The Italian Campaign, 1943-1945

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After the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, the next logical step for the Allies was the invasion of Fascist Italy. Unfortunately for the Allies, the rugged terrain of the Italian peninsula, held by a variety of German units and their erstwhile Italian allies, would prove a formidable challenge. That challenge became even tougher after U.S. and British forces were siphoned off for decisive combat in NW Europe after 1943.This Images of War volume uses period photographs to convey a sense of the tough fighting conditions in Italy. It also captures the polyglot nature of the two sides, especially for the Allies. A variety of allied troop contingents, including Free French, Polish, North African, Brazilian, and other nationalities fought on the Italian front, where the Allies suffered from a chronic manpower shortage. The included narrative is terse but informative and tends to avoid the political controversies that dogged the Allied chain of command. Well recommended to students of the Second World War in Europe.