Italian Armoured Death Ride - Sicily 1943

I have 4 relatives who fought in WW2 as part of the italian army. One fought in Albania and then in Russia as part of the Alpine divisions. He lost in life in Russia in 1943. Another one fought in Albania and survived the war. Another one again had quite an eventful experience. He fought in Egypt where he was taken prisoner in December 1940. Later on, when the Axis forces advanced again into Egypt, he was freed alongside other italian and german POWs. After several months he was sent back to North Africa, where he was taken prisoner again in Tunisia in 1943, when the last Italo-german forces were defeated. This time he was sent to Australia, to a prisoner camp. He came back home only in 1947. Poor dude was traumatized because he shot an english soldier who was captured and later died due to the injury, during a fight in Africa. Being a strong believer in christian values he always wondered whether god would have forgiven him. Last relative who fought in the war was very lucky. I dunno where he fought or if he fought at all, but at some point after Italy signed the peace with the allies he, alongside many italian soldiers, was taken prisoner by the german soldiers and sent to a prison camp in Austria. Near the end of the war some prisoners tried to escape, also killing some german guards in the attempt. Some managed to flee, but unfortunatly my relative was captured and sent back to the camp. He and some others were about to be executed, and the german officers asked them if they had a last wish. He asked for a cigarette and started smoking. While he was smoking a german officer arrived at the camp driving a car and started announcing something in german. The german troops started yelling stuff but the other prisoners didn't understand what was going on, until someone who knew german translated and said peace with germany had been signed and war was over. The soldiers just forgot about the execution and let the prisoners go. My relative felt so lucky that he went to german soldier who was supposed to shoot him and asked him the bullet that he was about to shoot. The soldier agreed and gave it to him, my relative kept it with him for all his life as some sort of lucky charm. I still have it in my library to this day

"Bad equipment": My grandfather was a German soldier but he had to drive an Italian tank (Fiat, I think). The tank broke down all the time and he missed a lot of battles, spending his time in repair shops instead. Back then he was so ashamed of this that he often didn't even mention driving a tank at all when he met friends or relatives, because they would immediately ask if he drove a Panther or a Tiger or something. But later on he became very thankful. And I am thankful too, maybe I owe my life to this small, ill-designed and poorly constructed tank.

My brother in law's father was an Australian soldier guarding a group of Italian prisoners in North Africa when one yelled out 'hey Bill'. It was a guy he went to school with from an Italian family, he went back to Italy for a holiday and was drafted into the Italian army. True story.

My uncle, who fought in the war, said 'People who say that Italians couldn't fight never fought the Italians'.

My paternal Grandfather was a soldier in the Italian army in North Africa. My maternal Grandfather was an 8th Army Desert Rat. They both got on like a house on fire.

I’m so happy to see this channel almost hit 1 million subs. Been here since day 1. Who else discovered this channel by accident and now love this?

Mark, for giving the Italians a fair judgment you have my sympathy.

It is the first time I believe that I hear a renown historian speaking well of the Italian army in 1939-1943. I praise Mr Felton. My grand father fought the Italians on the Mont Cenis in 1940 and always reported they were fighting courageously, attacking the fort he served in uphill with little chance of success. And they were average alpine troops, not the Bersagliere. Hearing the comments post war, my grand father had the impression he fought a full regiment of Arditi!

History has shown time and again to NEVER underestimate your enemy.

British Field Marshal Slim of Burma fame was said to be "tolerant of most things but he would never allow Italian jokes in his presence." He fought against them in Abyssinia. General O'Connor who led Operation Compass respected the Italians as he fought with them during World War 1.

My Father fought the Italians and Germans all the way through Africa and Italy. He very much respected the Italians

I read all the stories about Italian 'cowardice' then (some 30 years ago) read the history of the 2nd Battle of El Alamein and how the Ariete (132nd) Armored Division basically fought nearly to the death at some 20:1 odds holding off the British 8th Army for an entire day allowing the rest of the DAK and Italian 20th Corps to retreat. Nothing cowardly about it. It should also never be overlooked that most of the Italian armed forces operated without appropriate stocks of fuel (and Germany wasn't sharing) which compounded things.

Italy also had terrible military leadership, German generals even said the Italian soldiers performed amazingly with German leaders

"Others gave up without a fight". My grandfather was there. He told me years ago that they had a 90 mm AA gun with only 10 shells. They shot all they got and then tried to defend the position with their rifles but they had low ammo, too. So they simply gave up after some hours of fight. We still have a photo of him sitting in front of an american soldier who took him in pow.

"Sir, their weapons are obsolete, their tanks aren't fit for purpose, their morale is low.... But god damn it, they look fabulous "

This film shows how brave those guys were, knowing their tanks were poor but pressing on despite the ods.

"Ferrea mole, ferreo cuore" "Iron bulk, iron heart" Italian tankers motto

Rommel thought well of Italian soldiers under his command in North Africa. As long as they were competently led

My father was born during the invasion of Sicily and almost lost his life. The hospital was being bombarded as my grandma was giving birth

My father fought with the Eight Army in the Western Desert during WW2. He had a high regard for the Italian soldier & told me once that the Italian soldiers almost beat them in a couple of battles. It was only the Germans retreating that saved the British forces as the Italians kept fighting in a hopeless position until ordered to withdraw by Rommel himself.