This work is a splendid example of the new emphasis of the publisher on producing comprehensive works in a handy cheap format compared with the earlier broad brush treatments which covered too much in too little detail.
The new emphasis is on sets covering various national armed forces in as much detail as is available, consistent with the current purpose of the works in the series, which have evolved from an original emphasis on serving the military miniature maker market into works intended to enlighten the general reader in enough detail to satisfy the merely curious and to point the way to further reading.
Most of us, including myself, have little need for, or the patience to read, voluminous studies, often in foreign languages, covering many eras and nations. My main interest is in the US forces, their allies and their enemies in the twentieth century.
That said, these works should be purchased as presented, in sets within the series. Since they are produced as a set, the volumes cover only relevent

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Product Description

At its peak the Italian Army contributed 2.5 million troops to the Axis war effort. English-speaking readers tend to think of this army in terms of the North African campaign; but far more Italian troops served in other theatres. They invaded, and later bore the major burden of occupying, the Balkan countries; and Italy sent 250,000 troops to fight on the Russian Front. In this, the first of a three-part study, Philip Jowett covers the European theatre - including Russia - from 1940 to Italy's armistice with the Allies in 1943. Many interesting uniforms, a number of them new to most readers, are meticulously illustrated by Stephen Andrew.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #790868 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-25
• Released on: 2000-04-25
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From the Publisher
Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author
Philip Jowett is a ‘small wars’ enthusiast who has developed a reputation for primary source research and previously unseen material. His first book for Osprey MAA 306 Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49 received excellent reviews for precisely these qualities. Having moved on to cover ‘bigger’ conflicts, Philip has maintained the quality of his research and information.

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Customer Reviews

Not all Italians have big noses!
Osprey's "Men-at-Arms" series follows a predictable format. There is some brief history, description of equipment, and the color "centerfold" illustrations of the soldiers in their uniforms with the described gear, and so on... This book with the other companion volumes about the Italian Army in WW2 is reasonably written but a bit dry. However, the illustrator,Stephen Andrew, though he did a nice job on the uniforms and gear, has depicted the men wearing those nicely done uniforms with cartoonish, huge-nosed, swarthy faces who all rather look alike. As an artist, I was vexed by this glaring defect in the illustration, and was considering whether or not the illustrator had done this intentionally as some sort of jab at Italians or just a lack of effort. One merely by browsing photographs of Italians will see that Mr. Andrew's idea of an Italian face is bizarre. And for those who are interested primarily in the soldier's gear and organization of the Italian Army of WW2 Rex Tyre's "Mussolini's Soldiers" is a better choice.

Participation of the italian army in second world war
This book splain very well the participation of the italian army in the second world war in the theater of north afrika, the drawings is good but I think that they wil be more detailed, the test is good and show how was hard the figthing against the english because they have lack of suplies, power and leadership.

Waste of money
98% of this thin book is about how many buttons a certain uniform had on it and what type of boots a certain unit wore. Almost nothing about the Italian Army of WWII was in it. A more appropriate title would have been "The Uniforms of the Italian Army 1940-45: Africa".