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Eyewitness Accounts of Italian Soldiers on the Eastern Front: Modern War Studies

Dawson Reed

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Published in Mussolini S Death March: Eyewitness Accounts Of Italian Soldiers On The Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Hardcover))

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The Eastern Front of World War II was one of the most brutal and costly conflicts in human history. Millions of soldiers from both sides died in the fighting, and the civilian population suffered immense hardship. The Italian army played a significant role in the war on the Eastern Front, and its soldiers witnessed some of the worst fighting of the conflict.

Mussolini's Death March: Eyewitness Accounts of Italian Soldiers on the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Hardcover))

by Nuto Revelli

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	581 pages

In this article, we will present eyewitness accounts from Italian soldiers who fought on the Eastern Front. These accounts provide a unique perspective on the harsh realities of combat and the human cost of war. They offer insights into the motivations, fears, and experiences of the soldiers who fought in this brutal conflict.

The Italian Army on the Eastern Front

Italy entered World War II on the side of the Axis powers in June 1940. The Italian army was initially tasked with occupying parts of southeastern France and Greece. However, in June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and Italy was forced to send troops to support the German war effort.

The Italian army on the Eastern Front was commanded by General Giovanni Messe. Messe's army was initially deployed to southern Ukraine, but it was later moved to the more dangerous central sector of the front. The Italian soldiers faced a formidable enemy in the Red Army, and they were often outnumbered and outgunned.

Despite the challenges they faced, the Italian soldiers fought bravely on the Eastern Front. They played a key role in the defense of Stalingrad, and they also fought in the bloody battles of Kursk and Kharkov. However, the Italian army suffered heavy losses in the fighting, and by the end of the war, it had lost over 100,000 men.

Eyewitness Accounts

The following are eyewitness accounts from Italian soldiers who fought on the Eastern Front:

Sergeant Mario Rigoni Stern: "The Russian winter was the worst thing I have ever experienced. We were constantly cold and hungry. We often had to sleep in the open, and our feet would freeze. The fighting was also very intense. We were constantly under attack, and we saw many of our comrades killed or wounded."
Corporal Ugo Lucarelli: "I was a machine gunner on the Eastern Front. I saw some terrible things during the war. I saw men burned alive in their tanks. I saw children killed by artillery fire. I saw women raped by Soviet soldiers. The war was a nightmare, and I will never forget the things I saw."
Lieutenant Emilio Bianchi: "I was a platoon commander on the Eastern Front. My platoon was wiped out in the fighting at Stalingrad. I was the only survivor. I was captured by the Soviets, and I spent the rest of the war in a prison camp. The conditions in the camp were terrible. We were starved and beaten. Many of my fellow prisoners died. I was lucky to survive."

The Human Cost of War

The eyewitness accounts from Italian soldiers on the Eastern Front provide a glimpse into the human cost of war. These soldiers witnessed some of the worst fighting of the conflict, and they experienced firsthand the horrors of war. Their accounts are a reminder of the importance of peace and the need to prevent future wars.

The eyewitness accounts from Italian soldiers on the Eastern Front are a valuable resource for historians and scholars. They provide a unique perspective on the harsh realities of combat and the human cost of war. These accounts offer insights into the motivations, fears, and experiences of the soldiers who fought in this brutal conflict.

Mussolini's Death March: Eyewitness Accounts of Italian Soldiers on the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Hardcover))

by Nuto Revelli

4.4 out of 5