The Italian Army 1940–45 (1): Europe 1940–43

26 Pages·6.119 MB·English

by  Philip Jowett, Stephen Andrew

'1 -
340
M1gll11 MEN-AT-ARMS
MILITARY
THE ITALIAN ARMY
1940-45 (I)
EUROPE 1940-4
PIIILIP S jO\\ ETT STEPIIE,\ \'\DRE\\
F...I~In2000by0.",...,.P1Jbll~h~ Dedication THE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-45
ElmsCo<J<1,Cha;>eIWay Bolley,O~tOla0)(29LP
Email'If>J<>CIoop<eypubIist""I!corn ToBuckWeed (1) EUROPE 1940-43
Acknowledgements
AllfiIlhtsreserved Aparl!romanytwQeIlllng101,hepo.II'pO$eofpltVQle'l...:!y.
'ese<lfCh,cmk:&n01=Itm ""'permilledunct...tileCop)'rig~1 De5ignsRna Th<sboo0k'WooldnOIhavebeenpoSSibleWlthoUIIhehelpof11large
Pa'antsAcl.19811.nopanoIlhlSpwbltcatlorlmlIyberep<oQ'u<:ed.'laredIna number peoplewhohaveaSSiStedmeInmanyways.Imust
'oll''''''31system.01transmmedinany!orm01byanymeans,&10:;:""",>::,•• recordmygralltudetoStephenAndrew.CharlesBUIte'}',John
lrK:<ll.ci>em;coJ,m"cNmica! opl.cat,ptIotoCOllY"'Q.rflC0rd!n901otlWWtse, Carlin,NedChamp'on, PalJlCorm!5h,RudyD'Angelo,O,noOJ
Masuo,MarkDial. IanDrury,SteveKiddie.DarkoPaVlOvic,Glyn
w1thOlJltI'"""""Wflll""pe1'"1tS5>Qtlo!IheC<»Mhlow,,", Er>qU\fIe$o.hOuiClDe
addrMs;,(!101lI<lPub\,'Mr!l, Roberts,RTomasiaridPalJlV.Walsh, THE ITALIAN ARMY IN JUNE 1940
For thaJ,assistancewithphotog'aphsImustthankP<eroC'ooanl,
Alexei Ivanov,A)les.andfOMasS'9r1an1, Franco Me'tlJMI.Marco
ISBN'85532864X
Novarese,RobertSledmanandRexTrye.Particularthanksmustgo An officerphotographed ina IIAI.\ r"Tio:R£1.l TilE Sl:cuud \\'urld \\"ar 011 10.June 1~llU, a full len
toNigelThomaslorl'IlSgleat~IpWithIherankcharts,andto
OOEe<"si"<g"llln"n:"MtA"a"l,nanJony!iWCa<mi>nIpdol<fOJoIweP.s~Jlghn.lofor>rd<B>ot1ok. JCaomunet!lEBmureds,lOMVariclee"ll'o!ORI"ahvISa'ohhosapnlldalrGtyu_idIowRouolsdlganlsooillloikrethtoeIrmank btroerndcehrdcuamrinpgaitghneoAflb1a9n4l0a-n4/1O,rHeeek mm~ttIlt~tlshttI,Tan-t'r\\t"htLll:l~t(a'Onlols.lfdIielrl;'lCbtlJellnpiunp.iSllianIC't'~hlislpappupntlin-ll.lIWII tl1t9a,2~2p.rilmhle'
PnntO<!If>GrnnalhfC<J9h_ PMIllO patienceandfortheIrWllllrl9r1esstosha,emell'9M-atknowledgeof wearsthe Mt940grey-green demag:o:.{lIt' BeJlilO i\llIssulini (18:-l,q...J9·15) had furgl:d Ilis Fa~ci~l J'arty
IhesubJeclWIthafellowerlthus,asL uniform withcaptain'scuff
000l02030<11C98765~32 rllnking; IheM1933sleelhelmet gO\l'rt1I1ll'IH i"lo a g:eJlerall~ dfcni\l· dictawr~hip uIHkr hi~ 0\\"11
Author's note with branch badge stencilledon le;ldership ;15 'If Duu>". wilh Ihe powerk~sl\.ing: \lClor EllltlJanuel III as
FORACATAlOGUEOFAl.lTTTlESPU8LJS1-lEDBYOSPREYMIUTARY, thefront In black; aholstered a nalional ligllrehead. (\\'hile many uLlu'ages and murders "·ere
AUTOMOTIVEANDAVIAnoNPlEASEWAITETO: Forthoseunfamiliarw<thItalianAn11ynomenclature.notethatAlpinl Beretta on II 'Sam Browne' belt; COllHtlilll:d in iL~ Il;tnl('. it ~hOllld pefhap' be Iioled tilat ,II Iea'i Ix'/ure
TWheeII"M'IIal>rIo<rl<I\>"J'l9lhM,Na"o"rllIlUe"ln.lOSsNprNv8y4PZA~."U!"nIeaLK'a>.nPgOdorBnox1010, l8PldueragQ,e.eAolp!lnsope(sciinaglisueladr)ereqfwe.o-mtoetnrtue,lIm\doturanilnailnng,traonodpsB,eWrsitahgal.tenlea(pslt.). panudttedeosu,bHleesIo.cnkost,Inhsotweeavdeor,fan 194:{ i\llIssolini·s regiulc II':\S Hul guilty of lhe large seille, w~telllali('
Email,1f>1000spteyDir&CLcO.llk 8erS3gllere(sing.)toIhe''9htIn!antry: bothcategoriesare infantryman, butII member01a barbarities of.\!azi Gennam.)
historIcallyregardedasehtetroops. FinanceGuardunit- some01 In i\la~ 19~9 ;\Iu:-sulilli had cllllC'1udnllht.: 'Pac( ~lrSIt.:el",;t mililar...
TheMar1<"''''9M"""'!I"'".{lwreyD1""" USA.POBox130.St!l11lngH<!1\1ht., Designations suggesting specialist roles for inlantry
these securitytroopswould see alli;tncl' \"idl Genn<lnr He had Ilevenlwks... held h;tI.:k frl1l1ljnining' hi~
MI483''-ro10.USA dIVIsions (see keytoTaole A. page38)- e.g. 'mountain' or
EmaH'If>loOO"",eyDil'l!'CtUSA,com 'sem,-motoflsed' etc. - should be unde,stood as largely Sllff fighting inOreece(see Plate A.xis parUler ill ho~tilities against thedemocracies. because he kn(:I" thai
theoretical, II not pu,e propaganda, In practice the Issue of HlI,Inthebackground noteIhe hi~ t"l)UllU:, was ill-prep;tn::d to rig-Ill <l tmuur war <lg-aill~t Eurupean
Orv"ittheOstxeyweb'Olteat. vehicles andothereqlJlpment fell farshort ofthe level FinanceGuardversion ofthe
opponellis-. ~O"'. hOI'ewr, 1,11h Fr:Hlcefltl thew'rge ofd..f..<l1 and Hrimin
htlp:llwww.ospf<lYPllOn~hinll.com needed 10give theselIties any practical meaning Alpinelellhat; ...nlisted ranks
TheacronymMVSNreferstotheFascistParty's'Bi3ck$l1lrt' mllil<a wore blackleatherslrom a lighting :\lolle <lgainst tile might of the seemingl~ in\'incible German
units0'theMjilZiaVolorltarlaperSlcurazzaNazionale.Toa~oid yellowboss, officerswhite Wchnll;J('hl, he look his cballce, Ht.: lwlicw'd that 1\1 deb) ,llly lunger
1c0o1"nctuasmio'dnewneerdoo.n'BOlaIuckssahhiretrse'theIlalianpluralabbreviallonCCNN l(eFarathnecorsMfreosmtuarinmieAlraclhbivoesss). \\'Illdd rill Ilah al ri~k ollosillg"0111 on the sh:uing-(Ifthespoil>;o(virlvrr
Inthephotographcrechts,USSME..UfticlOS'OficoDelleStato llis gamble on a quick Axis \'iewry "'il~ to prOle ruinollsl\' costl" for
MaggfofeEsefClto. his COlIIIIr\': il 1,'ollltl lead tu the u\(:nhn)l, oflli... ~I-\l';lr full::. alld lO his
Ashanbibliog,aphylorthewholeserieswillappearInIhethird
own death.
~olume DEtailSoftheestablishmento!e.g.armouredand
motonseddl~lSionsWillappearmthesecondvolume.
Oll paper haly had a largl' and r;lirl~ \"dl-eqllipped ;Jnn~'.alld although
Artist's note j\llIssolini's lllllCh-<PIIHI'd bOilst of tl million Italian bayonets was 1l0t
credible she cOllld raise a large if unmodernised force. The Ann~"'s
ReadersmaycaretonotethattheorigInalpaintingsfromwhk:hthe
eoloorplatesInthisbookWe«!preparedare1I~allablela'pnvate lIlobiliscd slr('l1g111 illJune 1940 was l,(i30,OOO; this wuuld later rise to a
sale AllreprodllCHoncopYrightwhatsoe~eris'etainedbythe Iwak of2..rH)~,OOO. TIll' Ilaliall :\nn~ \\'a:" <luiIt' capable offig-hIingaOIlC
Publishers.Ailenquiriesshouldbeaddressedto;
campaign w:trwhen all IheCOulltry's resourcescOllld be ch:tnndled illin
StaphenAndrew,
87Ellisland. K'rklntilloch,GlasgowG662UA,Scotland a natiullal cHon un one front. This had been the ca:.e in the First \\"orld
ThePlJbllshersregretthattheyCanenterIntonocorrespondence \,\'ar, wlwn 111<" lJ;tlian Ann} had managt'd III ~Il~tain a Inng and hitter
uponthismatler.
struggleagain:"t the Allstro-Illlll,lf-irian Empire. :'-10\'.. howe\·er.shewOllld
be drawn into war all ai, leaSI lWO frOllts siml.lllaneotL>;ly, lighting: large
seal" campaigns in hOlh ~onll Afrinl ami tilt· B'llkalls. and lalcr
pnwiding a lar~(' coming-ellt for Gt:nnan~··sRussian Frout. This kintl of
tOlal war was far be\'Und the capacit} ofItaly's limited resourccs.
,-\[ lhe ollturea\..Of\\~lflilt.: Italian Arm~ llad a ~Irellg:lh 01'73di\'bions
TITLEPAGE Aprivate01the227th InfantryRegiment, His tIl<id,· np of ]()6 illfantry rChrimcn1-'>, 12 rq,rimell15 of lkrsaglit'ri Pig'll!
M1940Jacket bears theyellow-over-green collarpatches of inbntry), !OofAJpini (mountain troops). 12 regimentsofcavalry.5lank
the'Rowigo'InlantryDivision; i1nd on hisbreilstthe 'CSIR
regiments, 12 of artillery and 19 of engineers. The Italian t\nlll was
Cross' award identifies him as one 01thequarter01 a
basically an inranlry rorn' ,dtll \"l't"~ liltle Illcchanisation and a shortage
million Italian troopswhoserved ontheRussian Front.
(USSME) ofthe basic requirementsfor modern war. Much 01 lheequipmcnt dated 3
h,l( k to tilt, tlll'll Ilf lht' te11lllt,' and the First World \\':lr. ,ltld Ill,ltl" 01 OPPOSITE Agroup01officers and (OOl1lhal-wonlw I\IYS:\,
(','ell lhe more modern item.) wcre appr~)adlitlgOhM>k,(1'l1fl', leavetheirHOduring a pre-war llnits were ~i,'en the litle 01
am; tellillg' SI:l1blif i, that itl.Jlltll· 19-10 Ihe It,tlian Ann\" h,ld a tOlal .xen;:I,., From NBrightto tett: '1\[ Banatilm:.·; :'~Ittt~· uf
loreground, anAlpinl lieutenant
of i,9iO pit:cn of arlillt-r. of I\'hich only 2--16 had bt.·cn 11l,11l111,IClllrt:d tll..:'I..' rouKIH in both Rll~~ia
colonel- notechevronranking
1>illct' 19:1O. A majnril\ 01 tht" field l-'1.IllS ill lI:.e l\l·l1.: ex·.\lI'lri:1l1 I1Itk"ld, lustvisibleonside01hat; and Yugl)~la\"ia as anti
hantlt.'d o\'cr 'l~ 1,';lr rcp:ll';tliolt~ ill 1918. ~la1l\ t.f the j:C\lIl~ had heen mlddleground,a general pani....1lI Iroop:..
implO\t:d bl It'pl.ldllg tht' (lId \\'oo<lcn-<;poked I,hed.) with :-tl'd: llll" commanding anarmy; mlddle
mighllooktllodl'l"nlwcauseoftbl'.)ccv:.melic:ahl't~llioll'.hlllllll' haIT('I., 9round,anAlplnlcolonelwitha
divisionalshield ....hislett CAMPAIGNS
IH.'rc still 40 H...l1.... old,
sleeve; background,a major01
Tltt' It'lliall armourl'c1 force I\';"ISquite formidable 011 p.tpcr. I,ith VIC!' theTransportCorps.All these
iOOlallI...,-;1.)trl·nglh I,'hidtcomparedEal(lurahh 1\ilh lilt:otht:rI~\\\l'r,. ollice,.wearthe'conJel/ino' France
Clo-..er cxitmin.ttion, 1100\e\t:r. ~hm,-.; lhal lhc I~L"I lllajoril\' of Ihi'''C:' unilorm,with twoblackvelvet 1I.th·~ ckcl;u';"Ilion of war
'tanJ..:-' I\l'n: ill fa('II:1l1J..t:lh.'~: tim t,,'o-manYehide~arlll<"d with machilh' stripesdownthebreeches alflill't Fr.lIIC'e and Brilain
lIankin.ga centralpipinginthe
l{un~ and with annour 100 lhin 10 stop marhine gUll hulkt" ~Iorl' on 10 JlInt" 19-10 "as
branchcolour. Forrank insignia
modern lllk~wen' in production: bIll a~ dll'''C IleW('l' lUnd{,I, ClIllt' illlo detailsHecharton page41. lollO\,'cd on til{' 20th I" the
"Cnicc lhel '\I'l"t' quickh ~{'II 10 be olllclassed ('\('n hI thl' Briti~h I.lllk, IRnTrye) opt:lling uf :til nfTell:-ile
- IhcnN..he~ hardh' lhe mO~1 impressin' in Europe- "hich llll" Ill'Il' H\ imo French lelTiton in the
face in :'\"onh AfriCil, \\t::.lcrn ,\Ip.) and along the
Tilt: hali<ltl infmHn dh'i,ion had a different qnlClUrt* from lhox' of Thecrewofa M1935B1mm \!f-clill'ITanl'i\n coa~t1ine.
01111'1' COIIICIIl»Or.U"\ annies in lhat il onh had 1\\0 illfitlltr. rl'gilll1'1l1' mortardurln.ga pre-wartrain;n.g fhe Italian amw of :{2
....n;:i....Thecaporale liasthe
and nne anillcn reg-illlt.'IH on ~trcllgth,1,-hereMin most otht:r annk~a di\'i~ion~ made liule
M1931S1rey-ereentunicwith
dil·i.)iou 11lIdat leil.)1 Ihn'c n:gimenbofillfantn'pill"threeorlourgroups blackfelt collarfacin....and his ht,;\Ch\';1\ in thl' difficult
of.tnillel"\.Thi, "O-Gtlled ·billar.. I\peofdil'ision wasa llt;~(Jr1\I'aJ..lll·'>'. divisionalpatcttes, Hisblack terrain 01 lhe mountains,
cHon iJ on P."lpel' il galC the impre,~iolltJl<H thl' '""Iian .\1'11' had more sleevechevronsarethe larger ancl (mil managed 10
patternused ITom 1931to 1939.
formations. ~1:1I1~ of,Ill..' eli,i~il)Il'l "ere f.,r from lip 10 ~Irength- 0111 of c"plllrl' a fl'W Alpinc
Althoughwecannot'5efIit, the
tll{' i3 Ull papc:'l'onh ,om{' ~Owere fulh manned and equipped, lanyarda"",nd his neckis lillal{cs, On lhe cuast Lh('\,
probablyattached toa holstered managed 10 capture lhe
The MVSN 10.35mmBodeoGlisent; 1889 ,mall French Ri\-icra IUWII uf~klllOlllx,rurc Ihe FrclJclt '1IlTt'llCkrto lhe
nil' ·Rlack:.hins' oflilt' :>.IYS:'>1 or.\'olmHan'~Iilitiafor :\'aliooal Sc.:cllnl'' revolver. ThisantiquewasstillIn Italian~ wa,- ~igned 011 2,1 .Julle. Tht: Italian ~ohliel"~ fought br.n·ely
widespreadservicewittl the
wcre tJle militan arm of lite Italian F:boci~t Parl\. Originalh' enough. bUl "'{'re kldown - as tltl'" I,'cre to he ill ftllure campaigns- b~'
italian Armyin 1940, andwasto
the militia had a public .\<Celilitl rollo, hut from lhe carl\' 193Us it was bad pbl1lnillg and org-.J1Ii'alioll, (01lt: ,mall htll 1{'llil1g t:x<lmplc of the
continue Inuseuntlttheendof
lllilitarb,..:d and \,~t~ con~idef('(1itS h:lk'~ fourth :mlled thewar,(Vitetti Archive) laller \\~I" Ihe fac! 111:11 ll1<' :1m\\' field kilchell~ often did not hal'e lhc
RO~~11 Anlly. Naw and Air Force. RaiW'o frum \'01 necessar. poLSand palls lO lilah' the soldkrs a hot meal in lhe fret:zillg
WHet'r ll1cl1'1bcr~of lht-, F'L...cisr Parr" hClw(:'('ll llll' 1940 Infantry Cllmlition:- ill lhl' Alp:-.) Italian lo:.~(·s ror sllch :1 :.horl campaign 1\"l:l"C
age~ofJ7arId50 (ill 1,"0"A"t' classes. theoleiN men Division bt::I',\. ,,'itb 631 killed. ~.361 \\'olltldt:d, 2,000 cases offmSlbile and 600
servinl{in Tl"niwrial hau:ltioll~).it\\-dl> supposc.::d lO Establishment men missing, "this COInpares with tlte Frellch Jusse'i of '10 killed, $4
pr(wide a miliwl"y force oflllJ(lllcstionill,i,rlo~~lltylu \\'olltldecl :lml 15() llli~siilg:.
i\'ll~ofini'sregime. 2/trlanlTyRegrs
~31,..
III ;til effort to illlegr:ue the l"rVSN with rhe EIiackshinLt1gIoo ORDER OF RA1TLE
RO\~11 Arm\' a Blacksbin 'legioll' (1'\'0 hal.Lalilllls, Mpf2..b.,n,s,,+,,$,t.JlporICOy WESTER:'\' ALPS CAMPAIGN, 20JUNE 1940
(:ach nomin,lllv (~70 :'lrong) \,'as ad(kd lO each Army Group Wesl
irlfalllr;. (livl,ioll toact ;L';a .highI\'mOti"ltt-'d" force --...P.a'.d.!"G"<,IICoy cac: G-en L'mberlO di S:'t\"oi:t
\\irhin the lonnalion. The imrodllnioll Ill' the GoIS: Cell Emilio BaubLi
or
~I\'SN uni!.\ il1\o lht' tmler bailie of the Ropl lSi Army
14300allrris
Arrm \\~h f.{ft'all\' rCS('IHed h,' Ann,- commanders. GOe: Cen Pietro Pintor
270~LMG.80xHMG
11110diSlrtlstecllhe 1\1\'5:'\andsuspected tht:irlack 12$x45mmfTlCll'lllr.l CulS: Gen Fernando Gelich
01 militar. experience. In addition ~("n:ll purc:lv .3U.x81rrrn~ 1/,\rlll.\ r,fJl1)$
8..20rrmAA.24..41rrrnAT
:\I\'S:\' t1hi,ioll" I,'crt: raised 10 light in lhe 8~&:xTxn,24..15rrm. 'Fodi', 'AcCJui'. 'Li\"()fI1o' 1111'Oi....
Eiltiopian campaign oj 19::G-36. Four :\IY5" 12..100Trn 'Clllll:t::llSl:' Alpine Di,'
dilision~I,'el'e.tl~raisedtofigln ill :'\'onh.....friC'd in .....". 111.\'-111) C.flrJ)\
8lI..motor~
1910, amI thew IIt'l"e all de~If(lled in the earh' ·R.I\Cnna·, ·\.l.illt"O' InfDi\"l
• 71 n'Vcydes.153bicycles
lighting. A~ Ihe "~Ir progre'\St"d the more reliable 1st.\Ipine Group (3,-\.Ipint.' bm pIllS2 1ll01llllitin .trtillen bns) 5
X\'Ar/ll.\' em/II Julia' .\Ipillt:: Di\, (j ,\Ipini bn~, I ,-\Ib<llli:m \·Ohllll('t·l"i h11)
1940 Alpine
'Co~'>l'ri:l',',\Io<il'na', 'Crenll>n:l' InfDivs (,',1(/1/1/1 (;11/111)
~lId Alpil1l' <:lllllp (·1 .\lpilll' 11l1'" 1BlacJ...~hin bu, Division :~f(l {~l't'nadil'l" Rq,t. '\o'la', '~li1,lIlu'C~,\ Rq{l\
Establishment
~ lllolllliain anI lm~) (It)I.11 -:\ Grenadier bll" -I Cl\ 'qu;ldlOll glOllp~,2 r\lballi.1l1 \'ols bns)
Aron' Ht'){,IlY' 2_~BrlnRugts Macedonia Sector
'Pi..loia, '(:;IUi,lloriddk'.\lpi', 'Lupi di TO'<C<lII;\' -"-".'"--""" X.\17,\1'/11,\ Cml',1
InfOil"~ ·1'.lI1na· InfDh
'Puqnia'.\lpilll' Oh An:JoTIfI/IP!lflOOn Arm}' Reserve
hi Bc.'r,.lglit..-i Rq.;l. ~rrl ,\rlllulln,d Rl'g!. °Pit'llIunlt-·' InfDi\
'\I(Jnkn~lto' el\ Rt'~1 1.3c"o>"..rtD.;s. Yugosla\ian Border
4lh Army 162ll'\MG,66"I'f.tG '\'('nt-,n<t'. '"\rt."IJO' Inl Di\...
COe: (:l'lI ,\lfn'duClIl.loni 54,,45rm1rnortln
CoIS: (,t'll ~l.lIio.'wld;tn·1Ii 24"61""ITlOflln Ilillel pn'p,ared 10 1w11) hi, ;111\ h\ ill\-.Ir1ing GICt'ce from Bulg;:lIia,
24"75tn'T1pad.~
1:\1111\'(;qrJM 550.ll3'"m"o.t"o_r"v"oen::Ia5 ,md buill lip hi,., lorces in the nalk:lII~\lIlilt' cot'reilli{mht'l'('uulIuit.', in
'~III>crg;:l', 'ClgliMi', 'PillCru]tl' InfOil" Iht, It'POIl III 'ign poKI.:> with Gennall\. YUKO.'JI.l\'ia·~re~el11.Prince Paul.
1\'Artll." ClJI!,j came lIndt·), ilea" pl...·~5un· and thrl':ib Itl 'ign Ihe ,\nuwmilern Pael,
',\s.,ieua·, 'Slorcesca' Inl Dip. much a\.,'ilinsl the wishC'" of most of hi~ j{t)\'tOrlllllL'1lt .lIId the Yugoshl\
,1I/,i,,~,-\IlII) (;mp) peuplt·, all 26 ~lilreh 19-11 a bloodlt>ss coup Ollfolllised tw Cell SimO\ic
'Taurillell'c' \Ipill(' Di\ ill lilt.' nameofIll(' \'ollng King P('lt'rn'\c....(:<1 lhi~ ami mo\-edYlIgOS!:I\;';1
Le\'anna.\U101l01ll()llS0rollp (:\ ,\Ipine bn.., tllll ul lhe pro-,\."i" camp, Ililler was fmioH' ;11 lhi~ ·ht',rd~<lr. and
11Il00mtail1 .It'l\ 1m). 3rd,\Ipilli Regt dt'dded 10 til' lhe ill\,....ions01 Grcen~ and YugOt;I:l\ia 1~C:lh(')' 10'SeCure
,\rol\ RI'$i'nIt' hi, '>OulheOl 1l:1Il1.. hefurt'll1t' pLlIlllt'c1 ill\'L,iull ufthe SO\-iel L'nion. On
'LeR'nano'. 'Brennero' Inl 01\'" 2I Februan 19-11 Gl'eece3cceplt.'d.1 P.lili'h l~ff('rf)frcil,forCelUL'IIL', bill
'Tridelllina' ,\Ipint: Oi\ lilt-' British troup'"al1d RAfS<jll.ldroll) haSlih stripped from :\'tlnh Africa
-Ilh Ik'r-';:Iglit'li Rl'gl. 1'1Annd Rib'" '~iI.l4l· C'l\ Rq;l Wl'ft'loo 1'1'\1 Inaffect lilt'OIlICOllle. On 6,\pril 1911 11.alian,md Ccnnan
10rCt.·~ ilwaded Greffe and "lIgo,1.I,ia; f;lcing U\('r\\II('\nling force"
The Invasion of Greece Manhal Badoglio_aringthe Thecrewbringa7Smm (.rl'l'te capilutlled on ~I .\pril.
:\1 dawn on 28 OClOl)I,'r 19-10,('\'t'll It..tli.111 di\,i..iolls ofllll' 9111 ,lIld Illh p,..·waruniformIntightgrey M187!l11927 flelodgun Intoa<;tion -nle im\i\'ichm] h:llian <\Oldit'I' ill ern:c(' o!tt'n loughl "ilh heroism.
Annie'> be~lIl the ill\~lsion on four lint·s of alh,mct· from Albania <;ordellinomaterialwithbla<;k InlheWestern Alpsduring the c'iJCcia1h in deff'llee, bUl lilt' :1I111\'~ ()\el~llI pf'rfonJl<IllCt' rdlcrled hoth
occupied:.ince.\prj] 1939. The\ managed 10get fin: or six mile:'> ilbidc veNet<;ollarlil<;ing,Hisservice campaignitlIalnStthe Frenc;hin pOlll prq)amlioll and low1ll0l:\k. Italian"Qldiel... lf>ll kt dO\\1l and rni~led
<;aphastherankingofiI Marshal June 1940.Allwear M1934
Gn'eH' before becollling bogged dO\\'Il, Thc\' found Iht'll1't'ht', fighling: b\ their sl1pl'riur'>, whll had It'd Ihcm 10 bclit'\c Ih.ll Ihe\ '''ould gain a
ofItaly- silvereagleonred greatcoat.andM1933steel
larger lh:1Il expent'd rc)ree", \..ho foul{hl \Iilh greal delcrmin:nioll and backing, and loursilverstripes helmets,andsome carry M1933 quid, and reb,i\-e!l- eas\' \'icton. The \\hole ('lIrrUpl nalllrc of
had .. much superior kno\\lcdge uflhe lCrT.:tin, Ilalian llniL~\I"ere olh:n abovethebroadgrecabraidof gasmasks.(USSME) lite F•.,.,dslg9\Cmrnf'mand irs\1:lrmachine\,-a:,exp<,,,ed bylitiscampaign,
lr.lpped in \,tlle~~ Ilhile Grc.:d.. forces: lIIo\(:cl lhrough till' hill~ and generalofficers. Noleabovehis in I"hieh tilt.' ordina'1
medal ribbonsthecrown and
rnmmlllil1" 10 endrdc rhem: in lhis wav Ihe Julia' .-\lpinc Di\'i"inn In"l !'ooldil'''' sun'l'fcd grcal
crossed swords badgesofWar
5,000 lllen in lhl' I'indus Corg<:s, bard~hipsl:lrg:d\' dllt' 10lh(=
Meritpromotions;thesecamein
TIl(' Grc..:eks nHltllcr-altad.cd, and br 22 Non:lllbt'r h'll! pll~l1t'd rlw thraa Clall81- sUver, gold,and illCtllnpctellce and unfol'
200,000 Ir:,liall' hack on:r thc border into Alb'lIlia, where lilt.' fig-hrill/.;' goldwith red backing, Badogllo Ki\'abl} had plallning of
lumed into n bloodl st;\!t::mate, Large Itnlian rcinlorccmClll.S WCI'C SCl'll hasoneofthelaner, meaning Iheir !t':lcler", Iwlian ItI~,,(,s
II) Iht' thealre l)\'CI'lilt' winter, bUI de~pilcmakinglimited gaill~lIlt'l'\\ef{' thatheearneda WarMerit Wl'fC llcarl~ 14,000 dead,
promotionasa general; the
unable III forcl' Ihe (~r'et'l..sOllt ofAlbania, Roth ~id('" "lInt'ret! It'l'ribl)' 2,-1,000 lIIis,.,·illg. 115,350
others maanthat he musthave
Irom the frt'c/ill.';: lemper:uures as: neilher (Irmv had :ldeqll:lle cold eamed IIWarMerit promotionto sick, IH)unc!t'd and frosr
wealher clothing, The ~titklllatl' lIQuid probably have COlllinlll'd had almost every rank heldduring his bittell, ):,riling a IOlal of JUSI
Hil1t'r IHiI dt'cidt'd ro 'iClld in G('rrnall lroops 10 br('al.. lht:' deadlm'l.. ill militarycareer, (HUlton Getty) tlll'r ]:,·1,000(;;tSlmlL.ies,
April 19-11.
Albanian Units in the
ORDER OFUA-nU: Italian Army
GREEKCA,MI>AIGN. 28OcrOBER 1940 TIll' in\'a~ion of Alhania in
Epirus Seclor April 1939 \\';,15 folloKt'd 1)\'
C;{/Illuna,\r/ll) Cm!1\ Ihe ab,.,orption of up 10
'Sitona', 'Ferr:II1I' Int". DiI.... 'Centauro' .-\1111<1 Di\ 7.000 (If Iht' 10,000 lIlen of
•
(Total - 12 inf b1l'>, 3 Ikrsaglieri bns... :lmld blls. 6 Blad,shirt bn') Ihe funller .-\Jb:tniall ,\rnn 7
10 furm Albar\i~1I1 uniu; of The Invasion of Yugoslavia
1940 Fast
the hali:\n Army. One Ilu: ill\:l.si(lll lJf (i April 19-11 sa\\" atraeks la\lll('"hed I"rom .\uslria, ILal\',
(ICelere')
Albanian MVSN Legiol1 "'as 111I1lg<lt'\, Rlimania, I~lllgal"ia alld Alhania, Illiliall~ only It;tliall :Illd
Division
fnrnwd, aJ()n~ Wilh six (,nm;tn rorces \n,..re itwoh-ed, b\l1 from II Aprillheywen'joined hv Lllc
Establishment
Royal Albanian ArlllY [lullg;lriall :~rd .\rt1I\', h.ali:m participation W<J.s limited 10 tlte 2nd .\nm,
l3altaliOl1~. 1WO Fllflrl'SS \\hielt advanccd ~<llllh\\':lrd~ dO\\'lI th!' omSl and inland to t:tk~' !la' 2QwakyRegts
.\Iachin~ (;1111 B:l1taliOlls, a "'llIH'l\ian capital Ljubljall;J; nne! the 9th Army, \\'hich came nonhwards 014sqns~ Me>Sqn
~Regt
Royal Glli'lrd B:Hlaliol1 and ItlJlli .\IIMnia alld Illct lhem in the region ofDllbrmllik,
~3
t\l'O Carabinicli Lcgi{)11S. \\'illl a cOlllhitwd fotTC of ;")O-()dd dh'i~i(Jll~ aWtill~l \'lIgo~hl\il'S ""
Tht' AJb:ll1ians were :.!H di\'i~ioll~ lhe result \\';1$ a loregone condll"ioll, :lnd Yl1g:osl:l\ia M-UgCh"t'Tror"i"yG"ovp
ATCoy
involved in the llwasion ~llilend('red 01117 April.
8etsag6M'MICycJeCoy
of Grecce lIml pcr/i,)fJm:d \'tlg\J~"l\ia \..~,~ di\'id{'d llP bl:IWt'Cll tltl: Axis pOWNS, with [lair
vcry badly. with $0111(' lllliL<; oc('"up\ing~(JuthernSlovenia. Ihe DalmaLi:lll coas\lim', :\lollteIH:,gTo,and
7,7501ll1~
e\'en firing on their own ,lrlding K(I~O\I) to :\11)<I[1i<l, Re>istance to ,lIe 1lCCllp)ing ff)l'CC~ began
2,012horses
siclt:. Looking fnr scapegoatS al[lIU~~illlillcdiately.:md \\~l~10 tit, lip Ltrgc llllmlwrsorItalian t!'Oops ftW 165xlMG,76"HMO
for hi<; arm)"s poor pl.:r till' remainder ofthe \\'~r (see pages 12-I~~), all2O'nmAA,8 x47mmAT
24xOlroerartJery
lormance in this campaign,
61 "tanks
~I\lssvlitli allell1pted LOI ORDER OF nA1TLE 641xmolorveI'Ides
pill 1l1iKh of the bl;lme 011 Yl:GOSLAV C.,\.,\fPAIGN, 6 APRIL 194\ 431 xmlcydes,2.565l:licydes
tbe Alb:\Ilian unitS invoked, 2nd Army
Despite this pOOl" sh()\\'illg \ ,\1'11I\ CmlJ\
IW\\' Alb<lnian ItllitJ; were 'HlTgarno', 'Lombardia' InfOivs
()rWlnised to help fighl the \} A1'111,\' ('(!llJJ
growingmenaceoftVbanian '~,1S~ali', 'Frillli'. 'A.~~il'lla' InfDivs
Commllnist p;:lrtisans, In .\'/1"/11\' CUJ1JS
June J9-1~ the Albanian 'R~", 'holt/o', 'Ibrenna' tnfDivs
Wirelessoperatorsofan artillel')' conlingen! o! the ItaJian Armycomisted offour ligllt infantry I"egilllent~~Jf :~rrl .-\Ipin(' Crollp (3Alpini htl", I Illountain ;lrl~ bn)
regimenlusean RF2typeradio CacdalOri d'l\llJallia ('.\Ihaniall Hlllltcrs') alld 14 militia ha1tilli(JIl~, Jll)tQri~1'(1.4.1'111)'C0I1H
ina AlpInevill"ge during the 'P;hllbio', 'Torino' Jnl"Di\"S, 'Liuorio' Armtl Oi\" A longcolumnofItatianinfantry
lighting on the Fren<;:hJttalian
border.Theoperaloraare ORDEROFBAlTLE (~{1'71' ('Pf/S!'JII1'//1." Cf//l',1 windtheirwayslowly forward on
wearl"'ll enlisted ranks' grey GREEKC..v.IPAIGN, 6 APRIL 1941 I~t 'lllg-enio di Samia', 2nd 'Emanllele Filibeno TesLo di Ferro', the Mediterraneancoast in June
1940,Mostwearthelightweight
greenwoolbustinil forage caps Army Group Reserve :lrrl 'Principe.\medco Duca d'Ao~ta'Celere Di\"s
fatigues,and sometheold
with theirM1934greatcoats.The 'Casale', 'Firenzc' Inl' Di\'s
M1935 zip-up f1annet shirt,
soldierwatchinghasthe 9lhArmy h/lllll'fm1rru Police and FrolHier Guard uniu; (James Buro)
bgraenyd-oglrieeernwloeranthbeyrtthweoa-prtoilelekreyt IIIII1'11I)' rmps
'Venezia', 'Arczzo', 'Taro'. 'Forti' [nfDivs
andmounted troops. (USSMEI
KY.I'I Anll)' Cml),'
'Picl11olltl.:', 'Partll:!' InfOin;, 'Tride111ina' Alpine Di\'
11th Army
II'Ann)" Lorps
'Cacdatori ddk Alpi' InfDi\', 'Pllslcria' Alpine Di\'
1'11IA1"/11)' Corps
'Cagliali', 'Siena', 'Bari', 'Pinerolo' In!'I)i\'$
XX\'ArmyCfi/1I\
'Sf()oesca', 'Fermra', '1\loe!eTla', 'Brennero', 'Lllpi di Tosc:l.na',
'Leg-nano' InfDi\'s, Julia' Alpine Oi\'
'Sjlt'rial'Anll." Ct.lllJ~
'ClIlICO', 'Aeqlli' InrOh1>, 'Spccial' Alpin/.: Diy
Army Reseryc
'Pllg:[ic' InrDi\'. 'Clll1(:t'nsc' Alpine Oi\
'Ccntauro' Group (I armd regt, 1Bersaglieri bn, I c<l\' rcgt.
8 I arllld art)" regf) 9
lam efl/lll/Wlid.\/1'(/ ,uhanced 10 lilt' Don \\ith Am.} Group H (;1 t'wll!lland 01 .-J3 dhisiolls
:~ ~tG Ims. I HLTs<I).{licli 1)11. I IIQ .-\ny bn. di\icled bel\n:t"n ..lIh PailleI' ,\rnw. ~ll(J. :\rd. -lth and Glh Rlllnallian
I Engineer]1\1, IamidCO\, I Bbckshirtsco\'. Ru\"al \llllie~.21ld Ilrlllg:lrian and BLllltali:l.l1_\rmil's),
Fin;Jnn: Gllard. Royal Cal'ahillt"l'r~. Rll\"<ll :"1<1\",,1 Tile 81h Arm\' was Ull !lao Clril' ril'\'I' 110rth-\\I.:_'! or Stalillgr';ld ill
unit.~ NllH·mbl.."r I~H2 l\'llt'l1 the ~reat Smit:l pine...:r 1Il0H·tnCnl - 0PI'I~llioll
Ll.lllrr~ - was laundwd ttl Cllt otl'Ihe German torces ill and around the
Albanian Armed Forces Command ('rrh;Htled Cil\. The milch bl'ller equipped. adaptt.'d, :lrrt! rnolil,;1ted Red
\rtll' COllCt'l;t1"';.lted theirfirepml"eragaitt~l thn~t" ~e{'l()rSoftll('Axi" froIIt
9th Army held b, Cennal1\"\ \\eake1' allie~ - iniliall~' the Rtltll:lllbl1~,whom tIlt'\'
III Army (m!)" - nrnilll'c! broke through. with ,,(Jnl!" dimrlllt~" 10 link up on 23 NOH'mlwr. JUSt
XX\'j Anll)' Cm1ls- omittcd atll'l \'on ~I:tn"lt'in unleashed his doomed Opl.'l~tinll\\"inl('r SWllll 10
'/-i!II(1zhd'S,'Clor hre~I}.. lhrough 10 Stalingt<ld from tIll' south-west, lhe tanks of\·allltin\
':\rC//II', 'Fil'enll.:", 'PillCfOI()' Inl'Di\~ S()~lth-We'l FrOIH and tilt, VOI'olwl.h Front ~lllaslu,.'(lthrough the Italian
'CUIlCCIlSC' Alpine Oi\' ,nttJr: tlw Alpint' Corps \\'<lS cm off. :Ind the i'ltlr Arm> I,':h loff{'cti\'eh
Xfl'Arm)' UJIPS dt,qro\ed as :t fighting command. In .Ianuar} 1943 the suni\urs
'Prlg-lie', 'Fin'IlZt··(from 1-1.-1.'-11) 1111'Din. lef.::'"J'ouped in the Ukl~lill(',:md 1J~ .\larch lll()~t had begun to return to
XIII/Ann." rU11H [1;\1\', k:l\ing ,I small number of [tali:!!1 tlnits behind 10 help fight
·~..Iessilla·, '1\larclw' [nfOi\'S, 'Ccntallro' Anne! Oiv parti~ans.
rhe 8th Aml\"~In~$('~in tlWIl and eqrripmcllI I,'ere di~astrOlls. QUI of
The Russian Front an al"lll\ of229,000 men, R:i,OOO WCl'e killed ()r mis~ingand ~O,OOO,,"t're
When Ccnnanv il1\"';.'l<lee! the Soviet Union inJllne \\oullded. l.ll:-"t'~ in anil1en' wt:re: equall) de''::\SI:lting:. with 1,200 .l;"un~
[941 ~llIss(Jlilli il1lll1cdi:ltel~' offered to send orrl of a lotal 01 l.~-In being de:;lroyed or abandollcd. 1\lutor vehicks
troops to help his ~lly, The olTel" ot :1 corp~-~ize were ah,'a}~ in short ~llpplr in the Italian Arn1\', and thl" 1R,200 lost ill
Heavilyburdened Alplniofthe
lorn.. was accepted. and the 'COIVO Spedzione I{u,~i:l 0111 a lowl of22,000 wcrt" simpl)" irrepl:lce:lble, 'Verona' Bn, 'Tridenttna' Div
Itilham.: ill RIl~~ia' or C$IR WilS assetlluled llll(lt'r .\lLJlO11g-h the It:lli,,n Arrn~", l(Jsst'~ Ull the Russian Frollt were trudgethrougha muddyvalley
Ihe command of L1(;en Gkl\~l1lni 1\1e~~t', The J.(lit'\lltlli. b\ the hURe scale of the fighting in tilt' ElL~1 tIH'~' I,'en: 1101 duringtheadvance into Greece
Prince Umberto (lenl.heirtothe corps had a sU'cllgliJ of 62,000 men, with 1\\"0 (tlo111inal1~) mOlOri~ed ~i,~nilkant. Sirategists would probabh arg:ue Ihat ifthe same IUllnbcrof In October1940,Themanatfar
rightwears a M1909 grey'green
throneand commander01the infalHry divisinl'lS of lh...: old 1\J:lR binary type - 'Pasllbio' and 'Tvril1O'; Ulen and - more illlpol'tantl~'- the sanle scale (Ifequipment had 1)Ct,n
woolcape,whichthesoldierin
lon:eswhich InvadedFrilnce. ami a Celcre ('faq' - i.e, 1':l\'al11) dh'isinn, 'Principe Allladt,o DllC(l ~ent in 1911 to North Africa instead. lhr'} mig-ht 11;1\'1' tipped the hahlJlCc
frontofhim haS$Iung his over
conlerswith hisgeneralsduring
d'Aost., " which (-olllprised twO horsed Gwa[r" regiments, a Bersag-lieri Iherl.' irr f~I\'otlr ofthe Axis forces, hisshoulder,(RexTrye)
thelive-daycampaign. Heis
l"}'dist baltalion, art artillery regilllellL and a light tallk group. Various
wearinganofficer'sbustina
madeofpalegabardineand an support. service and ~pc<'ialist tlnilS wen' addt'd 10 dw :;trellglh of Ihe ORDEROF BATTLE
officer'swoolgreatcoat; both CS[R. and il was- by lta1i<ln standards- quite well equipped. 8thARMY, RUSSlA, 1942
displayhisranking 01generale The CSIR ,,'a~ sent 1.0 tbe southern sector ofthe German a(h,lllce in
designatad'armata (seecharton
page41). AtrightforegroundIs a the Ukr:line in .I1ily 1941, and in il:; carlr enCOllll1/;r:; I\".-IS ~llcn'ssfll1. II IfIJI) Cbl1JS
divisionalgeneral. (USSME) taking" a number or towns and rilles and cre:lling" a f:IHJur:lble '~fo,)r:zt'SGI·. 'R;wenn;l',
illlpn,:ssiutl 011 its Gennall allies. [\"el1 though lhe CSIR el1joyecl hig-h 'Ctl"eria'lnfOi\':;
priority ill the iSS1W of lht~ hest i1\~lilabkI\'capon:; and other hardl\".lre, XXXI'ArmyCtJrjJs
these were not in fart :ldefJll:1te: the regiments were 111olOris('d only in '['asllbio', 'Tol"ino'
theory, the artillery was of FirSl World War \·intage. the armourt'd units ~Iotori~c:dDivs
still had the llSt'!c"S tankctteS.and;mti-tank w('aponswere inadc(lU<llt'.As :kd 'Principe: AtlH'dco
the Gel1nans disc{)"fTt'd [att> in 194[, on the Rll~sial1 Front (:\"en I\'ell Dll("<! d'Aosta' Celere Di\'
equipped ullits soon exh:lusted their supplies and sl111cl'ed bn:akdol1'l1S iHpwl'(:(111)$
and combat 1tJ.~st's, and nothing \\~L"casy or quick 10 n'pLIt:e. The sheer 'Tridentina', "JIII;a'.
scale ofthe fi,l.{hling :llld the distances im'olvcd meant Ihat an army\\'ith 'Ctlnt'ens(" Alpin!: Diys
on[rjuS! enoug-h of('ver\'lhing to gu around was ~OOtl in trouble. '\'in(enz:!' Occupation
~lu~soliniI\'as determined to increase his conlribution to the Ru~sian IIII'Di\'
c~mpaign, and thus his credibilitr ~tS :In :\."is partner. Dr'spite the
hardships sufl'ered b} the CS[R during \,'inter I~Hl/4~. :llld delipitc The Croatian Legion
objectiullS from Cell ~Iessc, in March 194~ he setH a furthel' se\'en TIw Itali:l11Sdecided to rorm a Croatian Legion to lighl on lilt' Russi<ln
cli\,jliiot1:; Easl; the l1e\\' orb.-anisatiot1 look lIlt' lillt: of 81h Army, From. in imitalion oftlWIl' German allil'~- till" \\'I.'hnll:'I<'I1I :,lread~' had
10 comprising- II and XXXV Arnw Corps. Hy August the Ita[ians had one ill lhe foml of the :{6~hh Infanm' Regiment. Usin~ men from lire 11
Rep1.l('crrWlll U:tHa]ihn ot lilt" :~69Ih, a Ll',I{ilHl ot U!I I otlicefs and mCI, IH'le r:ti,ed on a local h,t,i;. b} lIw II.dian dh·isiulI:. ckploved ill p'lnind;l1' Th.crew01an8mm M1935Flat
was formed (-t5ollicefs, 71) NCO:>, 1,100Illell,uld lOS bOI"!'c'). (;iICII Ihc .U\\I-'. and \left' U~\l.llh n'\Ttlilt'd alol1!--: nhnic lillt": (:allll)lks, GI('t'~ Revelll maehlnegun lromthe
30th Al1i1teryRegt, 'Lupl dl
title 'Lcgionr Cn),U:l .\lllhll<ltl._pllllahlt,· III" J\[olt)ri_l·d Ct"(latiall Legion, Orthodo,,; and ~lo,lcll1sh.ld lheir own. u~ualh ~Ilirlh 'f'gn'Wl\ed IIniL',
Tosc:ana' Inl Dlvdel.nd their9un
lIlt: ullit arrill·d in Ru._i,t ill Aplil 191~,After:lcC]llitlin~itself welldUling \(nmllt' 'ttrt'llglll' oflhe numhcr 01 MV.\C forces :lft' hard 10 lind. bill Uneon th.Greek fronl Inwlnler
1110.: n:"t ofthe\'ear the Le~ionW,I:> l.,rg:ch de_Ifmed al1mg" "'illl lilt: rcst I\(' do I..no\l Ih,ll 111 \t.uTh 1943 Illne "ere 30.000'ulullteef'. Thl"l' Gtll 1940/41,Thestencilled branch
uflhe Sth .\nm in l)eCl·IIII)(.·1 W4~,.\tlelllpl' 10 r.li,l' a ~('cotl(1 kgion in tx:- hru"f'1l dUI\'n into H,OOO-9,OOO CuholiC't, i.t¥l(h'{.OOO Mmkm, ami 01.e....ie.badgewith regimental
Ma~ 19-13,celli to han' COIIW 10 lllllhing. 15.0410011hodm. (Ih~'[,HIlT1x:illj.;" mo:>l1~ Chcmiks). numberlaJu.tvl.lbleonthe
lront 01 Ihelett t\and man's
MtSl33helmel;allwearlhe
ORDER OF BATrLE M1S134 9reateoatand knitted
OCCUPATION DUTIES
rrALIA..~OCCUI'ATIONAR.\I\' IN THE BALKA,'I;'S. 25J.....LY 19-13 balaelava.;the righthandman
alsohna roIl-neek.w.at.r.The
.\p:m from lhe m'e!" 2.,0.000 11lt'1l uf lht' Rlh .\nn~ fightillg in Russia \LB,\"1.\ MUJ35 Revelllwnan up-dated
butnotImproved- versionofthe
the maill 10k of Ihe Italiall :'\1111\ ill Europe afler .\pril Hili was as 9th Arm)"
M1S11": knowntoit.crewsas
ucclIp:nion troops. :-':0 less than 31j dh'b.ion:- were deplovcd in Ih
" .-\rol\ (,fJlP\ the'knuekJe'bu,t.r',itwas
B..1.ILans (Yugoslal·ia, ,\lIJ.1.nia. l:rcl'cc alllithcI:lrjtlll~Gr('e" i~land~)an 'Brenllt'ffl·..P,uma', 'Perllj.,ria' InfOil, awkwardtohandle,requlrtd
ill "C"llllhem France and lhe FrC'IKh i,tllld of('.o.....io. rhe ltalial1 Aml, XXI .-\nfl\ (:m/)\ lubrieaUon 01theammunitiOtl to
encollll!cred re"istan(t> 10 their occupation ill all thc'>e regioll:> 10"0111 -\11'UO '. 'Fin:llle' IllfOils fvnc:tion property, and wasprone
to'cookoff'ehamben!Klrounds
AA1lpbiaroneiaarotnilltehreyimrwenaydltMoftlhlbea.... In epxartteinsat,n:a.nadnd'mnIT-"eir"("'(;1mcaelfaiglgllcll'nI..u..mF(blrerinu_tf;lnIuh:lcl,alitnitt-h"efrfuirmst ftiivlt"e"m:tlot;ntCth"!s' 00 .'-P\ruognliUe'ntITnlf't'Dil edounritnrgibpu.taeudseysetInanfioritnhgf.lIeIaallisbore
G....k front. Allw.artheMt~7
194:\alone the Italian occupation lorc(:'$:.ufTeredolt:r 10,':;00Gbuahies. of.....all ann.ammunition tothe
tunlewith blKkc:ollarfKlngs
pipedwiththeorange-y.llowof IIfR7fGO\'J:'\.\ anny"mon.lrovslogistic
requirements_e,5mm, 7.35mm,
theartillery.and bearingthe The Occupation of Yugoslavia \1 \rm\ (;m1)\
8mm,emm, 10.35mm...
doubleSlreetl namesolth. -Ill(' Axi:. forces Gtn-ed up YII~"O~laliabetl\ccn them, wilh It,lll gaining! \I.lr(ht"'. ~1(''''lIt,I'
Alpini,Atright note thepointed J\lontenegro. wcstern ~lo\"Cnia ant! the cu.t.~tline uf Dalmatia. \\e!'tclll InrOi\" IR,Toma.il
cuffs,a distinctlv.feature 01the
J\laC('(lonia and KO"I.)\() IU'n' hanckd 0\1'" U) Albania. which had been X'\\111 Cllibl,ll Belc
M1937tunic.Theeentralman
pan oflh(" Italian '~·Illpirt,·~inceApril 1~)39,
earrie.theAlpineMt9311
uu-
rucks.ac:k,,"ame. BurdI Resistance to halian occupatiun l,IIlW frulll IWH (111,\1"1("-';: from \IO~TlXELRO
Iht-· \.()lJ1IIIUni'l l'ani';lI1' kcl bl .fosip lkoz 1'ito'l \/1' \1111.\' em1',\
,md lhe St-rbian Ro\'ali:'1 'Clu:mik' \lm'emelll led 'Fmilia', ·Ferr.lr.l·,
bl Col \lihailtJ\ic of lhe fonncr Yugosla\" Army, '\"{-'nelia' InfIli\'~.
Fiercc n·,i,lallcl' U) IIll' Ilalians flared up in 'l"<nuincll'>l" .Alpine Oil'
J\loll1cnq.,rro as earl} asJulv 1911. and continued
with I';lnillg intt'tl_in lhroughoul tl1l' hali:lI1 CROAT1A·!olI.o\'E.NIA
occupit:d arca~. tying' do,,'n largot: l1tunbcrs 0 2ndArm)'
lroop" (>:(;1: J\IAA 14~. J>flrfiwlI! \\~lIfal"t" }9.J1--I5 for I Arll/.\' em/,\
a more detailed accounl). 11IJlIl~' 19·1~ thefe I\'ere '~l.lu·rala','~Illfl-(e',
a lutal l,f 14 infalll!) di\>i~ioJl~ UlI occupation 'Rl" 111fOil'S,
dUlies in \';t1iolls pan~ of "ugosiavia as wdl as a X1\ COastal I3dt,
lill'ge nUl1tberol'suppOri and auxiliary l,lllilS ~(Ich .\1Arm)' (;m/II
as Ihe Frotllit-r and Filt:trtct: Guard". '(:arcialliri flt'lle Alpi',
lil lwlp ('oultler g"llerrilla actions by the •[,mILO', 'Lombnrdia'
Pani~ans:tnd tlte Cht:llli~the ll.tliatls mi,ed 10(,.<11 Inl l)i\~
Yllgushll auxilian flln'c~ from 19-+2, The ·J\lili..-ia .'\\111.\1'1/1) Gm/),\
\'Illtlnt;u·ia Anli,COlllllllista' or ~'IV,\C I,'ere ·Bt·rj,f.lIlIO'. 'Zara' InfOilS,
llI(Hi\:lted bl a desirc 10 light the Comlllunist XYli Coastal lkIc
Pani;,ans. The violenl ltIlllnal Opposilion of the -\1111\ Ik)t"(1.~
Pani,an, and (:h(-,lnik.~ <.:lW lhem spend as milCh I~I Ce!t:ft' nil, I"IIJAnil,' Corps
lillll' fighting each other as the) did the Axis 'C:lg1iari'. 'PiemOllle' LnJ Dip,
occup.ltion10I"ce'!:anu tit('occupier:'il\t're not,,10\\' GRH.(,E XXI'I,\nll)' (',()'1)~
10encollr.tg:e Ihi" \.Iwtlli" haIred oftil(' I'artisans 11thArmy ·MOllena'. 'Casa!t:'. ·.-\cqui· InfOi\-~
1(-'(\ II) "':)l1le \I(ll1u'nc~rin Chetnils fig-hung for a 111.inn) r,()'1H CRETE - 'Siena' LllfOil. 51stSpccbl Bde
•
12 time lIudcl lilt: banneroflhe \lY,\C ~I\:·\CunitS ·"orli'. 'I'inerolo' InfOh', AEGEA.'.\' SL\ - 'CUlll~t/, 'Regina' [1\fOil":> 13
•
THE CONTINENTAL UNIFORM OF \11 IIH"'t,' lI\odeh of
1111111 h.ul t!lu'C' Irunt
THE ITALIAN ARMY 1940-43
bullon' lor Olht'l I~Ulk"
;l1ld1\\11bn',I-'t ,1Il<11"'{l,kin
TIl(: ba~icuniform ,,'vnll)\ the Il.iIli,ltl ..oldierfrom 1910lO 1913,.1\\ Clilh' poCk('l~ 01 pll',l1t~d p.llch
:t h:II millor ch,lIIg-t" dllrillK lhi, period..U1 onlill;u-" 'tlldicr of 19-13 l'pl-' \\ith 'il1g-lc-hlllttln
11(11I111 10 1110,1 ob~nt'I'" .•ppear cl\.anh lilt, "Illlt.' as he IIMI when hah' tlll("l'·poilll 11,11'''' rhl"f'
("lllt,rt:d lht' \'';11" in.lllllt· 1910.TIle Illlifnnll of19-1U\\<l).1 llIiXtllrt.' of(,Id 1'.lrh llHl{!t'l- ,11,u IIMI ;1
:md IIC\\ ,t,le..,with lhe 'I\!i..h<'md up-1o-<latcllteel hdlllcl irllrodllced in I hiddl'l1 pockct al tilt' IMek
19~:\ lll'ill~ 1,'0Tl1 with rhe IKlrltaloOll In/lN',"\; - 1.1::. reachil1~ helow thel "llilh 11'01' f()rllled hI lhe
kllct, :lnd \lorn with long: Plllll't'~ - 1!l;t1 h"d been 10111-{ .dl,lIlc!ollnl hy 11',11 n,lp: llti.. ~tJ-callt'd
IIIO~t Otller[tlftIPI':lll :tnllit,~, 'hlT.lll' plIckl'1 \l'a~ ll~t'd III
III 19-10Ihe 'c01l1i!H:llI;l.l' unilunn \'0111 b\ lhcordinan'~oldiel'in the {~InI pl-'rJ>oll,11 etTect'
EUl'opean lheau'l-' <':OIl,i'lt'c1 ofa Im~/illflrap: a ~re\'-gn:etl 1"0(11 tUllic of \,lh'It.' lilt· ~Illdicr could
\IJiI:Ji pallcrn \I'illl "IX'II collar. a gTcI~recll cullOIl 'hin ann lie; t'.I~,1\ gel al tht"Ill,
W'("1{I't't'lI wool l>.llllaloons I,'urn I"ilh "001 pllllf"e~: and d\'t;'d black Iht, III-'XI lll<ljor ch.llI):tt'
It'ather \11912 booLS, Thc ~119~-I gn...-gn:t'll wool or m.lll-lll.lde fibre LllIIt' \\ith lilt' illllodlletiun
sinJ.!:k'-breil~led6'Tt';lIn"l1 (omplelt-'d tht' ouuit, lugetherwilli Ill(' \11933 nlllw \1191l1 lunic, \,hich
~II-'d hdnu"L It'III,Ht,d tilt: bl:Jck. ("nlbl'"'jth ;l plain grl'l-grt'cli one: 1I/o!(I1,U,,-ere slill Mussolin!mitsXXV1 ArmvCorps
It ~holild be empha'ised lllal III(" "ari()ll~ IIniforrn rq,'lJI.llion.. I\\:rc '\11111. \ 11\"\1 ,ltljllJ>t:lblc belt had ",'0 buttoll~ on lilt' frulIl ill'tcad urthe ofthe~ArmvontheO,...k
ollen I10lilpplkd rij.{iclll :111(1 all ranks, hute~fJecialhlinin','" I't'rt'~i\en lllt"t.11{l.bp(Iflht, \II!J:H, 'rontin...rty t941.Heiswearing
A gunnerwearingtheM1937 a gn'al clt-al of lencII, \\'Ilf'n 1It'\1 ilt'lIJ~ of 1I1lifonn ,,'ere isslle~1 the rhe ;\(191~ tlmk difTprcr! liltlt' from the ~ll~lO: duc to \\"anime theunifonnofFirstMar$hal0'
Htuenriectrheeadbslaacklehtteelmrferotmstehnocmileo.f ~llidicrcOllld l,e'II' the old ill-'m unlil iI 1I'0rt' 0111 or adapt ii, e.g. b)' ,h(l[I;Ig'I" Iht' dt·..ij.{tl \I~t' ~implilit'rl and inlt'rior m:IlI'rial \\"a' ll~l'd in iL~ hthimesEemlfpairned,athreaknikngI'H,!TldhoenolVffibcVer
Ihe Divisional ArtilleryI'sharp; remudng the blafi,. (ollar faring- of the 1\11937 mnk .lllt! replacing it 1lI,U1ul.lclllrC',wilh 1.111\':1' eillplo'ed lor thC' lining:. obscured bVthe telescope isa
elthough almos! universally "'itll gn'}i{l'('I'Il, Of'fil:t.'r~ 1I't'I'e pan.iclllad~' PIOIIC to kt'I'ping t;'\'OIl1'ite divisIonal genemlofAlplnl. The
applied,these br3nch badges are itt'lll' of llniform Ion).;" all(AI' official n'g-Illations h;l(l declan:d lhelll Officers' tunics groupat MussoHni'sshoulde.-all
ottenunclearin photogrephsdue nbsok·te,Tht'contillucd appearanct~ollhe \11937 tunk ill plllHIIl-:"I,lphs Ollin''''' Wnk, IWH' oj the N1.me b.bic dt:~i~n as m(" olht,'I' mnks' hUI appeartobecaptains; the
(toRobboetrhtWSteeadrmaannd refle<:tlon. righl up to 19-1.~ j, It''limony to thi,) tilCl. IH'It' bt.'lter madc frulll "1I1X'rior m;l\I-,ri.tl. /\t the lx:ginnilll( of the \""' otwjoinm'aennlryalatnhdeBrIi.g.chktsahreirtgsenerals
Collection) The appearance oftlnilonn~in ;lclLIal ,«,.."jet' mig-hi aho \';In widd)' UlU'1 Ill'rl-' madc IrulII a Wth..,rdint, malt'ri,,1 callt'd '(Qlr/dli"v: ThiJ> respe<;:tivelv,(USSME)
due to rdaun;' degrec..(If\\t'ar, For illsl~lnce,j:It'_ke~weit' nUl ckancd apl)('~ll'" in phtlltlg-l~lph.. lighter than the gr("'·i-.-rcen "nifol'm, and \',L"
\('n ufu'n \,hilt, trt)II"t"1"" \,ere wa.)hcd unce a fonnig-llI, ~ Ihe olll-'lI ,I qrikingh light gl"t'\, III "anime --en-ice man\ ollice.... wure
IJ"OII~TStended 10 be .1 lightcr,hade than the jacket.' \Wollell tunic'> ,imilar 10 the Other t:IIlL~' II1IXld, bill ,till \\cll-tailored
.111.1 Inlll1 ;1 hl'llt'l gl';lde of matl-'Ii<ll. unlct'''''' 1llllic, had fOUl frum
Troops' tunics bllllllll' in~u::<ldoflilt.'oillcr r.lIlL..' thret',
Models 1933,1937,1939,1940 & 1942
Tht' look of tltt' Italian ~()Idi('rchanged dram,lticalll I,ith Lf!gwear
til(' illln,l(lllCtion ofthe ~llD3~~ tUllic, repbu.:i1Ig'111(' ~11909 Tlw ll,ual patlt'l'n of In)U''I'I'~ Ilcrt,' gn."\-grt'CII wool (or wool illld
high-<'ollal'ed jacket "'ith a Opl'll-coU"rnl model "'om ~\lllht'lic mix) pant:1loon~,I\'hich n:;u'lwd lUjll~1 hclo\1' Ihe knec \"here
witll shirt and tic. OP('Il-coll:tredjackeb had heCll worn iltn 1."lt'm'd\lilh a bUlloll.The bollom~of tIl(' p;l111;lloOI"\\'t'!'t'co\'('rcd
sincc Ille Fir"l World War bv tJw elite ,'\rdili a~~alllt h\ Ilw IUp~ of "oollell pUlleC'>, \"hich were lied around I,ilh tapc~ or
l'ornJJl.llldo~,and it wa~ un thi~ C(Hll~' Illli/onn that the \'t'H' p.lnh cO'eri'd witll plilled-lip\\IIOlkl' ,(Icks, TIlc,t'.Irchaic-looking
ne'\ dc)ign II.IS 1IIu<lt'III'd, Tht' cullar of the :\1193:1 had 1IIIu,el'"I'ClC' \\orn in '~lriuliSst.1.te~ofh"I-{~';neJ>S.;lllt1 "fIt'Il \IIOl.t'<I \I-'n
black cloth f'lcing Ult' top halfIIith Ihe di\i,ioll;ll cullar tllll,f.tinh indeed, \1011l1lcd, l1Iutoli'>Cd .lIld some:trtillt'n u'oop' \,nn" a
patch or mOitri1/~sewn to il. SUlll(' unih had blighth l'IIt' of wool breedU'~,flart"d in Ill(" lhigh and longer in the II-'K,
colouredcloth cullarfacill".... in hl"anch coloursor,.IS in the ()Ili('1"" mualh ',UTl' breedlt''' nudt,'of<orrMlmogahardint' material.
case oftht, GII';lln, a differem colour for e.lCh rt'!,;illH.:Ill, \dth t"l1 bhtck ,uipt" tim,II the~ide"n.ml.ing a central pipingin hranch
l1w \119:n lllllie diffncd tlllh slighlh frnm Ihe \IIY33 coluur, t',/{, or.mj.{c'll·llm\ It.,r anille'n. \Iort' practical (and (.-he<lper) in
in thaIil had an ilHcgral.i1fljll,wbk' c1Ulh bdt fastellt"d I"ilh a lilt' field \Iert::brct."che.. made Irom a g"(ItJ(1 '1llalil~ ,,'oolll1atni.11. ore\'en
metal cla.~p,III 19:-i9(lIIC\\, IlIllic for ~COswas introduccd, bUI p.Ult.l!(ItIl1" aW-li" 1ll,lIle from hCtltTqualitn \\"001.
thi~ I\';b lillie dim:;rCIH fmlll the \Ilil~t~and ~119~i('sn'pl lhal Iht, hask kK protl'C1ioll wom h~ tltc 1~lstll1aiorit\urlhe Italian Anll~
il \'';L" rn:-lde from a hig-Ilcrgr;uk ofelutll and bad a hl1('k.le copied \\t'II' grc\,-ATt:en \\'001 pllll(>(·S. Tlle't' h,ld I>I'\'II \\IH'II !!illce till' earliest
14
fl'om '-he tlVe in IISI' 011 lite Air F(IITi> lunic, d.1" 1)1 the l\illi:lIl '\l'lI1\', hut tht' t\Ve in lI~e {hiring- lilt, SI'f(lIl(l "'ul'ltl 15
\\"ar11'l:reil1trod1IC1,:d in 1!12~J. TheirlI11popularil\ 1:11 ill tilt' fan that they
Wilt '\iuorH) Elll<ltllH'k' II" L.ltlC"t't" Regl - I'dlowJlallll'Ib/MJ;IJlIJlII!!
well' difficult 10 put Ull and. :tllhollg"ll f;I!>It:Il('<! with doth lapI·~. often I~dl ....tlll/W· 1.i~11l C;l\~dn Re~l-WwkplHl/pllf/rJ;,'d.l"'low
GUilt· lIndon..: in Cfllllh:lI.
J:Ifll .~IOllkt,lUll' Jj~ht (:;l\~lIr.... RC~I - r"'l//wJI/ [f1l1l/1' llt/dlNI fIlwk I""'I11
~Ijfl black I(';uhel" g;lilen \\'\'1"(' wurn bl IIlOllllh'd unit.'> (ei111er Oil .\k~""ltldrtl' lif.\"ltI(:.n,lln f{q;t - OWI//-."..jlllllll'bar/wI!hlMk
hurseback or 011 IlHHorndn). anillen. allllollrl'd and tl;Ul'l>llrl unilS, 191h ('Ilick' I.i~ht (~t\,lln Rl'gitliclil - 117Iill'J1I/II11'Imrk!'d li;:!11 bllII';\thh
Anoth.·r mOJ'e st\li~h model of k.uht·r 1t'g'~illg' "'~h WOlll h\ c;",dry ·I'.lklmil' IiK1l1 C\\~lln Rel{l - /(l'tI/lflllif barkl'd.\I'flow
other r::lIl!.s ami :\'COs: Ihi!> ra!>lelli'd I,'ith .I lung !Ioather ~l.rap \IT.lpped ·1-.........
aruund lhl: leg- and ImckJcd tlm':'('-<juartt'r, Ih., \I~I\ up thl: calC. Support branches of tilt" , •
The basic mhez' "lllk.~· bQots \Il'n' Il'llalh llll" 1'-11912 black le;)[hcr \1Ill' \,011' ,ill~le-poillT(,c1 •
hobnaik-d modd: the.;eIv(:reurtt'll madeoj inCt'rilll'1ll,lIerial~ (Iht'\ were n,IIIlt·" \flu-II Ihl'\ \I('It' , I.
descrilx:d1I!' heing made uC-cardhoard') \\hich disilHl·gr.lll:d ill th'e rain a,.,.Il!IW(\ 10 .111 illfallll.... '",
and mud oC.-\lhania. Greece and Rll,~ia.Officer:. in Europe worel'ithcr di\bl<lTlthl' n,lllle\1';\" ~Ilp("r­ • ,
high-lopped k'atheJ' riding IX)\I'-~.OJ' :l beut'r-illildl' \er-..it)n of till' ankl 1lI1IJf"l:"c10\1'1 the 10\ll'l p.111 •
Ixxll I\{lm in the fidd "'ilil ~ocksOJ'cn'n pllllt'e'l. uf IIIl" di\i~i(lilal p.uch. "I •
th,U Ihl' dhi,iOllal colOllr'"
~hl)\\t"d .lhO\(' tht· 1l,1lI1l'.
TUNIC INSIGNIA
Otherbranch collar
Collar patches
palches on MI940
Each inC.mln di,i~ion had it~(>\\11 uni(luc colLII' p;lIch \\Ilich \"IS worn
unirorm:
...driveremergesfTom theside on Illl' uppt"r part oCthe colbr (~cTahlt· .\ 011 page'i 3R-~9luI'dl'~igns .-\Ipini - /)I)lIb',;""P('1/ flal/lM
hlttch 01hisMl3140medium ,md colours). Tht' patch \\.~ n.-.cr:mgular and ill 19-10 t1'111alh me;~ured 1k1....ll.(lit·ri - f)r.mMr /TIII/\tJ1I
t.nkontheGreek front In March 60Illm x 3211ltl1: as thc 1\~lr progrc~~edthc\ \\tTC gradu"lh rnluced in j1
fl\
t941. OYa'hisblue linenon... si/(·. The onh t."xception~10 the :)l;ltId,lrd inf.llun !>'"ltlhn werc lhe n\"o
\niH"n - 'Jill!!." hfnrk.fin/II/'
bpliaecc:keloelHatlhraell,schoeal_aanrd$ct,hultnissue Grelladier Dili..iOlh. the ·Sa\oia· ,mel ·Sal'c!c::gn'I·. \\hkh \,'ore palchc In/ I!ortlllgf"-wlll1l1'
helmet..Hehasamounted mea:)uring9'imlll x 2S11UIl with lace ba......\11 coll;lr patches had a I,'hite DI\h,un,.1 anillen - .\mgt!'
troops'greY""9,"nleether met;ll ,t::tr fixed to the 10\lerccntrc oftht· irhi~nia - tIlt' elllhkm ofthe Mn'!1 filII/I/'IJlIJI'rlom,,!!!"
bandotle,slungoyerhislert S:l\"orard rO\-dl d~·lI<b[\. ,"'f"iI'. m'rt dlT'I,iulUllliidi.
shoulder;this usuallyhada nranche~ utiler than lhl' illfantn \ltHe collar p;lIchc" called .~lpll1t·.lflillt-n - SIII,.,;fr
holste,edpIstol attachedtothe ·nallln·. with the upper cnd :)haped illiO one. 1\10 01' three Mlllk fill/II/'IlI/wlom"w'·
end.(USSMEI points. The cavalry had threc*poilltcd nallle~. ~(Jll1e of plain
."lIlfll', (lI,,.fb'Wf'l1 /"({'lrllI}!l/'
c()lollr~and SOllll..: piped: Ell~itll'l:I'- SiIlKI!'blmk
l!tllli/'IJilJNlnllluol1
1st '1\'i"<I' C:tyalrv T'lllk.~- 1J00jh!f"rmklflll/lu:" UII blurnxlollg{(' Aunit01 Bersalilieri,with thei,
Rcgl- CfllfIJ'OIi/1(/11I1' I.igll1 Tatlks - DOllhl/' fl,hi/ffll/IIII'" UII MIII'rl'(/llIlg'r famous cockerel leathe,plumes
2nd 'PielllOIIIl' \1I1[01'TI~1I1~por'[ - Ihw"'" MarA'JI(IIW~ Oil hltlp n'r/fllIg'r attached totherillhtsideofthair
helmetl,ente,the Dalmatiancity
Rcalt::'C,tntlry f{egt \kdil,d Cvrps- .Sillgll' III/I/l)()//j!/II/I/> ofDubrovnik duringIhe Invasion
- H,'I!JI/lll/rlMtll'k IIifiillg \'{'Il')imlt"\ COtp~ - Singh' fig'" hllll'jlm/ll' ofYugoslavia.Thecrimson
3rd ·Sa\'oia· Cavalr\' Sllppl\ Corp, - SII/gh'd/llll h!lIrjlrllll!' flames colla,patch canbeleen
Regl - lUII/·kFilII/I' (:(llllmi~.'>,ll'\Corps- Shl!!.f/'!Jll/l'fr(lllllll' onthetunicsofthe officersat
'-Ill! 'GI'tHl\'<!' C:II';dq \dlllil1i_1r:HilltICorps - Siug'l'blurkjltllllrIlili/'ll blllr thehead ofthecolumn; Iheone
onthetertwears8grey'green
Rqp - Ii:/luwflalll!' St.lliull.ln Rl'~{'r\'(' Ullil~- Sirlf.!!!' ~(fId",jlflll/l'
turtle-necksweate,In place ot
:lth ':'\'tl\,lnt' Lancer \lohile Rt'~en('Unil~- Sn/glroml//!."flaml' &hlrt and t1e.(USSME)
Rl:gt - Irhifeflamr
Gth 'Ausla' LanU'r Regt Divisional arm shields
- HrdJl/l1I/1' Wht'll n~w di\i~iOll"\,·('n.' formt:d ill tht' lIIid-19~(h.lilt', 1,'l'l"eeach gi\f'll
;th '~lil;lIln' Lancer .Ill Mill ....hidd Otl tht' len ,lel'\"l' ofthe lUllic JUSt alXlH" the rank insig-nia.
Regl - (;1'111/$0"JlIIlIII'I Ilinl' \\1'1t· llladt' at fll'l rtr.ml till ami lall'roCcloth. The ~hield-s:haped
Mllrk flipillg (Olollt"er.l back)..'l"Olillds \\en: hilie fnt inf.ml" and C:l\~lln di\'i~ion~.red
9th 'Fi,'l:ll/C" Lancer fOI motorbt'd and ~Tel't1 ror ,\Ipinc-. Ihe\ bore a ~old "cllow upright
16 Regt - Orangi'f!ttlr/.t'/ ....l·nu<l.1 ,word with llll' di\i~iOlml number beneath it ami the titJe
Mnrk piping ll,lIll.ing il: t'.g. 'DI\"SIO:,\E .\LPiN,\ III JULIA'. Th!..'''!.' ann ~hiclds 17
\\"('re ollicialh \IitlJdJ~I\lII flOlli ll'<' will1 Ill(' HEADGEAR
illlHKllIUioll or lite ,\119-10 IIlllk, hm ("x:llupk,
\\\'It· 'lill 'tTJI \\olnllol',1 \,hile thl:n.:;lfit:'r,
The bustina
Th(' lidd (,IP 1\"(lnl ,llmoSl lllli\e.....llh b\ the 1!:lli;1II \nll\ \\,L' the \"l..'n
Rank insignia
puplll.lr but!/Ilfl. Thi.. I"I~ a ,idl'<"ap \\-ill! a 11'0111 \i'()f 11,lp "hith ",l~
Rank, \\('Il' ,11<'\\11 lip 1(1 19:non lhe lImie b\ Iht,
II'>II,llh I\hlll folded lip, ,lIld 1';lr 111TL. nap' \\hich \It're j.tI'lll·r.llh
\waring-ofClUT("(1 che\TUlh ponil1l(t'Ilpl\~lrd~on lilt' f<l~lt'11I'd to"'t'llll"l 1I\t'1 LIlt' (101\11 rn. TI1I'an'ora Inlllon. TIll' IJlIIIIIW\,;I~
IOll:~'"nll jllSI abO\l' lilt' (lifT. ChC\TOlh I\t::n"
lIl.1de of the ":111H' gTl'\-gn't'lI \\uolorwool and wllllll"lic lI11"lIf(';I' 111l"
blML. lip 10 tht' rallL. ofmIHlr(/I,.ma!!J!if/1I ;"Illd gold
fIll' Il'rgl'1//f' and ¥rJ!t'll/1 IN(ll:fl!fl/r,. nit' r.lIlk fBII"~1IIlu(('bthotf' .uwn..i..fionr.'mc.amprbyaidnggl'..~lilgolrnhotihnerbo1~tUh1L.q..ll,.a~tli'tl\1l0'1I'lcllhoothf ablm'lLiJ.d.ll,~..liHgIInl,
dl("\l'Olllo IH:rt' 111('11 IIIOH'd 10 111(' upper ::.Ic.."t-'\C
..e\l"1I on 10a ~'Tr\-g-rt'l'l1 \\tH,1 hilcL.in~."·rre \lorn UII 11ll' flll1ll n,tp.
.lIld 1)('(.;llIIl' ,horll'r, ,1ITO\,-~h,lpcd and POil1l
OlTin'r,,' r.lp~.ofthe ~al1U'dt'"igl1 ii' mher mnko', \,ere inill,llh 111;ldl'
dO\\'ll\\ar(k For a short pcriud irl 1937-39 the
[l'om rmrlrlf/llo g<lrb.ldinl' bUI later frfl111 \,(xII; lIlt' ,idl' n.lp::, wr:re
('nll)lII~liP to mlx,,",'ll, IIIfll£J.,'7/11I'I>t::Glnle red while
fa1>I('lled \lith pr(',~ 'Iud" irl'lt',1C1 01 ,I bunon. nll'ir t';11I b,ld:;t" hcre
lilt: other' relllained Kold. From 1t.l1O on\l'ard~ Summer 11141:a column01 made orgold \I1re(Ill a gn.'\ orglt'\-g"n'l.'lJ bad.inglkpendin~IIIl Ill(' ('ap
1Ill' ("lle\rons became lornaller ~till, arid tho~(' filr clteerlulltllilanInlantry01the
1t1:11l'l'i'll.'-\ hmlu:h ol':..enke bad~('\I~llo\,'orn 011 tht, IrUll! 11,lp: <lIld, ~et
r~lllk.~ above ClII)om/t' 1lIf1gJ..f"jf)l1' ('hanged Irom gold CSIRmlln;htowardsthe lrontIn slanl\\'i"t' 011 the left froul oflhl' crO\I·l1.:I rank lXldg'i' a, 1'0110"':
Russill.Theoffi..erandhisNCO
to "....11011. (S\'(' chart and nOle" all page 41 for
arewearing the Mlg40wool /b/limlill' u.JJil"illk- gold st:tr \lilh hl:lcL. Cel11rC
lllilerdl'lilil~.)
unllonn,withtheofficerwearing SoIMII'llfIIll/,-",old Slar
IIghlercolouredbreeches.The
T('III'/II('- IWO gold ~lal'~
Officers' rank insignia rest01th4 soldierswearthe
\,'arl'<lm oOiccrJ; or 1II(fI-e5ri"lfi\\ore lheir mnL. all mediumgreW'fatigueunlformas Prill/fltl'/I/'I/II'- \\1'0 j.l;uld ~lar, I,'ilh gold bar
lummer!ielddress; notethe e'IIIII(1I/1/- lhrct' gold Sl;lrs
,houlder' boarru., and cOlllllli....,.icHll"d r.1Il!:;son Ihl' tllllie rUleann,. From
Ita'ianInf.ntrymoyethroughthe contrastbetweenthetwo PIl/IIO(opl!al/o- thn't' g"old ~l<ll''''' \lilh g:uld bar
.lcling: 2nd lielllcmllll up to colond the!'e werc in IIIl' rorlll of dilTerelll emptystreets01 LJUbljanain &had.,Thelrpersonal (RanL~frolll moggtnr,.10 cofOlll'lfo\1en' lJIvunled in ,I reclan"....ubr
dl".,igrhingold braid. Gen<:r.tl oOict:I'frum h';~diC1"to 'fil~tlII'II"'hal of Sloyeni.durin9theInYS$ionof equipmentis.tandan:lissue,
gold fr.unc:)
Ihl' empire' ,,'ore inlric.all' I'mbroidered classical deCOl'llliOll' called ¥vgoslavia,Allwearstandard withth4M1935c:W'!indnc:a1
IfIl'f"flOn !heclIfk (:\brain, ...cechan ;'tlld nOI{"S (Irl page' -II,) wool unltorm,greate_ls.nd g3SlTlS$ltblI>lI muchinevidence. ,\ttlggiOll'-olle gold Slar
pef$0031 equipment.(USSME) lUSSME) T,."nlll'co/mll/dlo- 111"0 gold ~I:lf"
AmotorcW'clistpausesduringthe
advanceinloV"IIOslavla;his
greatcoat istheMll134model
issUoedtomounledtroops, witha
'''rver.hawlcollar, biggerchest
pocketsandmoreflaredsJ<irtsto
allowforriding. Hismachineisa
MotoGuulGT17solowith the
Breda 30 light machinegun
mountedonthehandlebars_a
combination Inw1cH-spread use,
18 (ModernHistoryMusevm.
Llubjianal 19
-