Changes

==Rise of Fascism==

==Rise of Fascism==

In October 1922, out of a fear of a communist takeover, Mussolini gathered his ''Black Shirts'' and marched on Rome. Once there, [[King Victor Emmanuel III]] asked Mussolini to form a government and restore order. Over the next three years, Mussolini dismantled the democracy , and in 1925, he declared himself dictator of Italy. He took the title ''Il Duce'' - literally, "The Leader".

In October 1922, out of a fear of a communist takeover, Mussolini gathered his ''Black Shirts'' and marched on Rome. Once there, [[King Victor Emmanuel III]] asked Mussolini to form a government and restore order. Over the next three years, Mussolini dismantled the democracy, and in 1925, he declared himself dictator of Italy. He took the title ''Il Duce'' - literally, "The Leader".

==Spanish Civil War==

==Spanish Civil War==

For Mussolini, the Balkans, offered tremendous mineral wealth and strategic geographical position, but more importantly, he wanted to keep pace with Hitler who had already annexed Czechoslovakia.

For Mussolini, the Balkans, offered tremendous mineral wealth and strategic geographical position, but more importantly, he wanted to keep pace with Hitler who had already annexed Czechoslovakia.

On April 7, 1939, in response to Hitler’s conquest of Prague, Benito Mussolini’s troops, invaded and occupied Albania.

On April 7, 1939, in response to Hitler's conquest of Prague, Benito Mussolini's troops, invaded and occupied Albania.

On October 28, 1941 the Italians invaded Greece, expecting a quick victory. The Greeks, retired from several advanced posts to previously prepared positions. The Italian forces on the Greco-Albanian frontier comprised seven divisions, with a considerable amount of artillery and tankettes, but without proper air support.  This allowed Greek forces to hold their own and counterattack the Italians in Albania, overrunning one-quarter of the country.

On October 28, 1941 the Italians invaded Greece, expecting a quick victory. The Greeks, retired from several advanced posts to previously prepared positions. The Italian forces on the Greco-Albanian frontier comprised seven divisions, with a considerable amount of artillery and tankettes, but without proper air support.  This allowed Greek forces to hold their own and counterattack the Italians in Albania, overrunning one-quarter of the country.

==East Africa==

==East Africa==

Italian troops invaded [[Ethiopia]], then known as Abyssinia, in October 1935, but at that time Italy already occupied Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, in addition to much of present-day Libya. Benito Mussolini saw his African colonies as a way of uniting Italian citizens at a time of great financial uncertainty. He also aimed to create a modern [[Roman Empire]] that would increase Italy’s standing in Europe. The Italian defeat in World War II formally ended colonial rule in 1945.

Italian troops invaded [[Ethiopia]], then known as Abyssinia, in October 1935, but at that time Italy already occupied Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, in addition to much of present-day Libya. Benito Mussolini saw his African colonies as a way of uniting Italian citizens at a time of great financial uncertainty. He also aimed to create a modern [[Roman Empire]] that would increase Italy's standing in Europe. The Italian defeat in World War II formally ended colonial rule in 1945.

==North Africa==

==North Africa==

Despite the often heroic efforts by the Italian Navy and Merchant Marine, described by Professor James  Sadkovich, fuel and other vital supplies were gradually denied to the Axis troops. Half of the convoys to North Africa were sunk by the Allies.

Despite the often heroic efforts by the Italian Navy and Merchant Marine, described by Professor James  Sadkovich, fuel and other vital supplies were gradually denied to the Axis troops. Half of the convoys to North Africa were sunk by the Allies.

The fall of the Tunis and Bizerte ports in Tunisia was inevitable, but [[US Army]] General [[Omar Bradley]] admitted that the American formations encountered serious opposition in the advance, writing that the Axis defenders were, ''"the elite of the German and Italian armies, desert hardened young men."''<ref>"Allied victory was inevitable, General Omar Bradley said, but it was not an easy victory. "The trapped enemy was the elite of the German and Italian armies, desert hardened young men who, "as the official British historian wrote, "fought with desperation of men who knew they could not retreat."  Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945, Charles T. O'Reilly, p. 31, Lexington Books, 2001</ref>As a junior officer in the final stages of the North African fighting, future Deputy Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency General]] (CIA) [[Vernon Walters]] interrogated captured Germans and Italians and concluded after one battle, ''"The Italians were from the Wolves of Tuscany Division, very tough."''<ref>"As an officer in North Africa, Vernon Walters interrogated captured Germans and Italians and concluded, "The Italians were from the Wolves of Tuscany Division, very tough." Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945, Charles T. O'Reilly, p. 31, Lexington Books, 2001</ref>  

The fall of the Tunis and Bizerte ports in Tunisia was inevitable, but [[US Army]] General [[Omar Bradley]] admitted that the American formations encountered serious opposition in the advance, writing that the Axis defenders were, ''"the elite of the German and Italian armies, desert hardened young men."''<ref>"Allied victory was inevitable, General Omar Bradley said, but it was not an easy victory. "The trapped enemy was the elite of the German and Italian armies, desert hardened young men who, "as the official British historian wrote, "fought with desperation of men who knew they could not retreat."  Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945, Charles T. O'Reilly, p. 31, Lexington Books, 2001</ref> As a junior officer in the final stages of the North African fighting, future Deputy Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency General]] (CIA) [[Vernon Walters]] interrogated captured Germans and Italians and concluded after one battle, ''"The Italians were from the Wolves of Tuscany Division, very tough."''<ref>"As an officer in North Africa, Vernon Walters interrogated captured Germans and Italians and concluded, "The Italians were from the Wolves of Tuscany Division, very tough." Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945, Charles T. O'Reilly, p. 31, Lexington Books, 2001</ref>  

   

   

The war in North Africa ended on May 13, 1943. American losses in the [[Tunisian Campaign]] were 2,715 dead, 8,978 wounded and 6,528 captured/missing. British Commonwealth losses were 9,233 dead, 21,528 wounded and 10,599 captured/missing. After the surrender there were 101,704 German POWs and 89,442 Italian POWs.

The war in North Africa ended on May 13, 1943. American losses in the [[Tunisian Campaign]] were 2,715 dead, 8,978 wounded and 6,528 captured/missing. British Commonwealth losses were 9,233 dead, 21,528 wounded and 10,599 captured/missing. After the surrender there were 101,704 German POWs and 89,442 Italian POWs.

On May 30, 1941, three weeks before the start of [[Operation Barbarossa]], Mussolini told Army Chief of Staff General [[Carlo Cavallero]] to mobilize the Italian Army in preparation for forthcoming operations in Russia: ''"We must assemble one new motorized division and a second one to be attached to the Grenadier Division near Zagreb."''

On May 30, 1941, three weeks before the start of [[Operation Barbarossa]], Mussolini told Army Chief of Staff General [[Carlo Cavallero]] to mobilize the Italian Army in preparation for forthcoming operations in Russia: ''"We must assemble one new motorized division and a second one to be attached to the Grenadier Division near Zagreb."''

This corp, the ''Corpo Spedzione Italiane in Russia'' (Italian Expeditionary Corps or CSIR) became the most successful Italian army formation in the war. The CSIR advanced the greatest distance, more than 1,100 kilometers, won many victories, and lost just two battles.<ref>[http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/italians-on-the-eastern-front-from-barbarossa-to-stalingrad/ Italians on the Eastern Front: From Barbarossa to Stalingrad]</ref>But like General [[Friedrich von Paulus]]'s [[German 6th Army]], the Fascist ground forces in Russia now renamed [[Italian 8th Army]] was overrun during the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] and has largely been forgotten by historians.

This corp, the ''Corpo Spedzione Italiane in Russia'' (Italian Expeditionary Corps or CSIR) became the most successful Italian army formation in the war. The CSIR advanced the greatest distance, more than 1,100 kilometers, won many victories, and lost just two battles.<ref>[http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/italians-on-the-eastern-front-from-barbarossa-to-stalingrad/ Italians on the Eastern Front: From Barbarossa to Stalingrad]</ref> But like General [[Friedrich von Paulus]]'s [[German 6th Army]], the Fascist ground forces in Russia now renamed [[Italian 8th Army]] was overrun during the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] and has largely been forgotten by historians.

In an order of the day to the surviving formations of the 8th Army, Mussolini (on March 3, 1943) said:{{cquote|You have given innumerable proofs of stubbornness and courage, and have fought against numerically superior forces, drenching your flag with blood.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19430304&id=XgBkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=999,2221775&hl=en ITALIANS WITHDRAW FROM RUSSIA]</ref>}}

In an order of the day to the surviving formations of the 8th Army, Mussolini (on March 3, 1943) said:{{cquote|You have given innumerable proofs of stubbornness and courage, and have fought against numerically superior forces, drenching your flag with blood.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19430304&id=XgBkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=999,2221775&hl=en ITALIANS WITHDRAW FROM RUSSIA]</ref>}}

The performance of the ''Cosseria'', ''Ravenna'' and ''Sforzesca'' Divisions during the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] speaks volumes about the courage of Italians fighting men under the worst possible conditions, with poor equipment and against General [[Vasily Ivanovich Kuznetsov]]'s better armed and more numerous [[1st Guards Army]]. The ''Cosseria'' and ''Ravenna'' defensive line outside Staligrad was attacked on December 16, 1943 and along with the supporting ''Sforzesca'' encircled by the Russian 17th, 18th and 25th Tank Corps on 20 December, but fought their way back to friendly lines over the next two weeks, suffering heavy casualties in the process. The Italian 8th Army suffered about 50% overall casualties and much higher casualty rates in the combat formations but 45,000 still managed to fight their way out of a trap which completely defeated the Germans, Hungarians and Romanians. The grit and determination of the CSIR and the ARMIR should be considered when evaluating Italian fighting prowess in WWII.

The performance of the ''Cosseria'', ''Ravenna'' and ''Sforzesca'' Divisions during the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] speaks volumes about the courage of Italians fighting men under the worst possible conditions, with poor equipment and against General [[Vasily Ivanovich Kuznetsov]]'s better armed and more numerous [[1st Guards Army]]. The ''Cosseria'' and ''Ravenna'' defensive line outside Staligrad was attacked on December 16, 1943 and along with the supporting ''Sforzesca'' encircled by the Russian 17th, 18th and 25th Tank Corps on 20 December, but fought their way back to friendly lines over the next two weeks, suffering heavy casualties in the process. The Italian 8th Army suffered about 50% overall casualties and much higher casualty rates in the combat formations but 45,000 still managed to fight their way out of a trap which completely defeated the Germans, Hungarians and Romanians. The grit and determination of the CSIR and the ARMIR should be considered when evaluating Italian fighting prowess in WWII.

==Sicily==

==Sicily==

==Liberation==

==Liberation==

The contribution of Italian Communist Partisans in the Italian Campaign has long been overlooked. The Italian Resistance kept as many as seven German divisions out of the line.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/spring98/OSS.html The OSS and Italian Partisans in World War II]</ref>They also obtained the surrender of two full German divisions, which led directly to the collapse of the German forces defending [[Genoa]], [[Turin]], and [[Milan]].

The contribution of Italian Communist Partisans in the Italian Campaign has long been overlooked. The Italian Resistance kept as many as seven German divisions out of the line.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/spring98/OSS.html The OSS and Italian Partisans in World War II]</ref> They also obtained the surrender of two full German divisions, which led directly to the collapse of the German forces defending [[Genoa]], [[Turin]], and [[Milan]].

==Postwar==

==Postwar==