Alamein, July 1942. Italian 99th Battery, isolated, faces attacking Australian infantry and tanks; the gunners do not abandon their 149/40 guns: barrels lowered, they commence furious fire….. This book aims to rebalance the poor reputation of Italian forces often portrayed in non-Italian accounts: Italian victories downgraded and defeats highlighted. Acknowledging generalship failures in the 1940 retreat from Sidi Barrani and Beda Fomm catastrophe, and obsolescent equipment disadvantages, the authors contend that Italian forces were frequently no worse than contemporaries in North Africa. They present evidence on a number of levels: the Italian soldier – morale, leadership; organization and training; inferior weaponry handicaps, though not entirely (Italian medium tanks were equivalent to British Cruisers, and the 90/53 gun similar to the German 88mm Flak); maintaining the 1800km Via Balbia supply line despite transport shortages; the Regia Aeronautica in ground support; Regia Marina in aiding resupply across the Mediterranean; and the Regio Esercito, ‘Camicie Nere’ ‘Blackshirt’ militia, colonial Libyan divisions, total manpower substantially above German allies for most of the campaign. This is an Italian perspective of North African battles: the first Italo-German counteroffensive after Rommel’s arrival; the 1942 second Italo-German counteroffensive and Gazala battles; the Axis ;responses to Operation Brevity, Battleaxe and Crusader offensives; the Alamein battles; battles with Allied armies following the Torch landings; the retreat to Tunisia and Tunisia battles. The Italian army fought on for four days after the German surrender in May 1943. One hundred pages are fact-jammed appendices covering orders of battle, divisional histories, unit commanders, tanks, semoventi, artillery, trucks, uniforms. This is a gem of a book providing an alternative view on the North African war, and goldmine of information. Photos, many from private collections, maps, artwork. Thanks to Helion for the sample.

John Ham, 2024.