Italian Army Elite Units & Special Forces 1940–43

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in Military History at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he is active in Italy and abroad writing titles and essays on military history subjects. He is a contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office and has written numerous books for Osprey.Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani, and Edouard Detaille. His interests include karate, running, Bible reading, history, and making English longbows.

The book is illustrated with rare archive photographs and specially commissioned artwork, and is a fascinating insight into a little-studied aspect of Axis forces -- Scale Military Modeller

• IntroductionElite units – armour: tank and mechanized units of ‘Centauro’, ‘Ariete’ & ‘Littorio’ divisions, and ‘Trento’ and ‘Trieste’ motorized divisions – scout groups, armoured scout unitsParatroopers: experimental units – ‘Folgore’ and ‘Nemdo’ divisions Assault engineers: 31st and 32nd ‘Guastatori’ battalions Special Units: ‘Monte Cervino’ ski battalions – X Arditi regiment: paratrooper, swimmer and LRRP companies – ’Red Arrows’ Group: Arab, Indian turncoat, and Italian assault volunteer battalionsFascist ‘Mussolini’ units: sea-landing battalions, tank units