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The Italian Folgore Parachute Division: North African Operations 1940-43
The North African campaign was one of the hardest fought episodes of the Second World War, yet the vital part played by the Italian Army - and in particular, its Folgore Parachute Division on behalf of the Axis Alliance - is frequently overlooked. Initially created to emulate the German Fallschirmj�ger in order to carry out the planned airborne attack against the British base of Malta, Folgore Airborne Division fought on the battlefields of North Africa - including the key Battle of El Alamein.
This elite unit distinguished itself at El Alamein despite inadequate equipment and weapons while facing unfavorable odds. This book describes a paratroop unit that earned the respect of its Allied opponents during some of the hardest-fought engagements of North Africa. The key theme of the book is the paratroopers' involvement in the Axis war effort through an analysis of their training, weaponry and battle tactics.
Another key focus is an assessment of the Folgore's specific role during the major battles of the North African campaign. It covers in detail, for example, the Folgore's first fierce military engagement against British and New Zealand troops during the Battle of Alam El Halfa in September 1942. It then details a number of smaller actions that preceded the Battle of El Alamein such as the counter-attack during the British 'Operation Beresford', which led to the capture of Brigadier General G.H. Clifton, commander of the New Zealand 6th Brigade, by a patrol of Folgore soldiers. The focus then shifts upon the Folgore's major engagement of the campaign during the Battle of El Alamein: 'Operation Lightfoot', which was launched by General Montgomery on 24 October 1942. It was designed to break through the Italian-held southern sector of the El Alamein line, where the Bologna, Brescia, Pavia and Folgore Divisions anchored the Axis right flank. While describing key events during this operation, the book also highlights how the Folgore used unusual tactics to repulse the massive enemy-armored attack. This included letting the enemy advance into a 'cul-de-sac' and then launching a counter-attack against its armored vehicles and infantry units from all sides and by a combination of fire from 47 mm anti-tank guns, mortars, hand grenades and other incendiary devices. It describes the desperate retreat in the desert of the Italian units as a result of the collapse of Axis military defenses in November 1942. Finally, it highlights the role of the paratroopers during the last battles in Tunisia - especially those in defense of the Mareth line and Takrouna in the spring of 1943.
Illustrated with rare archival photographs, detailed maps and specially commissioned artwork, this volume offers a fascinating insight into a little-studied aspect of Axis forces. The volume draws heavily upon both Axis and Allied (Britain and New Zealand) archival sources such as the war diaries and the post-battle reports of the military units engaged in North Africa. It thus sheds new light into one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War. By drawing from archival sources from both sides, it also furnishes a more complete and balanced perspective on a critical juncture in the war such as the Battle of El Alamein.
This elite unit distinguished itself at El Alamein despite inadequate equipment and weapons while facing unfavorable odds. This book describes a paratroop unit that earned the respect of its Allied opponents during some of the hardest-fought engagements of North Africa. The key theme of the book is the paratroopers' involvement in the Axis war effort through an analysis of their training, weaponry and battle tactics.
Another key focus is an assessment of the Folgore's specific role during the major battles of the North African campaign. It covers in detail, for example, the Folgore's first fierce military engagement against British and New Zealand troops during the Battle of Alam El Halfa in September 1942. It then details a number of smaller actions that preceded the Battle of El Alamein such as the counter-attack during the British 'Operation Beresford', which led to the capture of Brigadier General G.H. Clifton, commander of the New Zealand 6th Brigade, by a patrol of Folgore soldiers. The focus then shifts upon the Folgore's major engagement of the campaign during the Battle of El Alamein: 'Operation Lightfoot', which was launched by General Montgomery on 24 October 1942. It was designed to break through the Italian-held southern sector of the El Alamein line, where the Bologna, Brescia, Pavia and Folgore Divisions anchored the Axis right flank. While describing key events during this operation, the book also highlights how the Folgore used unusual tactics to repulse the massive enemy-armored attack. This included letting the enemy advance into a 'cul-de-sac' and then launching a counter-attack against its armored vehicles and infantry units from all sides and by a combination of fire from 47 mm anti-tank guns, mortars, hand grenades and other incendiary devices. It describes the desperate retreat in the desert of the Italian units as a result of the collapse of Axis military defenses in November 1942. Finally, it highlights the role of the paratroopers during the last battles in Tunisia - especially those in defense of the Mareth line and Takrouna in the spring of 1943.
Illustrated with rare archival photographs, detailed maps and specially commissioned artwork, this volume offers a fascinating insight into a little-studied aspect of Axis forces. The volume draws heavily upon both Axis and Allied (Britain and New Zealand) archival sources such as the war diaries and the post-battle reports of the military units engaged in North Africa. It thus sheds new light into one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War. By drawing from archival sources from both sides, it also furnishes a more complete and balanced perspective on a critical juncture in the war such as the Battle of El Alamein.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 27, 2026
Whew, it took me too long to finish this! In my defense, I got interrupted by a different story idea than the one I was reading this for. 😅
Overall pretty useful! I wish there had been more about equipment and small-unit organization, leadership, and such, but that's mostly because that's the stuff I need for my writing. 🫠
The Folgore were truly awesome. Viva l'Italia - Viva la Folgore! 🫡
Overall pretty useful! I wish there had been more about equipment and small-unit organization, leadership, and such, but that's mostly because that's the stuff I need for my writing. 🫠
The Folgore were truly awesome. Viva l'Italia - Viva la Folgore! 🫡
January 31, 2020
This is a great addition to WW2 history books. When you read general WW2 histories, about the only thing you ever hear about in regards to Italians is their relatively poor performance in combat. This book shines the light on one of their elite units that was originally trained for an airborne assault on Malta. Due to logistical and political issues, the Malta invasion never took place and then the Italian Commando Supremo decided to send them to North Africa as reinforcements. There they ended up being used as an elite light infantry force and earned the respect of Germans and British troops alike.
The book goes into detail on the major operations that they fought in and is refreshing since most other histories tend to focus on the tank battles in the northern sector of El Alamein while scant time is spent in the southern sector where the British advances were repulsed. It was only the collapse of the northern sector that ultimately forced the southern sector to be abandoned.
The book goes into detail on the major operations that they fought in and is refreshing since most other histories tend to focus on the tank battles in the northern sector of El Alamein while scant time is spent in the southern sector where the British advances were repulsed. It was only the collapse of the northern sector that ultimately forced the southern sector to be abandoned.
January 17, 2020
The book explores some interesting topic about Italian special forces in WW2, much is said about WW1’s Ardittis, their exploits against the Austro hungarian forces,they even mention them not as a company level, but person basis. In the case of second world war there were mention of the Bersaglieri and the mechanized divisions like the Ariete division. This book shed light on a less common group that the axis posses, airborne elite forces, we heard a lot about the fallschirmjagers an their exploits. But absolutely nothing from the italian and the japanese. That is why is so important for serious readers on this kind of topic to have the chance to read this book.
June 2, 2020
Very good account of a division frequently mentioned but that has never been studied in depth.
This work does this and is based primarily on archive sources.
This work does this and is based primarily on archive sources.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews