The Italians.

This is coolbert:
While trawling the web, came across this forum with a discussion pertinent to some prior blog entries of mine.

Prior blog entries such as:

http://militarythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/01/this-is-coolbert-manco-il-fortuno-non.html

http://militarythoughts.blogspot.com/2005/05/this-is-coolbert-there-are-many.html

http://militarythoughts.blogspot.com/2004/07/this-is-coolbert-here-is-analogy.html

In regard to the Italian soldier and their experience in both World Wars, here is a quote taken from the book by a very distinguished German General:

" 'Neither Fear Nor Hope' by General Frido von Senger Und Etterlin, the defender of Cassino."

"Italian soldiers are neither better nor worse than the soldiers of any other nation . . . To enjoy war is surely degenerate; it appeals more to the single, adventure-seeking man than to the father of a family. Yet in the life of a nation the father, as head of the smallest unit, is more important than the adventurous youth . . . If the father of a large and young family is killed in action, the only result is bitterness and woe. "

"Before the days of Mussolini, Italy was not averse to war. How otherwise could it have successfully borne the heavy and protracted battles of the Isonzo during the First World War . . . With the exception of Prussia, no dynasty was ever as militant as the House of Savoy. It was the campaigns of the Piedmontese battalions that unified Italy, thereby fulfilling the dreams of many generations."

"At Turin and in that neighborhood were a number of military schools. The Peidmontese nobility, like the Prussian one, put service in the army on a higher plane than any other service to the state . . . In Piedmont there were also many alpine units, the best that the Italian Army could produce---proud, quiet, outwardly not very disciplined troops, but reliable types, brought up the heard [hard] way, accustomed to camping in the eternal snows with only the barest supplies. They were magnificent soldiers . . . The Navy, too, was good, though I had few contacts with it." - - "General Frido von Senger Und Etterlin, the commander of German XIV Panzer Corps in Italy and the defender of Cassino."

General Frido von Senger Und Etterlin [is referred to in various books as von Senger and also as Etterlin. Either one will do!!] was a very well respected German General officer of World War Two fame. A man who was also, in the post war years, an esteemed military theoretician. Persons should pay heed to the comments of this man.

[further comments of mine below in BOLD.]

"If the father of a large and young family is killed in action, the only result is bitterness and woe."

Is this not germane to my blog entry of "dwell time" being needed for career soldiers in the CURRENT American Army??!!

"The Navy, too, was good"

The British would significantly question this assertion of Etterlin. The Italian navy did have very good ships, but their resolution in battle was poor. Mattapan was an embarrassment. And Taranto, well, see my blog entry on same.

"many alpine units, the best that the Italian Army could produce"

These are the alpini units. Mountain troops. Trained and equipped for warfare in the mountains. Brought to a high level of physcial fitness, specially trained in mountaineering, rock climbing, winter-warfare, etc. Tough soldiers with esprit de corps.

"successfully borne the heavy and protracted battles of the Isonzo during the First World War?"

This of course was the mountain warfare of World War One between the forces of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Italians for the most part acquitted themselves well during this part of the war.

I think the general perception is that THE ITALIAN, BECAUSE OF "NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS", IS POOR MATERIAL TO MAKE A GOOD SOLDIER WITH!! THIS IS PROBABLY NOT TRUE. THINK OF THE ROMANS!! YES, THOUSANDS OF YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE TIME OF ROME, BUT AS THE SAYING GOES, "LIONS DO NOT BEGAT RABBITS!!"

"It is not so much the reality that counts, it is the perception of reality that counts" - - Jesse Jackson.

You decide!

coolbert.