{"product_id":"infantrymen-of-the-air-jeffrey-w-s-leser-9781915113702","title":"Infantrymen of the Air: An Operational History of the Royal Italian Airborne Forces in the Second World War, 1936-1943","description":"There is little written modern history about the \u003ci\u003eRegio Esercito\u003c\/i\u003e (Royal Italian Army) in the Second World War in the English language. Most readers' knowledge of the actions of the R.E. are in works that focus on the Allied side of the conflict and are heavily dependent on Allied sources. While there are several recent works on the operations of the \u003ci\u003eRegia Aeronautica\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRegina Marina\u003c\/i\u003e during the war, these tend to omit or only briefly mention the activities of the specialized units within those services.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eInfantrymen of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e is the first detailed account of one speciality within the Italian military: the \u003ci\u003eparacadutisti\u003c\/i\u003e (paratroopers). Many readers are aware of the exploits of the \u003ci\u003edivisione paracadutisti «Folgore \u003c\/i\u003e at El Alamein, but few are aware that the \u003ci\u003eparacadutisti\u003c\/i\u003e were involved in all the major fighting in North Africa. There was the \u003ci\u003eI battaglione paracadutisti libici\u003c\/i\u003e that fought at Derna and Beda Fomm during Operation Compass. Then the \u003ci\u003eCarabinieri dell'Aria\u003c\/i\u003e stopped a pursuing infantry brigade during Operation Crusader. The remains of the \u003ci\u003e«Folgore \u003c\/i\u003e continued to fight at Mareth and as the \u003ci\u003e285  battaglione «Folgore \u003c\/i\u003e at Takrouna. The \u003ci\u003edivisione aviotrasportabile «La Spezia \u003c\/i\u003e is also addressed as part of an Italian airborne corps.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eInfantrymen of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e also addresses the \u003ci\u003eRegia Aeronautica's\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eRegina Marina's\u003c\/i\u003e airborne units. The \u003ci\u003eRegina Aeronautica\u003c\/i\u003e (Royal Air Force) created the \u003ci\u003eI battaglione paracadutisti d'assalto\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ebattaglione «Loreto \u003c\/i\u003e both for use on the planned invasion of Malta, yet found themselves fighting bravely in Tunisia. The \u003ci\u003ebattaglione Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica\u003c\/i\u003e (A.D.R.A.) conducted raids in North Africa and Sicily. Paratroopers require transport aircraft and the ability of the \u003ci\u003eServizi Aerei Speciali\u003c\/i\u003e to support airborne operations is examined.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe parachutists of the \u003ci\u003eRegina Marina\u003c\/i\u003e (Royal Navy) are detailed as well in \u003ci\u003eInfantrymen of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e. The \u003ci\u003ebattaglioni P(aracadutisti)\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eN(uotatori) del reggimento «San Marco \u003c\/i\u003e were raised for special operations and the planned invasion of Malta. Both would see action in Tunisia in 1943.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eInfantrymen of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e presents the history of these units from their authorization to their final actions in September 1943. The book discusses the doctrinal underpinnings for the creation and employment of these units. Organizational charts and equipment authorizations are provided to explore their evolution. The training, both the failures and successes, are explained for the reader. Operations that were planned but never executed are also included in their story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe combat history of many of these units are presented to English readers for the first time. Battles and actions are addressed based mainly Italian sources supplemented by Allied histories. Numerous maps accompany each account, allowing the reader to visually follow the ebb and flow of the events presented. In many cases these accounts go beyond what is offered in Italian language works, integrating Allied sources to a greater degree to present a more complete picture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eInfantrymen of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e offers an excellent resource to the student of World War 2. It is hope that this book is the 'must have' work for anyone studying the history of the Italian \u003ci\u003eparacadutisti\u003c\/i\u003e during the war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jeffrey W. S. Leser\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1915113709\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781915113702\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Helion \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/30\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 542\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.10w x 1.10d","brand":"Jeffrey W. S. Leser","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44132775395583,"sku":"9781915113702","price":69.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_83a6447e-2af2-4808-9d35-4f9b0a690c77.jpg?v=1687482234","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/infantrymen-of-the-air-jeffrey-w-s-leser-9781915113702","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}