War in Italy, 1943-1945: A Brutal Story

by Richard Lamb

Book Overview

Here is the tragic story of modern Italy in her saddest hour. In 1940 Mussolini and the King plunged Italy into war with France and Britain, believing that a few days' fighting would earn her a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306806886
• ISBN13: 9780306806889
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Dare to read what you are not taught at school

Richard Lamb has written about a fantastic piece of history that none of born under the Commonwealth will ever hear at school. If you are like me, you would have been indoctrinated with how England won WWI and WWII singlehandedly and saved the world from the fanatical oppression of the emerging fascist regime. The truth is that Italy is and was at the time of WWII a new and emerging nation. The people struggled under a waning dictator who made the gravest mistake of his life by signing a treaty with the greatest lunatic of the 20th century. At the time Italy had limited resources that were already committed in wars previously fought in Spain and Abyssinia, and were not prepared to back Hitler's dream of dominating Europe. Lamb explains how Mussolini was pushed into a pact with Hitler (the Pact of Steel) and explains Mussolini's true personal dislike for Hitler's policies. One such example is where Mussolini falls out of favour with Hitler when he refuses to persecute the Italian Jewish population. Lamb's book opens our eyes to what happened on ground zero on Italian territory during WWII. He reveals the true politics of what went on during such turbulent times while daring to dim the limelight on traditional English heroes that we are often taught saved the world by their sword and wit alone. At the end of the day, you have to remember that victory against Germany would not have occurred without the Italian's overthrowing their own dated government. Specific examples are equally mentioned of Italians' military units victories and defeats while Lamb sheds light on how and why they occurred. After reading, you will find not everything in Italy is as simple as it was we are traditionally taught. If you dare to learn an impartial and objective view of Italy in WWII then read this book. It deserves 4 stars but I will give it 5 to honour Lamb with his daring courage to shake English and American history and tell Italy's story in an honest and reputable manner.

Review of "War In Italy 1943-1945: A Brutal Story"

Mr. Lamb's effort is both moving and informative, serving to highlight many events in a post-surrender WWII Italy. A notoriously nebulous period, the author's detailed account of the state of this suddenly turbulent European power is tremendous. His research and reporting on the Allies' treatment of this fallen Axis enemy, the mounting strain of German-Italo relations throughout Mussolini's puppet regime, the uncertainty facing Italian armed forces in occupied territories and the relationships between partisans, civilians and the Italian Royal Army is unparalleled. Furthermore, Lamb gives the reader a clear understanding of Fascism's misgivings and failure, portraying a beaten, poweless dictator unable rally a nation under seige. A must read for anyone fascinated with WW II Italy.