Fascist Italy at War

James J. Sadkovich, Ph.D. (1982), University of Wisconsin-Madison; J.M. Olin Fellow in Strategic and Military Studies, (1989–90), Yale University; and Public Policy Scholar (2004-2005), Wilson Center; associate professor of history (retired). He has published articles and books on politics, diplomacy, war, and the media, including The US Media and Yugoslavia, 1991-1995 (Praeger, 1998), Talijanska potpora hrvatskom separatizmu 1927.- 1937. (Golden Marketing, 2010), La Marina Italiana nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale (Feltrinelli 2014, LEG, 2006), and Franjo Tuđman. A Political Biography: Partisan, General, Historian, Dissident and First President of Croatia (Despot Infinitus, 2023).

"James Sadkovich’s wide-ranging and meticulously researched study challenges a wide range of common tropes and conventional understandings of Fascist Italy’s experience of World War Two. Time-honoured traditions of looking to cultural and structural reasons, Fascist politics and policy, Mussolini’s own misguided hand, or simple and inherent Italian incompetence as explanations of the nation’s difficulties during the war are challenged. And they are challenged hard! So too the impact of an all-too common conflation of the nature of Fascist Italy with Nazi Germany, and the temptation to measure or judge both against each other, despite the profound differences between the regimes during the lead up and conduct of the war. In their place the author scrutinizes the very sinews of the Italian state and its objective capacity to wage a modern, industrial war from 1940. That is, raw materials, industrial and production potential, finance, trade, real diplomatic objectives, and a range of other measurable, empirical strategic conundrums – many of which predated Mussolini’s regime and existed, immutable, despite Fascist rhetoric. You do not need to agree with the arguments herein. Indeed, some readers may feel a little uncomfortable. I encourage you, however, to engage with this work. Only by constant contestation of established wisdom does history and understanding move forward. On such a basis, and with my own views on Italy’s war rattled, I highly recommend the read."Craig Stockings, Head of School, Humanities and Social Sciences, UNSW Canberra"In content, methodology and interpretation, James J. Sadkovich’s new work is the most incisive and original book on Italian Fascism to have appeared in recent years. Author of the basic one-volume history of the Italian navy in World War II, as well as numerous other works, Sadkovich has devoted many years of study to this area and offers a unique account of the material basis of the Italian military effort in World War II, based on thorough and conclusive research.This account begins with a highly original critique of theory and interpretation concerning Italian Fascism, and then brings together analysis of economics, production, weapons systems, raw material resources and planning to provide a new understanding of Italian participation in the conflict. It analyzes the basis of Mussolini’s war, and treats with objectivity and originality such vexed issues as “fascist economics” and the problematic question of Italian armored warfare. This unique new work is indispensable for the study of Italy’s role in the war and of the Mediterranean theater in general."Stanley G. Payne, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• PrefaceList of TablesAcronymsIntroduction1 Categories and Context2 The Chapters3 A Model, an Observation, and a Word or Two on Theory, Evidence, and Methodologies4 Some Examples of Theoretically Dogmatic and Theoretically Agnostic Historiographies5 Closed and Open Inquiry1 Striving for Self-Sufficiency and the Mirage of Autarky1 Was There a Fascist Economic System?2 Observations on Autarky and War2 Deciding to Intervene1 Raw Materials and the Ability to Wage War2 A Winter Laden with Indecision3 A Spring Full of Surprises3 The Components of War: Energy1 Energy—Solid Combustibles2 Energy—Liquid Combustibles3 Energy—Hydroelectric Power4 The Components of War: Metals and Chemicals1 Pig Iron, Scrap Metal, Steel, Alloys, and Aluminum2 Alloys and Non-Ferrous Metals3 Propellants and Explosives5 Imports, Allies, Material, and Materiel during Two World Wars1 The Importance of Material and Materiel2 Imports and Allies6 Industrial Mobilization and War Production1 Obstacles to Industrial Mobilization2 Strategy and Procurement3 Some Observations7 Material Constraints on Air Power1 Falling Behind2 Industrial Capacity3 Civil Aviation4 Evaluating and Ordering Aircraft5 Observations8 Building an Armored Force1 Developing an Armored Doctrine2 Italian Production of Armored Vehicles and Artillery3 Italy’s Armored Force9 The Cost of War1 The High Cost of Victory2 The High Cost of DefeatSelect GlossaryBibliographyIndex