 2•• "-:I. 41

f •.." 'I. t:'-!•. 1\. 'il., 46 f ' ....."""""'" II...:! l-'iW:<"r.o. c.n.n-... 7

C""",,"" M'''' HI. 11 16.:,ol1 ( .... ~!1

u,w.'n

C. :S.1.

». :S7. 3&. :sa. -H. of6

I~,

·B;o"J..-,.n· U

.........1lb.l,1k 8
fJ ,'obnlr,n 16 I..""" 10

.......... Am

0 . . _ ' \rww' I.'>CLobltI

w,,,. 9tGblcI

-o.._

111...hl<-1.12n..... 1 .\Iililg 0..-.... !>i....} ........h"'"' - - . . lHlt:o.I:*l ......hu'"' ....... CS II:S. II, "'. 5+.1\o.lHl",,*I, 41.12."'.4;...... _ S l'obAr Uell" \roo I....... lr\l} 01. So!1 J5o.36. ~~,

Ill. lB.:!!), %1 !l. M.

81.C2.. Ill"

J:-an. I.............-..c..&oncl :s

l'l.n. 4J. It

...." ........."... ....tk ..... 11lh.r.th .·n.n-.·Ig.U 17 ~ lunlc 01. 3<01 f<:bno-r.... .\bnb 19011 E.

."

~rorld.\I~""""AIben{IM:>-I9001

......Icnh... II I..b
OperAl

()pcnI"'" ·Cru.;oolcr' 14 Opr....l"'" 7 .... h Iii

"'~lnLon....

,.....

.

U. 2,1, M, «, 4~. oj(~ 47 (01" :01 uru" 02, 37. t.'> h..- IV Ct. 20. 2 I. !'l. H

I;

d n _ »l Ldllrl Icdi;on ......,...,. ,he :s,~. 7. 19

mr...,......&'......

"like", C. CI. liS. :1.1, Il, 111, Ill, Ill. 20. !II.",

T....... 16-17

.u.8.a.:S.I. I •. 11.18.!1.

K.t3, H

lho-......-

n

11011... Son\;llt\,1lld, _ _ ..r A.1

!~.

I~

.oloou;oIlrOOf'> AI.37...."8. tS

C:r. II. II. 11. 211. 2L~7

br.och~

22,

a. 37. t3. ",:n. M. SIl. of6

AI. n

""fJI"'"I .........

Announ'
~

In>Ilp>

...",1 hel"""" f.

I'

&Ub<~ \ ~

.\bNW Rodolf!) (1&:l'!.I!ffi) 7.1l.!l 3

:n.

'5.17. II. Ill-I'. :k.S1

».

(~ ...

So"" I

111.<4:;

I bi~ .xu:.-".. f.mpcmr- .... \bo"",,,u (11l9'2.197:0) (i ...,.~. 2~. 47 !he ' " ' - CI. 14. I!>. 18. 20 21. 37. S7.:sll.

R. It•• ,

118!l18-1!H~1

F.1h..."..

EI.~.!>.

(:rca, IIoQl"

an'i-t:onll!'.... \l, l'.ll.l~l!l "'~ """"'''''. ofs""". l>u........ \'o<",

112.21.

t .. ",,,,ti<-ri di S;,,'U<:l I,;'........ W.. e"..lio-n ,...

Alp
r_...,· (\"''''8 f*lOb On"...."l

33.17.47

"oldioA."" .. {"i.~ M,rA dfoi....... ,h.. i ·v...... Qno,II""" 1L>J

14

-."

......b !G. n. !t. "- jlI..'ll• ..0

~"

Rc-dAtn-Coroup ~I"'! 1I...JS<-a.1hoo 6 Il......-I. Cn>tooI .:...... 111I91-19+t1 10. I:s. 14. lot-I!>. l!l. 16. 17

19. 36, 1$+1. H 1.ibI;an 1I00p !I!. 9lLllllo'I."'. '16. 37..

.

.n...-.. n"

I~

:t'l. ~ 0

.\1_ Il.lt .\bo-rdIlm.-. ""'" 17 \bo-iI..,. n.n. t6

'irdl R;u,--.o.nl 9

-' """"

..,,(MGlI:I.~

....... ~.I~

u... ,

\l.-dioc
.\1.,...,. c...n.rnI Go<><_ 11m-1!Q) 21 .\I""'!l"""""o C.cncc:aIllcTn:Md 1__ 11N!7.I976} I!>. 17 ""...... 11·12 .\I.-.Ii"~"",,,... (1 19D} 3.1I,,1:s \l\'S' ...iIi"" AS. 83. DS.~.~. r'ILol*I.I. 111" 24. I$. +t. '""' I. 45

....1.. 4. It, IS. I~ Tob
\'0--' C""orn! At~hd>alol ,."...,,~ t 18ll5-19501

'.14

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