Figure 1.--These Italian Alpini soldiers look quite young. Thet are marching in Rome, I think in June-July 1941. The photograph was taken by the Hoffmann German News. I believe the youths here were among those deployed east as part of the Italian 8th Army.

Mussolini sent Itlaian forces to aid Hiter in the invassion of the Soviet Union. Few ever returned. Hitler launched his long-planned attack on the Soviet Union--Operation Barbarossa (June 22, 1941). As with other German offensives, there had been no consultation with their Axis ally before the attack. The Germans did not trust Mussolini and the Italians to keep the plans secret. Upon learning of the invasion, Mussolini immediately ordered Italian units to join the attack. This was at a time when the Italian Army in Libya had been badly mauled by the British Army in the Western Desert. The Corpo de Spedizione Italiano in Russia" (CSIR) was hastily organized. The CSIR initially consisted of three divisions with about 60,000 men. The CSIR was assigned to the southern sector of the Eastern Front. The CSIR was redesignated the Italian 8th Army (July 1941). The inintial units were reinforced with additional units including the newly the Alpini Army Corps made up of three Alpini Divisions. The 8th Army eventually totaled 250,000 men. Little serious preparartion was made to fight in Russia or adequately equip the 8th Army. Mussolini's primary concern was to deploy the 8th Army in time to make a contribution before the Soviet Union collapsed. This would allow him to claim a share of the spoils. Hitler had denied Mussolini a share of the spols in France because Mussolini only declthe ared war after France had already been laregly defeated. Hitler had even refused to reward the Italians with Tunusia. Mussolini at Verona reviewed the first motorized division moving for deploment (June 26, 1941). The Italian people turned on Mussolini as the illconceived War turned against the Italians and their German allies.

Created: 5:42 AM 11/10/2005
Last updated: 5:42 AM 11/10/2005