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Osprey Warrior #87
Italian Arditi: Elite Assault Troops 1917–20
The Italian Reparti d'Assalto (Assault Units) of World War I (1914-1918) were a truly elite force. The word ardito (pl. arditi) means bold or daring, and, as their name suggests, their role required courage, as well as specific combat skills. This book takes a close look at the origins, training, dress, weaponry and equipment of the Arditi, and examines the daily life, motivation and combat role of these elite soldiers. The legacy of their identity is also examined, in the presence of D'Annunzio and rise to power of Mussolini in post-war Italy.
64 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 21, 2019
Pirocchi brings 3 things to a straightforward subject to elevate it above the mediocre : military experience, passion and a bibliography worth of Italian sources.
The Arditi were distinguished from the rank and file by loose discipline and a tight esprit de corps, but also distinguished from the German stormtroopers because they did not skirt around points of resistance. Rather they emerged from a short opening barrage, if necessary provided solely by their own mortars, to blast their way through mountain strongholds, decimating the Austrians by pistol and dagger.
Regardless of their later association with the rise of Mussolini, the existence of the Arditi proves that even in Italy officers which were not as thick headed as the Commander in Chief could find ways to break the WW1 deadlock in front of them.
The Arditi were distinguished from the rank and file by loose discipline and a tight esprit de corps, but also distinguished from the German stormtroopers because they did not skirt around points of resistance. Rather they emerged from a short opening barrage, if necessary provided solely by their own mortars, to blast their way through mountain strongholds, decimating the Austrians by pistol and dagger.
Regardless of their later association with the rise of Mussolini, the existence of the Arditi proves that even in Italy officers which were not as thick headed as the Commander in Chief could find ways to break the WW1 deadlock in front of them.
June 12, 2020
Very good introduction to the arditi of WW1. The nature of this book series is thin description and lots of photos which is the essence of the Osprey series.
For more detailed books on the topic see:
Hell in the Trenches: Austro-Hungarian Stormtroopers and Italian Arditi in the Great War by Paolo Morisi
Volpato Paolo: L’Ardito d’Italia. Storia dei reparti d’assalto | Mursia, 2020
For more detailed books on the topic see:
Hell in the Trenches: Austro-Hungarian Stormtroopers and Italian Arditi in the Great War by Paolo Morisi
Volpato Paolo: L’Ardito d’Italia. Storia dei reparti d’assalto | Mursia, 2020
April 26, 2021
Tratto da una serie di libri pubblicata dall'inglese Osprey (Osprey Warriors) il libro è un agile minisaggio. Escluso qualche limitato passaggio, il libro non racconta di specifiche azioni o gesta degli Arditi.
Nel libro si parla invece dell'evoluzione delle modalità di impiego tattico e strategico di quelle che, a tutti gli effetti, divennero le truppe d'élite dell'Esercito Italiano nella Prima Guerra Mondiale: ampio spazio viene dato infatti ad equipaggiamento, genesi ed impiego operativo, l'inquadramento degli Arditi nel contesto dell'esercito italiano, l'addestramento. Non un apologia insomma ma una descrizione ben fatta dell'unità. Consigliato soprattutto per appassionati di storia militare.
Nel libro si parla invece dell'evoluzione delle modalità di impiego tattico e strategico di quelle che, a tutti gli effetti, divennero le truppe d'élite dell'Esercito Italiano nella Prima Guerra Mondiale: ampio spazio viene dato infatti ad equipaggiamento, genesi ed impiego operativo, l'inquadramento degli Arditi nel contesto dell'esercito italiano, l'addestramento. Non un apologia insomma ma una descrizione ben fatta dell'unità. Consigliato soprattutto per appassionati di storia militare.
February 1, 2020
A little but informative book.
February 2, 2016
Very interesting book on Italian equivalent to German and Austro-Hungarian assault troops.
I for first did not know anything about Italian Army in WW1 and especially nothing about its elite units of that period.
Author gives a very concise overview of unit history, organization, equipment, training (which sounds like very serious training indeed believe me, especially nerve-testing-will-you-flinch grenade throwing surprises prepared for newcomers by the instructors) and every-day operations.
What I found very interesting is the fact that Arditi like their German counterparts at the time raised stand-alone assault units (battalions, even division equivalents) and used them as elite strike units but they had a more important usage for them - they were supposed to provide cadre of troops and officers to provide training for rest of the infantry force in the new tactics.
They were never used as front-line troops - after they finished the attack they would move to rear areas for R&R and most importantly to pass the know-how to other units and spread the use of most effective infantry tactics and approach to warfare.
As such their tactics became wide-spread and accepted by their respective armies. This on other hand caused disbandment after the war.
Unfortunately, same as German veterans of WW1 assault troops former Arditi troops, following hard post-war economic situation, became entangled with radical political movements that took over the power in their respective countries and later started the sequence of events that will lead to WW2.
I for first did not know anything about Italian Army in WW1 and especially nothing about its elite units of that period.
Author gives a very concise overview of unit history, organization, equipment, training (which sounds like very serious training indeed believe me, especially nerve-testing-will-you-flinch grenade throwing surprises prepared for newcomers by the instructors) and every-day operations.
What I found very interesting is the fact that Arditi like their German counterparts at the time raised stand-alone assault units (battalions, even division equivalents) and used them as elite strike units but they had a more important usage for them - they were supposed to provide cadre of troops and officers to provide training for rest of the infantry force in the new tactics.
They were never used as front-line troops - after they finished the attack they would move to rear areas for R&R and most importantly to pass the know-how to other units and spread the use of most effective infantry tactics and approach to warfare.
As such their tactics became wide-spread and accepted by their respective armies. This on other hand caused disbandment after the war.
Unfortunately, same as German veterans of WW1 assault troops former Arditi troops, following hard post-war economic situation, became entangled with radical political movements that took over the power in their respective countries and later started the sequence of events that will lead to WW2.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews