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Apocalypse On The Steppe: The Struggle And The Bitter End Of The Italian Army In Russia, 1942-1943

Mussolini's War Vol.5

by Marek Sobski

Reviewed by Peter Brown

Summary

Title:	Apocalypse On The Steppe: The Struggle And The Bitter End Of The Italian Army In Russia, 1942-1943 Italian Expeditionary Corps in Operation Barbarossa Mussolini's War vol.5 by Marek Sobski Published by http://wojna-mussoliniego.pl
ISBN:	Paperback 979-8344739687 US27.50 Hardcover 979-8344741123 US37.00
Media and Contents:	275 pages, 110 photos and 8 maps
Price:	Hard Copy Available via Amazon, UK price from USD$27.50 plus postage also available as Kindle version.
Review Type:	First Read
Advantages:	Sheds new light on a neglected area
Disadvantages:
Recommendation:	Their story is not well covered in English which makes this book all the more welcome for the serious student of the Eastern Front. It is well told here with numerous notes and short biographies of the main Italian commanders.

FirstRead

Following on from the author’s earlier study “Mussolini’s Eastern Crusade: The Italian Expeditionary Corps In Operation Barbarossa (Mussolini's War)” which covered the Italian Expeditionary Corps in the initial stages of the Axis attack on the Soviet Union, this book deals with its expansion into a complete Army and its battles on the Eastern Front.

The main focus of the German campaign in the summer of 1942 was the Caucasus region with its oil fields and the major industrial centre of Stalingrad. Italian forces were part of this, taking up positions on the River Don. There they were attacked by the Red Army but resisted successfully. A second counter-attack in the winter of 1942-43 was aimed at breaking the attack on Stalingrad. By breaking through the Italian front the airfields supplying the German forces surrounded there could be captured.

Fighting in the extreme cold of a Russian winter, with not enough automatic small arms and no tanks or antitank weapons capable of taking on the Soviets, the Italians were forced to retreat. Many acts of bravery by units and individuals took place. Many men were killed or captured, few of these survived prisoner of war camps. Any Blackshirts falling into Soviet hands met a swift and grisly end.

While most of the action was on the ground, Italian Air Force units were also involved in support and resupply missions including evacuating wounded from inside pockets of resistance.

The end for the Armata Italiana in Russia came with the surrender of Italy to the Allied forces in September 1943. Surviving soldiers and airmen returned home, often in sealed trains with little or no publicity. Some joined the Axis forces while others were to fight on the Allied side.

Their story is not well covered in English which makes this book all the more welcome for the serious student of the Eastern Front. It is well told here with numerous notes and short biographies of the main Italian commanders.

(Disclaimer - I must declare an interest as I helped with proof reading this and earlier books. That does not stop me appreciating the efforts of those involved or the work of the author.)

Peter Brown for Brett Green 12 December 2024

Text and Images by Peter Brown
Page Created 9 April, 2022
Page Last Updated 14 December, 2024