books:

	Iron Arm: The Mechanization of Mussolini's Army, 1920-1940 (Stackpole Military History) John Joseph Timothy Sweet Stackpole Books, 2006 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Though overshadowed by Germany's more famous Afrika Korps, Italian tanks formed a large part of the Axis armored force that the Allies confronted--and ultimately defeated--in North Africa in the early years of World War II. Those tanks were the product of two decades of debate and development as the Italian military struggled to produce a modern, mechanized army in the aftermath of World War I. For a time, Italy stood near the front of the world's tank forces--but once war came, Mussolini's iron arm failed as an effective military force. This is the story of its rise and fall.

for more information click here

More than just a history of the development of Italian armor

This book provides excellent background on the socio-economic-military conditions that prevented Italy from being a truly great power by 1939. The empahsis is on the development of the Italian tank force, but a large part of the book explains what deterred it. For those interested in Italian armor, the author does a great job of explaining how tactics and armored units developed in the 1930s. This book is highly recommneded for those simply interested in Italy's role in World War II and not necessairly the development of its tank force.


Excellent context for Italian armor leading up to WW2

Although Sweet's book is based on the development of Italy's armored capabilities in the interwar years, it provides excellent context for understanding the nation's poor performance on the battlefield in WW2. This is not a book for the rivet counter, it's a "new" military history that analyzes social, military, doctrinal, and technological context which goes a long way towards explaining how, despite Italy's correct understanding of armor doctrine, it was unable to turn that understanding into success in battle.

For those familiar with the theory of Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMAs) the book demonstrates there are a variety of variables required for the development and transformation of a given military. In the case of Italy, the book discusses Italian armor doctrine, the impact, or lack thereof, of the automobile on Italian society, economic and industrial problems that impeded the development of modern armor and production, and it takes a look at the employment of Italian armor in Spain and colonial battles in Africa.

In the end the author concludes that systemic limitations in its economy, industry, and society (vis-a-vis the integration of the automobile) prohibited Italy from using its doctrine -- which was correct for the time.

I'd also recommend this book be read in conjunction with Iron Hearts, Iron Hulls: Mussolini's Elite Armored Divisions in North Africa, which also provides strategic context for its armored forces in North Africa, and discusses the actual battles in which the forces fought.

for more information click here

Vivid and Deep

As the author notes on several occasions, many of the records that could have been of great value to him were destroyed, either by allied bombing or by the Italians themselves after the war. Additionally, the emphasis is placed on the development of Mussolini's Mechanized forces, rather than those units in action in Egypt and Libya, and so most readers who might be attracted to this book as an Italian perspective on the North African campaign could be disappointed. Nevertheless, there is a great perspective on the economic and military developments of the nation that in many ways inspired Germany, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Japan, and movements in many other countries that is both fascinating and rewarding. Though comparisons of Motorized and Mechanized doctrine may seem boring, they in fact reveal the significant differences between different World War II era armies, and discussion of organization is very helpful in understanding modern warfare, or at least seems so to me. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fascist Italy or in tank operations as a rewarding perspective on early tanks and on modern warfare, both doctrinally and technologically.

for more information click here

Iron Arm

As an avid military historian, this book brought new insights into the reasons for Italy's military failures especially in the North African theatre. The author explains Italy's lack of preparation for World War Two and its inability to adapt and expand its military production in the way that Germany, Great Britian and especially the United States did. An excellent read for those with an interest in the Italian military and World War Two in general. The book focuses on the political and industrial background to the Armored forces rather than the actual combat that those forces participated in.

for more information click here

products you might be interested in

recommendations

Mussolini