Sacrifice on the Steppe: The Italian Alpine Corps in the Stalingrad Campaign, 1942-1943

397 Pages·2011·2.91 MB·English

by  Hope Hamilton

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SACRIFICE ON THE STEPPE
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SACRIFICE ON
THE STEPPE
The Italian Alpine Corps in the
Stalingrad Campaign,
1942–1943
By
HOPE HAMILTON
Philadelphia & Newbury
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Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2011 by
CASEMATE
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and
17 Cheap Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5DD
Copyright 2011 © Hope Hamilton
ISBN 978-1-61200-002-2
Digital Edition: 978-1-61200-013-8
Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress
and the British Library.
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any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying,
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CONTENTS
Preface ix
PART I
ITALIAN TROOPS ARE SENT TO RUSSIA
1. The Invasion of Russia 3
2. Summer of 1942 19
3. The Trek of the Alpini 32
4. On the Don Lines 37
5. General Conditions on the Don Front 59
6. The Soviet Winter Offensive Begins 69
7. Transfer of the Julia Division 76
8. Encirclement of the Alpine Corps 98
PART II
LA RITIRATA:
WITHDRAWAL OF THE ALPINE CORPS FROM THE DON
9. Retreat During the Height of Winter 111
10. The Cuneense and Julia Continue to Withdraw 129
11. Disaster on the Steppe 140
12. Withdrawal of the Tridentina Division 145
13. Out of the Encirclement—The March Continues 176
14. Survivors of the Withdrawal Return to Italy 184
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CONTENTS (continued)
PART III
PRISONERS OF WAR
15. Capture at Valuiki 195
16. Marches of the Davai 201
17. Prisoner of War Transports 211
18. Prisoner of War Camps—The First Months 218
19. Camps Suzdal and Krasnogorsk 237
PART IV
IL RITORNO: RETURNING HOME
20. The Homeward Journey 275
21. Le Perdite—The Losses 298
Epilogue: A Sign of Hope 308
Postscript 311
Composition of the Italian Alpine Corps 318
Acknowledgments 321
Notes 325
Bibliography 351
Index 359
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Telling this story saves it from a definite death—
that of being forgotten . . .
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PREFACE
During the Second World War, the Italian nation reaped the tragic
results of years of Fascist rule under Benito Mussolini, who assumed
dictatorial powers three years following the formation of the Fascist
Party in 1922. Not only was Mussolini head of the Italian government,
he was also responsible for Italian military policy for more than twenty
years. Moreover, he was minister for all three armed services during
1925–29 and 1933–43.
Intent on maintaining an imperial image and emulating the glorious
days of the Roman Empire, Mussolini clothed himself as a warrior by
means of bellicose rhetoric combined with showmanship and propa-
ganda; but the truth was that Italy was not nearly prepared for war.
Nevertheless, Mussolini entered the conflict by declaring war against
Great Britain and France in June 1940. He told his then Chief of the
Supreme General Staff, Marshal Pietro Badoglio, “I need several thou-
sand dead to be able to take my place at the peace table,” as he justified
his intervention.1
Various treaties bound Hitler and Mussolini together: the Anti-
Comintern Pact, November 1936, the Tripartite Pact, 1940 (both of
which included Japan), and the Pact of Steel signed in May 1939, yet
neither dictator conducted foreign policy with much regard for the
other, often giving little or no notice of their intentions to their ally. Such
was the case when Mussolini invaded Greece in October 1940, and
when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.
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