On the background, high columns of smoke indicate the frontline.

CA 311 in Russia

Looking at enemy

Stop the atheism!

CSIR leaving for Russia (summer 1941). In 1942 it become ARMIR, 8th Italian Army in Russia (without tanks and heavy anti-tank guns...).

Italian Expeditionary Force in Russia (CSIR)

Italian and German personnel at Melsbroek airfield (Belgium), autumn 1940. On the background, a Fiat BR 20 bomber. Allies and enemies would have discovered soon the inadequacy of Italian equipment. 
Weak ability in modern and mass warfare industy, make unuseful for Regia Aeronautica holding 33 aviation records still in 1939.

Newly comrades

No one SM 79 was downed by enemy fighters during Spanish Civil War: nor Russian Chatos or Ratas, or French fighters of first 30's could reach it.
Communist pilots could not find a tactical manoeuvre to attack the SM 79s, unlike the Italian and Spanish pilots with the CR 32s against the faster Tupolev SB2 Katiuskas.

Eagles over Spain

Loading the torpedos at SM 79s before the mission. Photo taken possibly in Italian Dodecaneso. 
In Gadurrà (Rodhes) had base the 278 squadriglia, one of the best units of Italian torpedo bombers.

Loading the torpedo

Littorio Battleship.

Experimental jet Campini Caproni showed to an interested Hungarian military mission.

Jet Campini Caproni

Italian RSI soldiers in a defensive position with a Breda 37. 

RSI soldiers

Italian tanks in North-Africa

Italian soldiers

El Caudillo y Generalisimo Francisco Franco salutes Black Shirts troops of CTV (Corpo Truppe Volontarie), the Italian troops Corp in Spain.

DVX

Desfile del CTV

Bersaglieri light infantry

Fiat BR.20

About 600 of these were built during the war.
Note the bomb bay is open.

Italy Br.20 Cicogna (Stork)

Partisans with Italian or Yugoslavian troops.

Note the cross in the background.

Execution Squad

Lancia da 90/53 [3] [HR]

The Italians used the 90/53 as a multi-purpose weapon. The most common variant being the Lancia da 90/53, where the gun was mounted on a Lancia 3 RO 6-ton truck for ease of mobility. In this form they could be use for anti-aircraft, as an infantry support weapon or as a devastating anti-tank weapon.

Lancia da 90/53 [2]

Lancia da 90/53

Semovente 90/53 Self-Propelled AA/AT Gun

The Semovente da 90/53 was the best armed Italian armoured vehicle of WWII. Its design was prompted by a desperate request from the Russian front. The CSIR urgently asked for ’something’ capable of knocking out the Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks. Ansaldo industries were asked to mount the 90/53 anti-aircraft gun on an armoured carriage to overcome this problem.

None were ever sent to the Russian Front. 24 Semovente 90/53s did see service against the Allies in the 10° Ragruppamento Semoventi, which was stationed in Sicily.

Semovente 90/53 Self-Propelled AA/AT Gun

Italian soldiers escort British prisoners

Italian soldier writing letter in home somewhere in North Africa


Italian soldier writing letter in home

"Vendetta" Battalion soldiers march in a battle

Italian Forces

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