About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherBloomsbury Publishing

ISBN-101472851269

ISBN-139781472851260

eBay Product ID (ePID)4050388149

Product Key Features

Book TitleItalian Colonial Troops 1882-1960

Number of Pages48 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicEurope / Italy, Africa / General, Military / General

Publication Year2022

IllustratorRava, Giuseppe, Yes

GenreHistory

AuthorGabriele Esposito

Book SeriesMen-At-Arms Ser.

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.3 in

Item Weight5.9 Oz

Item Length9.7 in

Item Width7.1 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

Dewey Edition23

Series Volume Number544

Dewey Decimal355.3094509034

Table Of ContentContents BACKGROUND Eritrea and Somalia - Libya Colonisation under Fascism - World War II CHRONOLOGY North-East Africa - Libya - World War I - Interwar - Ethiopia (former Abyssinia) - World War II and after THE UNITS: ERITREA 1885-95: Italian and native infantry - Supporting arms 1895-1935: Native infantry - Supporting arms - Minor units - Specialist units - Paramilitaries and auxiliaries 1935-36: Maximum expansion - Eritrean Army Corps SOMALIA Native infantry - Supporting arms - Paramilitaries and auxiliaries - Oltregiuba UN Trust Territory of Somalia, 1949-60 ITALIAN EAST AFRICA, 1936-41 Unification of forces - Paramilitaries and auxiliaries LIBYA Infantry - Supporting arms: cavalry - Camel troops - Artillery and engineers - Minor units - Paramilitaries and auxiliaries SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY PLATE COMMENTARIES INDEX

SynopsisA complete illustrated study of the varied range of Italian colonial units who served in East and North Africa. Italy only unified as a nation in 1870 and was late, and therefore impatient, in the 'scramble' for Africa. An initial foothold in Eritrea/Somalia, north-east Africa, led to a disastrous defeat in Ethiopia in 1896 at the Battle of Adwa, but Italian Somaliland was later consolidated on the west coast of the Red Sea. During 1911, Italy also invaded Libya, securing the coast, however fighting continued throughout World War I and only ended in the early 1930s. A number of native colonial regiments were raised in both Italian East Africa and Libya (in the latter, even a pioneering paratroop unit), of which most fought sturdily for Italy against the Allies in 1940-43. These units had particularly colourful uniforms and insignia. Another small guard unit also served in the Italian concession at Tientsin, China in 1902-1943. After World War II, a remnant unit served on in Somalia under a UN mandate until 1960. This intriguing volume describes and illustrates the dress and equipment used by these forces and details how they were deployed to maintain a colonial empire for over half a century., Italy's part in the 'scramble for Africa' from the 1880s saw the steady creation of large numbers of native colonial units. In both of Italy's wars against Ethiopia - tin the 1890s and 1930s - its hardy Eritrean infantry proved to be a major asset. Though fewer in number, Somali and Libyan units, including light cavalry and camel troops, also played a large part in campaigns of counter-insurgency. This book explains the history, orders-of-battle, and organization of these troops, illustrating the variety of colourful uniforms using new plates and rare photos. Book jacket., Italy only unified as a nation in 1870 and was late, and therefore impatient, in the 'scramble' for Africa. An initial foothold in Eritrea/Somalia, north-east Africa, led to a disastrous defeat in Ethiopia in 1896 at the Battle of Adwa, but Italian Somaliland was later consolidated on the west coast of the Red Sea. During 1911, Italy also invaded Libya, securing the coast, however fighting continued throughout World War I and only ended in the early 1930s. A number of native colonial regiments were raised in both Italian East Africa and Libya (in the latter, even a pioneering paratroop unit), of which most fought sturdily for Italy against the Allies in 1940-43. These units had particularly colourful uniforms and insignia. Another small guard unit also served in the Italian concession at Tientsin, China in 1902-1943. After World War II, a remnant unit served on in Somalia under a UN mandate until 1960. This intriguing volume describes and illustrates the dress and equipment used by these forces and details how they were deployed to maintain a colonial empire for over half a century., A complete illustrated study of the varied range of Italian colonial units who served in East and North Africa.

LC Classification NumberUA749