Italy at War

World War II #33

by Henry Hitch Adams

Book 33 of the Time-Life World War II series.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, World War II

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Henry Hitch Adams received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1939 and his MA and PhD from Columbia University in 1940 and 1942. He served in the US Navy in the Pacific during World War II on the destroyer escort USS Owen, and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1977 as a Captain. Adams taught at Cornell University from 1945 until 1951 and then joined the US Naval Academy where he was Assistant, Associate, and full Professor from 1951 until 1968

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold standard of WW2 histories in my opinion, excellently blending text and pictorial study. Despite its age, it still holds up quite well in being accurate with the information it provides not succumbing to post war myths for either side.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite surprised that I enjoyed this volume so much since I had little interest in Italy at war other than the Allied invasion that is covered in The Italian Campaign volume in this series. Included is the usual Time-Life collection of hundreds of photographs, illustrations, color posters, and maps that supplement clear and interesting narratives.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Details the rise and fall of Benito Mussolini along with the impact of World War II on Italy. This is one sad story as Italy was unprepared for war and yet was at the mercy of a dictator striving for relevance. Most of the chapters focus on life, in Italy but there are accounts of battles in Africa and Russia by Italian soldiers.

[Krista Visconti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information on a part of WWll history of which I new very little. Many good photos and asides to keep this from being a text book. I read this after reading Eternal by Lisa Scottoline, historical fiction in Italy during Fascist and Nazi rule.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fair view of Italy's entanglement in WWII; you can't help but feel at least a little sorry for them even after they allied with the Germans, as their country got cracked like a nut.

[William Razavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm revising my opinion of this book since in retrospect it really is a much better intro into the workings of Fascist Italy and Mussolini's rule than you can find elsewhere. As with all of this series the illustrations are really great.
This volume takes us from the rise of the Black Shirts all the way through the dismissal of Mussolini and his escape to northern Italy where his rump Fascist government continued as a flimsy fig leaf for German occupation all the way to the end of the war.
Lots here about palace intrigues, the cult of Mussolini and a little about the expansionist adventures.
An often overlooked part of history so this is a good short intro into it with a good (if dated) bibliography.

[Robert Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this Life Time series in the early 1980's on WWII, a volume came to the house every 2 or 3 months so I could take my reading. It was very informative and enjoyable read, I still use it for reference.