Steven J. Zaloga, German and Italian Tanks in Italy 1943-45 (Osprey, 2025)
The mountainous terrain of Italy does not readily conjure an image of tank warfare. Yet, in WWII, tanks were an important component of almost every battlefield. In this Osprey New Vanguard series book, Steven Zaloga highlights the tanks of the Axis forces in Italy and how they were used.
Zaloga notes that tanks were not the dominant force in combat, but they provided vital support for infantry. He begins his survey with Italian tankettes, which proved disappointing in the field, and tracks the development of their tanks and self-propelled guns. Zaloga points out that Germany gave Italy only small numbers of tanks, which was probably wise in the end. The Germans themselves deployed many Panzer IIIs and IVs with a few Tigers and Panthers, but the latter two tanks were not much use in the terrain, besides the Panzer IV occupied that tactical role quite well. Zaloga also surveys the German self-propelled guns and assault guns. The peculiar nature of the fighting in Italy along static defence lines resulted in the Germans also using static tank turrets mounted on foundations.
When the Italians withdrew from the war in September 1943, the Germans seized the remaining Italian tanks, most of which were of little use and were mostly used in anti-partisan operations. In any case, by the time that surrender came, Zaloga notes, most of the Italian tanks had been lost elsewhere. Many of those remaining were stationed on Sicily and Sardinia, the rest stayed on the mainland. The Germans had generally stayed out of Italy before the Italian withdrawal, but they read the tea leaves early and began to send more forces before September. Once in control, Germany used its tanks for defensive and counter-attacking operations. The Italian terrain prevented massed formations, reducing the tank role to mostly infantry support.
Zaloga turns to the operations involving Axis tanks. Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, opens the show. Zaloga outlines the action and the mostly ineffectual efforts of the Axis forces to expel the Allies. That is followed by the landings at Salerno, where the Germans almost threw the Allies back into the sea. More static warfare came with the winter defensive lines, with numerous attritional engagements though seldom involving tanks. Then the Allies attempted to outflank those lines by landing at Anzio, Operation Shingle in January 1944; although the planned German armoured counter-attack floundered in the rain, an effort that Zaloga argues was the turning point of the Italian campaign. The Allies subsequently broke through the German lines across Italy, forcing the Germans to evacuate north pursued by the Allies who also captured Rome. Zaloga concludes in his analysis that panzers played a significant but limited role in the Italian campaign.
Although tank warfare did not suit the Italian peninsula or Sicily, it was still an important part of the often intense combat as the Axis and Allied forces slugged it out for strategic control, as Zaloga makes clear in this informative book. He describes the tanks and how they performed in a succinct text that tank enthusiasts and readers of World War II military history will enjoy. Zaloga’s inclusion of a useful further reading list will be appreciated by those who want to add to the more general books on this fascinating campaign. Osprey’s usual high quality graphics and photographs of the tanks will also energise modellers. All in all, Zaloga’s book is a welcome addition to the New Vanguard series.
