When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 he had not thought it necessary to inform his ally Italy of his plans. Despite this slight, Mussolini wasted no time in declaring war on the Soviets, and determined to send troops to the front, worrying only that the Germans would achieve victory before the Italians could get there. The huge distances involved caused many problems for what was to become the Italian Eighth Army, but in late 1942 they found themselves on the left flank of the German Sixth Army as it battled to capture Stalingrad. The Soviet Operation Uranus, launched on 19th November 1942, began the destruction of the invading armies, with both German and allied troops suffering terribly. The Italian contingent, something like 229,000 men, was virtually destroyed as a fighting unit, and the survivors returned to Italy. It had been a disaster, and, along with the loss of North Africa and the Allied invasions of Italy, it was to cost Mussolini the leadership of his country.
Throughout the war Italy’s troops suffered from poor supply of what was often inadequate equipment, but once Italian troops were committed to the Russian Front they were given the best of what was available. As with the Germans in the winter of 1941/42, they had suffered greatly from inadequate clothing during the freezing Russian winter.
Specifications
- Contents: 56 figures
- Poses: 14 poses
- Material: Plastic (Medium Consistency)
