Thank you... You have moved me to tears: my grandfather, captured in Tunisia by the British and then delivered to the Americans, was in one of those units (I am trying to see if I can find him in any of the shots!). He always held the Americans in the highest regards for how they treated him, also allowing him to attend university lessons (he was an engineer in civilian life, artillery lieutenant under the military) held by Antifascists Italian professors and intelectuals. He was ready to depart for the invasion of Japan, but as that invasion never happened and war ended, he was also offered US citizenship for his outstanding service. He politely refused, because he wanted to get back to Italy and help the reconstruction of our country... such were the men, back then. But once again, thank you, really thank you for remembering those soldiers.
@ Well, not to start a fight here, but... even technically, considering that there had been an Armistice and that by the Statuto Albertino (the Italian constitution at the time) the power belonged to the King and not Mussolini, who was no longer even the chief of government... and that the Italian soldiers were fighting for Italy, not the Fascist party, who was exactly the traitor? Also, even if it was treason (and it wasn't), betraying the Nazis is no treason: it's a honour and a civic duty. AKA the right thing to do (too bad we didn't do so from the start, instead of being dragged in a war we were not ready to fight, as it turned out). And, yes, I am proud of what my grandfather and many like him did at that time. And I will always be. (PS: This is my final word on the subject, and I will not answer to any other comments like that.)
@ OK, just for the sake of the argument... It's not formalities, it's the Italian constitution of the time. The Armistice had been signed on September 8th, but Mussolini was no longer the chief of the Italian government since July 25th, having been deposed not by a royalist military coup but... surprise... by the Great Council of the Fascism, i.e. by the Fascist Party leaders themselves! As for the war, let's not confuse what an alliance is and requires with the initial decision of going to war... otherwise, I'd have to remind you of the Italian Army in Russia, a theater where we had absolutely nothing to gain, and where we lost 75000 soldiers. As for World War One (another confusion... why not speak of the French betrayal of Italian interests during our Second War of Independence with the Villafranca Armistice of 1859?), the alliance with Germany and Austria was defensive, not offensive. We can argue that the Italian government did not inform the Parliament about the Sidney-Sonnino pact which led to the Italian entry in the Anglo-French alliance, but, yes, *that's* a formality (and a problem regarding internal Italian politics, not international relationships).
Riccardo Masini I’m American but with one side Italian grandparents and I have to agree that Martin Ralph has a point here. Italy could have ceased fire and negotiated a peace treaty and end the war. But switching sides was an unnecessary and not very honorable act. Just as an example imagine if Germany would have at some point increased military pressure on Britain with their V2s or other stuff which would have forced the UK to surrender. Now how would we feel if Britain then not only left the war but joined the Axis and turned against their former American comrades who came to their aid. Sounds absurd and is absurd but it’s exactly what Italy did to Germany . It worked out well for them but let’s call a spade a spade and not retroactively sugar coat things. They switched sides to save their ass and let their former Allies down . That’s politics...
As an American, I never knew about this in school either and in most WW2 History Books, none of them ever mentioned Italian POWs working with the US Army or the Russians with the Japanese, etc.
Everyone also should remember that operations on the side lines in regards to infrastructure and maintenance is usually never touched on as it’s not very interesting, but yeah I think they should’ve been mentioned at least once.
There's a general belief that the Italian armed forces didn't fight well and ran away. This is false. From all the reports I have from relatives, friends' fathers, etc who actually fought against Italians in WW2, they were very good, particularly the navy. They built some brilliant ships. My late mother-in-law said that all sensible Italians despised Mussolini and didn't want to fight his wars. They got completely disgusted and disillusioned after the campaigns in Abyssinia (aka Ethiopia). They also remembered that the British and the Italians had been allies in WW1. Many of them felt that they were fighting on the side of infamy and depravity. They were very happy to be allowed to fight against the Germans. Eh. That's family lore. Could be wrong, but I don't think so.
@@roadie3124 I'm not gonna lie, being Italian I've always felt ashamed of how we got pulled into all that bullshit in '24 with the Marcia su Roma, and even more of how bad of we were and were considered during the war, actually learning that that was not completely the case restored a bit of faith in my country. Obviously though we were fighting the wrong war, but when a mad man is at the head you can't expect much.
The Kingdom and all the south government were traitor. Even if the war wasn't suited for our forces and industry what some of us done was shameful. Don't exalt these behaviours, traitors will always be traitors.
I'm Italian and I can assure you TV programmes and documentaries about WW2 are aired pretty frequently on various channels but NEVER I have heard about this. Absolutely interesting.
Because it's not true, they did not serve in Normandy but Southern France. This guy making it sound like Italy was in D-DAY or something and they wasn't, atleast not on the side of the Allies. The RSI was at Normandy fighting with the Germans but not the ISU with the Allies. They were used in the Southern Invasion of France this is different event, he is misinformed.
@@tmoney007confederation7 Maybe you are. If you were more concentrated you may have made the distinction between Italy as a Sovereign nation and a handful of Italian men. The former CERTAINLY did not partake in D Day maybe some of the latter did and they did NOT reppresent Italy. So, if what's bugging you is my country rest assured youre ego is intact: you come from the countries that won. Goodbye Sir.
Italian POW's helped out in the US: ISU's saved the entire 1944 fruit crop of Pueblo, CO, USA, since there was literally no one else to pick the fruit and pack them on to "refrigerated" rail cars for shipment to market. In fact, the ISU's had to load the refrigerated cars with ice before loading them with fruit. They also handled bombs and ammuntion on the huge Pueblo arms depot and played in bands and orchestras. A large Italian community already existed in Pueblo, a community which welcomed the soldiers warmly. Several Italian soldiers met their future spouses in Pueblo, even girls originally from their home towns in Italy! edited to add date.
Back in the 1980,s we had a driver in the MT pool at Gutersloh who had served in the Latvian Army, the Soviet Army , the German Army , the American army and the BAOR all as a driver.. now HE had a interesting war diary .. goes to show you will always have a job if you have a truck license 👍
@@riskinhos except that will never happen because autonomous vehicles are having problems all over the world. You truly cannot replace a human being with a machine. Even jeff bezos knows that.
@@riskinhos Just saw some tests by a guy who owns a Tesla. Sometimes it stopped in front of the traffic cones, sometimes it went around them, and sometimes it ran them over without even slowing. And then you have to ask what happens when there's a cop or a construction worker with a red flag standing in the road.
I got my history teacher to use you as her primary source when showing history videos. I got here to do this because I explained how there was a fact wrong in a D-Day documentary. She asked me says who and I awnsered Mark Felton now you are no longer teaching me but the rest of my class.
Hey, on the topic of obscure World War Two history, another widely forgotten story is of the Danish Merchant Marine sailors sailing for the British Merchant Marine during the war and participating in the landings themselves. Their boats where favoured because of their shallow draft. They went into action on the first wave, the aprox 800 men secured the recognition for Denmark as an Allied nation. My great-uncle was the last known surviving member of the aprox 6300 Danish sailors sailing for the British during the war. 1072 would perish between the 9th of April 1940 through 16th of May 1945, fighting for king and country. He died of natural causes among his family on the night of the 7th of July. Do like if you, like me would like to se a video done on the subject!
I'm 72 years old and NEVER heard this in any form of media nor communication...Mr. Felton, Sir, I salute you and your channel for providing a huge number of us with such amazing information!!
I’m 63 years old and had considered myself fairly knowledgable about WWII...until I found this channel....add this to the list of many things that Mark Felton has taught me.
Of course they don't, provided they even get to world war II, they just tell you the lie that one day the partisans, mostly left wingers, one day (25 April ' 45) just got fed up with it all and kicked the Germans and killed off the fascists, ahead of the Allied advance which, of course is just a bunch of horse s**t
@@asadattayyem2637 is it something I wrote wrong? as I go along I always apologize for my spellin, as I write and post rushing without checking and while doing other things...oh now I get it, well I did not want to be volgar, I so easily am usually, let's put it like this, I was referreing so some bogus historic propaganda of some leftist parties of my country as horse manure, or you figure out the synonim I "encripted"
My granfather was an air force mechanic in the Regio Esercito,was sent in Russia and then abandoned with thousand of others by his officials,he had to walk to come back home.A lot of his friends died frozen hopping on some train but he survived by walking from siberia to Napoli,he was only 23yrs old..
Well a lot were taken prisonsers, officers included and many did not return. Please let me say that I say and ask with the outmost respect for your grandfather horrible experience and just for historic curiosity. He came back them after the war's end? The last surviving prisoners in soviet union camp returned as late as the end of the 1940s
While authoritaritarian the Mussolini's dictatorship was not totalitarian, he still had to share the Italian people's hearts and minds with the monarchy and the vatican/pope (which fascism actually brought back from the isolation that the previous Italian liberal govts had placed it into); unlike Nazi Germany or the Soviet Russias which, were indeed totalitarian, those parties communist and nazis, controlled their states without having to share power or influences with other "institutions". Up to the late 1930s it is generally acceepted that Mussolini's regime enjoyed the favour of somewhat a relative majority of Italians, there were no polls then, it was still your dicatorship, you could not voice your true opinion. That certainly shaded away, Italians started falling out of love with Mussolini and fascism, as economic policies (also due to isolationism because of envolvement in the Spanish civil war and that usuless colonial adventure in Abyssinia), and also in that order as Mussolini allied with Nazi Germany (racial laws); joining the war besides them; and then even declaring war on the US (imagine how many Italians had relatives there, even fighting as GIs). So much that it was a majority of fascists chiefs (some of whom were always clearly against an alliance with Germany, Grandi for instance) toppled Mussolini finally, under the pressure of overwhelming defeats inflicted to us by the Allies.
That is what Italian Managers do.. Like that Capitano Schettino of Costa Concordia cruise ship in 2013. Dam cowards, as soon as they see hard problems the run away and leave others they send behind..
@@feetgoaroundfullflapsC he was incompetent and shameful surely, and that's supposed to account for all italians? and you being from where anonymous 5 feet below the ground? + va a cagare
@@sebastianoraffa2104I believe he started the walk by the end of '43 was never POW..russian troops where exhausted and didn't care of some scattered troops.. instead he remembers the hospitality of the villages on his route back..
Very interesting, cheers Dr. Felton. I remember my old barber telling me that his father had been part of the Italo-Abyssinian war, then in the French Alps in 1940, then Greece and North Africa from 41-43, but had ended up in the American Army after being captured in Tunisia. And I could not figure out how he had been allowed to join the Americans as a POW, but now I know why. Cheers Sir.
Apparently, some Italian units were actually quite effective in combat, depending on their leadership and also by the amount of combat they had actually seen. Especially if they had seen action in the 1930s, like in Spain or Abyssinia.
My grandfather was left behind at Taranto, so he avoided Matapan as he was serving on the RMI Fiume. Then he joined or was forced to join the San Marco battalion. He had British equipment and fought at Montecasino and fought his way up to the North, when he returned to his family once the war was over. We still have his winged lion badge.
It's crazy how history is!; Italy had a great history actually top 3 Ranked!! The greatest empire ever Rome ruled the known world for over 1,000 years when it split in two (eastern& western empires then Charlemagne had not to mention the holy Roman empire. Mussulini had a short run 10 years.
Then he was with the San Marco Regiment of the Gruppo di Combattimento (sort of small divisions) "Folgore" of the Italian co-belligerant army (fighting with the allies and by that time indeed dressed and equipped by the Brits (while retaining some Italian equipments such as the MAB 38 and some uniform garments. The San Marco division was a fascist republic RSI that at the same time was fighting with the occupyig Germans. WWII is a such a huge piece of history, taken to specific fronts and geographic locations, then there are 100 sub-facets, as in the Italia case. So first of all the most whole hearted congrats to Prof Felton for going into them and with impressive detail. For example, in WWII movies or even people of Europe and the UK there is reference to England, while Felton refers to the british empire. Monty's 8th army has Brits (so English, but also Welsh, Scots and Irish. Plus there were Australians, New Zealenders, South Africans, Africans, Rhodesians even Greeks and Free French elsewhere also Canadians and so forth. When someone referes to them as only English, I can understand how all those others might get offended. Plus, allow me the pun, we Italians can claim we were clobbered not by the English only, but by the British empire. My congrats again to Prof Felton
@@sebastianoraffa2104 Thanks for that. I do not have the exact details. He died before I was born, when my father was 12 (in Argentina, where they migrated). My father always says 3 things: for most Italians this was a shameful topic so it was not discussed as to not stir any passions from any sides, that my grandfather won the lottery by avoiding Matapan but then lost it all by being a heavy smoker and finally, that he always remembers the British paratrooper knife at his home. Now with this information I can have a better idea of where he went through during those years. One note, his brother was on the battleship Roma when it was sunk by the Germans. He survived that. Both being iron workers from Piedmont were assigned to the engine rooms, as this seems made sense :)
Its rare to see someone that wants people to just see the historic truth as it was . Thank you Mark Felton for all your research put into your productions .
Mark Felton is living proof that no matter how much you know, how much you’ve read, there is always more to learn. Although I knew we put Italian POWs to work, I never knew the depth of our efforts. And the really amazing thing about these videos is how well they entertain as well as inform. This is material that in the wrong hands can easily become a bore fest. Thank God for Mark Felton.
It really pisses me off when people deride the Italian soldier of WWII out of hand, as if they were sorry excuses for soldiers. The individual soldier was as able and valorous as any other. But their training (on average, some elite units were well trained) was sub-par. Their command structure was antiquated and socially stratified. The equipment quality was hit or miss. I.E. the Carcano rifle was a fine weapon, but by 1940 the various Carri Armati were horrible. And supply was hit or miss as well. And finally, command doctrine was dated, vague, and ineffective. But often, in spite of these set backs, the Italian soldier fought effectively and bravely, sometimes with a bravado bordering on madness. It is no wonder that, when properly supplied and supported, the Italian soldier distinguished himself so readily. Thank you for sharing this little known bit of truth. I'll be sharing this video every time this debate comes up again.....
I feel the same about the French soldiers, for many of the same reasons. Read up on the Battle of Stonne in May 1940 for just one example of how hard they could fight.
Exactly. I can't add much more to that analysis! Italian tank crews showed great courage and elan, something that Rommel took note of, and Italian gunners were noted for fighting to the last.
Never assume you know everything about a topic, ever. That way it will always be exciting to learn something new. I never even imagined that there were Italians in Normandy during the invasion.
Excellent video once again form Mark Felton about another obscure subject of WW2. My granfather was a leutenant of the CIL (Italian Liberation Corps) and fought along the British, Canadian and Polish army in 1944-1945. Before the armistice he was stationed in sardinia where he never saw action against the allies but fought the germans after the 8th sept. in Sardinia and Corsica. Later his Division Cremona was trained and equipped by the British 8th Army. Those soldiers were largely forgotten in Italy since they were mosty loyal to the King, while the partisans gained a great popularity (sometimes not well deserved).
Having lived in Italy for many years, it is not surprising that there were many Italian conscripts willing and able to enter service in the Allied cause. One old Italian veteran told me how bitter they were when Mussolini allied with the Nazis. Many thought it was a huge mistake. After switching sides, there were atrocities committed against Italians by the Nazis.
yep, my mum was 10yo living in Greece when the Italians invaded. She said that most of them didn't even want to be there and left the locals alone. When Italy changed sides the Germans came over and started executing and killing them. A lot of the locals hid the Italians in their homes to avoid the Germans including my grandmum.
@@ironbomb6753 I think the book "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" deals with an episode in Greece, where the Germans executed 10,000 Italian POWs after Italy changed sides.
ever since Ive found this channel I really appreciate your detailed mini documentaries on forgotten aspects of the war - thank you a lot for your efforts, Cheers from Germany!
I have studied WWII for many years and this is the first I’ve heard of this. As a guy whose paternal grand-parents were both immigrants from Italy before the war, I am not surprised these soldiers couldn’t wait to be on the right side of the conflict. Thanks Mark for sharing this important part of history.
Nope, I never heard of these units, and I have been studying the ETO for most of my 40+ years. I knew extensively about German POWs in the US, and some of the Italian POW camps (which I surmise were the pro-Fascist camps), but I never knew about ISUs and the invaluable non-combat contribution they made to American logistical needs until I watched this short video. Mr. Felton, I tip my military historian's hat to you once again. Well done. A simply amazing find.
Thank you from Italy! I appreciated how respectful you’ve been towards Italians that chose to help the Allies with their volunteer labour. You are a gentleman
This is an incredible story. It's amazing how these men were so trusted having been the enemy so recently. Also, think of the good will engendered by giving these men some status, paying them, and making them useful rather than just letting them rot in a POW camp. It would be interesting to see how the average Italian soldier felt about the ISU's.
This was a special case. The Italians were already amenable to joining the Allies or at least indifferent about fighting alongside Germany. In most conflicts, the opposing sides are too committed to their cause to work for their former enemy as prisoners without taking advantage of the situation when given too much freedom.
Proud Italian-american here. Great video Mark! I still remember watching your very first set of videos. Im Very happy to see you successful in this endeavor. Its a real treat for all us history buffs out there, to have a great channel like this to enjoy! be it amateur/professional or just a hobbyist, its very nice to have quality entertainment that we can all enjoy!
The stuff on this guy's channel, while interesting, isn't imperative to understanding the general course of WW2. Everything you don't know about the war isn't some kind of conspiracy, it's just an extremely massive event most people aren't going to bother knowing the minutiae of.
Cubic Gaming out of the events you mentioned Dunkirk surely is the most important to the British that event was probably most important without Dunkirk the war with Britain may have turned out differently!
@@cubix6495 it probably because left leaning people say that "history is racist" because it doesn't fit their narrative or because Churchill wasn't black
kinda their own faults that Italy and France became laughing stocks for the axis and allies respectively. They were simply incompetent and ill-prepared with weak leadership. Their contributions (and casualties) were only fractions compared to other great powers. They did not have strong resolutions to fight and resist but surrendered early, effectively becoming puppet states, which added a complicated layer to their war time history (i.e. were they victims, or accomplices?) that they can't shake off.
A great history lesson. That helps explain why we have a large amount of Italians who settled here in St. Louis. Italy has a long and proud military history. God bless Italy and those brave men who served to help freedom!
There was an Italian POW camp near North Weald Airfield in Essex...just up the road. The POWs were so disgusted by the bread they were given they set up their own bakery and offered to cook for the camp. It was a huge success ...they even sold it to local civilians!
There's also that one italian commander Baron Amedeo Guillet or "The Devil commander" they called him, who serve in africa. He was pulling some crazy stuff while he was on service and carried out to wage war against the British personally in guerilla tactic.... ON HORSEBACK! He is quite forgotten in history too.
He & his men used horses. Properly cared for, they do just fine in the desert. Heck, special forces units in the middle east are still using horses to this day when the occasion calls for it.
He served in east Africa, leading colonial cavalry troops, he once did significant damage to a British tank column by charging it on horseback, lobbing grenades and firing pistols before they retreated.
Poppa was captured in Foggia in Italy. He had said that it was the next week he was unloading ships for the Americans, getting paid for it almost instantly. In the Italian army he was often starved and unpaid. He hated the Americans for being wasteful though. Reckoned the war could have been won and done years earlier if they actually used the food, fuel and weapons that they just dumped all over the place without a care. He didn't say if there was a lot of personal bigotism against him (probably a little). But he knew he was better treated by the allies than his own nation, and well off than under the German Nazis. thanks for this. Please Continue.
If we had invaded Japan no doubt Italian soldiers would have been part of that, and not just as support troops, but as fully armed frontline units. When competently led, and with good motivation, Italian soldiers fight as well as any country's.
@@alexeygavrikov9472 I assume that you are Russians? You were literally beaten by an Italian cavalry charge, and despite your massive army you couldn't even manage to conquer Finland lol
My mom was a civilian worker for one of the generals at Ft. Mason in San Francisco during the war. There was a small group of Italian POWs at the fort who did casual labor and maintenance. Around 1944, they became drivers for for the officers and some of the civilian workers, including my mom. She was picked up in the morning and taken home every evening. After the war, they were given the option of going back home or staying in the US. They all stayed.
Our Italian friends salvaged their honor under difficult and tragic circumstances. We remember Italy as an Ally in The Napoleonic Wars, WW1 and the Cold War.
You've nailed it! "Salvaged their honour!..." That's a funny but quite an accurate discription! They also salvaged their country without territorial losses!
As a Libyan, this is the first time ever I heard that the Italian joined the alias during ww2 against the nazi, very very interesting information from the facts of ww2 history, thank you Mark, appreciated your work, excellent.
That's an amazing revelation. I never realized that Italians served with the Allies in any way beyond being POW laborers. Yes, it's easy to forget how many different jobs must be done to support an army in the field, and the Italians did them. I love how many new facts your videos offer. I had never heard of these Italian units until now!
A proud Italian barber in N. Vancouver is the longest tenant in the old open mall. He proudly displays his Italian officers' photo with him standing inside one of those two man mobile tanks. He's so happy to be in Canada I don't think anyone has ever asked him WHICH SIDE he was on!! Lots of old Brits in the area are his long, long time customers!!! Welcome to Canada, everyone.
TH-cam's best documentary channel by far. God bless your work, Mark. Most of the Western World is trying to revise it's history, but you uncover truth. All your videos are pitch perfect and fascinating. Keep up the good work!
thank you, Mark, for shedding light on the overlooked participation of the Italian soldier during the allied campaign in Europe. With il Duce and der Fuehrer, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. These ISUs were the saving grace for many.
Mr. Mark Felton deserves every accolade and accomplishment awarded him. His determination and thoroughness of history are astounding. Why he isn't a major member of the royal historical society is beyond me. I've learned more from these 10+ minute videos than I have watching documentaries and reading history books. His contribution to providing accurate and factual information for free is highly commendable. Everyone, especially students need to be thankful that his channel exists.
I sit at my Lap Top, switch it on and then the Music starts. I pause and grab my coffee and then listen to another wonderful story i had no idea about. 10 minutes seems too short, just flew by. Well made Mark, love your work.
I have been told stories of and read about WWII for some 75 years, and I remain convinced no one will ever tell All the stories of what my parents always called "The War".
Very organized, structured mass murderers were the nazi .incredible. Loss of life in Europe Russia north Africa.Civilan casualties killed were 4 to 5 to one military killed on all sides.
Thank you for this nice explanation. As Italian I'm glad that you contribute to further enhance the fact that in the country there was a vast opposition against fascist dictator Mussolini. Many Italian soldiers joined the allies as you correctly mentioned, and many others especially in the northern region, formed different Resistance movements, that were able to help fighting the Nazi-fascist troops and eventually captured and executed Mussolini in April 1945. My father was one of them, commander of the Resistance Carini brigade in Lombardy.
Every time I watch a new Mark Felton video, I get peckish. Also here's another potential video of a forgotten army (or rather a forgotten unit in this case): The Régiment de Chasse Normandie-Niémen (aka Normandie-Niemen Fighter Regiment). They fought alongside the Soviets on the Eastern Front, as Charles de Gaulle felt that French servicemen should be fighting on all fronts and not just with the Western allies. They were one of three units who fought on the Eastern Front.
The Russians made a mini series about that which you might be able to find in the Russian Zone of YT. I saw it a few years ago and it was quite good. They wear French dress uniforms with cool Russian decorations.
It’s really something that dr Felton can keep good quality videos pouring out with so many other people that do world war 2 content. But he is truly unrivaled
Interesting, the things you said about POW's needing guards. I used to live in a small village in Derbyshire called Sudbury and during the war POW's were emprisoned there in what is now an open prison. My grandma had a German come to her house most days, on his own, and do her gardening, afterwards my grandfather would take him up to the pub and buy him beer as would the other locals.My grandfather had been a POW in Germany in the first world war and suffered yet there was no rancour. Strange how different nations treat people. The German POW used to come back to England when he could to renew old aquaintences, a good man.
Lovely and just shows that most people are humans first if given a chance. I had a good German friend whose father had gone AWOL from the Wehrmacht as France was collapsing, and been sheltered by French farmers in their barn until the Americans came through.
Wow, amazing news Mark. My father was in Mussolini's forces. Never spoke of his time serving. He did say at one time, they we're poorly equipped, out dated technology, some didn't even have boots. 👋 🇦🇺
Sounds about right. A native Italian told the story several times of an Italian unit near her village that was holding off an allied advance and they only had blank rounds left. Most of the officers fled but a few stayed and the men held their positions while only firing blanks. In battle the fact the other side is even firing would often be enough to give pause since most live rounds don't hit anything either. When they ran out of the blanks, then they withdrew, not before. There's a saying "Any mother's son will do." It means you can recruit any nationality and make the boy a soldier. The catch is they have to be trained and led with a purpose by competent officers.
In both world wars you see exceptional soldiers in the Italians, but they're totally failed by their industry and politics. When they had a chance to work for a nation that would actually properly feed, house and pay them? Sounds like most felt they were prisoners of good luck if anything.
So much forgotten about WWII for most people, Polish, French, Italians, Natives of the US, so many groups who gave lives that have been mostly forgotten cept for those of us who care to delve into this stuff. Keep on doing the good work sir and thank you.
Once again we thank you for presenting important history which has been ignored innocently or deliberately, and doing it so well. It actually changes my view of the Italian people in the days-of WW2.
As an Italian American I always cringed at this part of my heritage but watching this video really helped me feel better about it. My grandpa fought in an Italian submarine that was blown up by an English torpedo. He didn’t speak much about the war but if you brought up Germany or anything German he would flip out and get really mad. The Italians didn’t want to fight. I’ve been there several times and it’s so beautiful and relaxing that fighting was the last thing on my mind. 🇮🇹🇺🇸♥️
@ The Germans did *not* have the "most loyal" soldiers. The Japanese were the least willing to surrender in World War II. The Allied nations' soldiers were all as loyal as the Germans, and in battle after battle, proved themselves to be at least as combat effective. Read about Operation Dragoon, El-Alamein, Arracourt, Sicily, or the many other battles where the Allies inflicted more casualties than they suffered.
No need to feel embarrassed. The Italian soldiers in WWII get a bad rap but were actually good soldiers with terrible leadership. Many did not support Mussolini/Hitler and had the courage to act on their beliefs, unlike the Germans, many of whom didn't support Hitler or his agenda but still fought for him. This might be because Mussolini was less ruthless than Hitler and didn't just purge disaffected elements.
My father in law is a second generation Italian.. the family came over on the boat.. just after ww2 .. I will have to show him this video ... well done and superbly presented..
There was actually another Italian Army that served with the Allies... It was called the US Army. There were some frontline units in the US Army and Marines that were up to 40% Italian American. Like one of my great uncles used to say, "Prior to World War II all of the Italians with balls moved to American & Canada."
Estate Sales my grandfather served in an army air force service squadron in the Pacific. His unit, the enlisted at least was almost entirely Italian Americans from the NYC area. I always say their loyal service in WW2 is how Italian Americans became “white”
My mother was evacuated to the Norfolk countryside and her experience of working with Italian PoWs was very similar. She says they were happy to work, were very friendly and needed no guards or supervision.
I just read a great book on how the POW’s were shipped to the USA broken up into work groups for harvesting vegetables on farms since there was no one left from the farm cities to work the fields. Training good food and a lot of them in Minnesota with German farmers were amazed at the American culture of so many nationalities working together-an unfortunate contrast is how American ‘s were treated in Germany. Many stayed in the US and many married American women as they loved the freedoms that Americans enjoyed. Have you made a video regarding this yet?
Mr Felton many thanks for your this very interesting historical documentary. I did not know about this aspect of the Italian Army. My great uncle was General Francesco Buttafuoco who was captured by the British in North Africa, he was a ww1 decorated hero. There is a portrait of him at the Imperial War Museum London.
Some state parks in Indiana were partially constructed by Italian POWs. Some of the parks still have plaques commemorating their efforts to create the parks.
I remember a small part of this story concerning a POW camp in Georgia. Once the Italians switched sides, the Americans did not know exactly what to do with the Italian POWs. They could not easily send them home nor could they in good consciousness continue to hold them in camps. So, they were organized into sanitation outfits and paid for their work.
I remember the stories my parents told me concerning Mussolini, the rise of fascism and the clashes with the communists. Most Italians did not want anything to do with such severe and harsh controls. The population wasn’t stupid - they knew what was going on and had enough of the Nazis when Mussolini asked Hitler for help. It was nothing short of an occupation the Italians hated. And they Hated Hitler. It’s been said the Italians are an ungovernable people due to the numerous changes to cabinets and leadership - I rather look upon it as a smart population that is extremely cautious about extremism entering the dialogue again. Viva Italia! Italy Forever!
Unfortunately the old Communist - Fascist schism has reserved its head again. I fear what will happen, how liberal politicians will de-fang the neo-Marxist identitarians without resorting to using right wing firebrands as a bulkwark. .
If you would find reasons for what facism is rise in Italy ask to Fiat founder Agnelli and others wealthy families of italia When workers have made some demands for being paid fairly and the worker's unions asked for better conditions of working they ask to the right winged veterans to take the power for beating communism with the help of Vatican. As France as Germany as Spain everything except communism they were so terrified for being seized and loose their money and factories...
This is utter nonsense. Mussolini established a fascist government in Italy well before Hitler came to power. Hitler copied the Italian fascist in some ways. Who were the hundred of thousands blackshirts assembled in Rome and other large cities, not.Italians? Italy wanted to return to Roman Empire greatness and became a burden for Germany. Every place they invaded, North Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia, Albania they were defeated and Germany had to bail them out. Germany invaded Italy when they surrendered to the Allies.
My father was born in the US, his parents and elder siblings were born in Italy. He was a pre-med student when the war broke out, he "joined up" selecting the army air core. He was inducted as an enlisted as an enlisted man rather then an officer and made a communications operator because he spoke 4 languages (English Italian French and German) He mustered out as a Sargent, an Air Traffic Controller on an mostly British airbase in the Azores. He ran into a lot of bigotry during his service.
Mark, I really enjoy your stories. Stories that Academia doesn't wan't known and have hidden. Your format is great ! I'm a History buff and never heard of this before. Thanks again for bringing our true full history to the light of day ! @ "Felton University"
Your videos and discussion on history is truly fantastic! Keep up the excellent work. I love that you give a special focus on the "forgotten", yet still critically important history to humanity. The effort of these Italians who served should never be forgotten. They deserve a thank you for their efforts to defeat tyranny.
Thank you... You have moved me to tears: my grandfather, captured in Tunisia by the British and then delivered to the Americans, was in one of those units (I am trying to see if I can find him in any of the shots!). He always held the Americans in the highest regards for how they treated him, also allowing him to attend university lessons (he was an engineer in civilian life, artillery lieutenant under the military) held by Antifascists Italian professors and intelectuals. He was ready to depart for the invasion of Japan, but as that invasion never happened and war ended, he was also offered US citizenship for his outstanding service. He politely refused, because he wanted to get back to Italy and help the reconstruction of our country... such were the men, back then. But once again, thank you, really thank you for remembering those soldiers.
@ Well, not to start a fight here, but... even technically, considering that there had been an Armistice and that by the Statuto Albertino (the Italian constitution at the time) the power belonged to the King and not Mussolini, who was no longer even the chief of government... and that the Italian soldiers were fighting for Italy, not the Fascist party, who was exactly the traitor? Also, even if it was treason (and it wasn't), betraying the Nazis is no treason: it's a honour and a civic duty. AKA the right thing to do (too bad we didn't do so from the start, instead of being dragged in a war we were not ready to fight, as it turned out). And, yes, I am proud of what my grandfather and many like him did at that time. And I will always be. (PS: This is my final word on the subject, and I will not answer to any other comments like that.)
Riccardo Masini respect
@ OK, just for the sake of the argument... It's not formalities, it's the Italian constitution of the time. The Armistice had been signed on September 8th, but Mussolini was no longer the chief of the Italian government since July 25th, having been deposed not by a royalist military coup but... surprise... by the Great Council of the Fascism, i.e. by the Fascist Party leaders themselves! As for the war, let's not confuse what an alliance is and requires with the initial decision of going to war... otherwise, I'd have to remind you of the Italian Army in Russia, a theater where we had absolutely nothing to gain, and where we lost 75000 soldiers. As for World War One (another confusion... why not speak of the French betrayal of Italian interests during our Second War of Independence with the Villafranca Armistice of 1859?), the alliance with Germany and Austria was defensive, not offensive. We can argue that the Italian government did not inform the Parliament about the Sidney-Sonnino pact which led to the Italian entry in the Anglo-French alliance, but, yes, *that's* a formality (and a problem regarding internal Italian politics, not international relationships).
Riccardo Masini I’m American but with one side Italian grandparents and I have to agree that Martin Ralph has a point here. Italy could have ceased fire and negotiated a peace treaty and end the war. But switching sides was an unnecessary and not very honorable act. Just as an example imagine if Germany would have at some point increased military pressure on Britain with their V2s or other stuff which would have forced the UK to surrender. Now how would we feel if Britain then not only left the war but joined the Axis and turned against their former American comrades who came to their aid. Sounds absurd and is absurd but it’s exactly what Italy did to Germany . It worked out well for them but let’s call a spade a spade and not retroactively sugar coat things. They switched sides to save their ass and let their former Allies down . That’s politics...
Good men are good men no matter what piece of land they are born on.
From Scotland.
As an italian and a fan of history i am shocked i didn't know this, this was never mentioned when i went to school.
As an American, I never knew about this in school either and in most WW2 History Books, none of them ever mentioned Italian POWs working with the US Army or the Russians with the Japanese, etc.
Same. Never mentioned anywhere. I will share the hell out of this.
Not all Italians were tricked by Mussolini
Everyone also should remember that operations on the side lines in regards to infrastructure and maintenance is usually never touched on as it’s not very interesting, but yeah I think they should’ve been mentioned at least once.
@@darkest_eclipse8271 An Army marches on its stomach - Some French guy
I'm italian and this things are never even mentioned in schools or history channels. Thank you mr Felton
There's a general belief that the Italian armed forces didn't fight well and ran away. This is false. From all the reports I have from relatives, friends' fathers, etc who actually fought against Italians in WW2, they were very good, particularly the navy. They built some brilliant ships. My late mother-in-law said that all sensible Italians despised Mussolini and didn't want to fight his wars. They got completely disgusted and disillusioned after the campaigns in Abyssinia (aka Ethiopia). They also remembered that the British and the Italians had been allies in WW1. Many of them felt that they were fighting on the side of infamy and depravity. They were very happy to be allowed to fight against the Germans. Eh. That's family lore. Could be wrong, but I don't think so.
Spaghetti
@@roadie3124 I'm not gonna lie, being Italian I've always felt ashamed of how we got pulled into all that bullshit in '24 with the Marcia su Roma, and even more of how bad of we were and were considered during the war, actually learning that that was not completely the case restored a bit of faith in my country. Obviously though we were fighting the wrong war, but when a mad man is at the head you can't expect much.
@@rickycastellana8643 La Marcia su Roma è stata nel 22.
The Kingdom and all the south government were traitor.
Even if the war wasn't suited for our forces and industry what some of us done was shameful.
Don't exalt these behaviours, traitors will always be traitors.
I'm Italian and I can assure you TV programmes and documentaries about WW2 are aired pretty frequently on various channels but NEVER I have heard about this. Absolutely interesting.
Because it's not true, they did not serve in Normandy but Southern France. This guy making it sound like Italy was in D-DAY or something and they wasn't, atleast not on the side of the Allies. The RSI was at Normandy fighting with the Germans but not the ISU with the Allies. They were used in the Southern Invasion of France this is different event, he is misinformed.
@@tmoney007confederation7 Maybe you are. If you were more concentrated you may have made the distinction between Italy as a Sovereign nation and a handful of Italian men. The former CERTAINLY did not partake in D Day maybe some of the latter did and they did NOT reppresent Italy. So, if what's bugging you is my country rest assured youre ego is intact: you come from the countries that won. Goodbye Sir.
Italian POW's helped out in the US: ISU's saved the entire 1944 fruit crop of Pueblo, CO, USA, since there was literally no one else to pick the fruit and pack them on to "refrigerated" rail cars for shipment to market. In fact, the ISU's had to load the refrigerated cars with ice before loading them with fruit. They also handled bombs and ammuntion on the huge Pueblo arms depot and played in bands and orchestras. A large Italian community already existed in Pueblo, a community which welcomed the soldiers warmly. Several Italian soldiers met their future spouses in Pueblo, even girls originally from their home towns in Italy!
edited to add date.
Back in the 1980,s we had a driver in the MT pool at Gutersloh who had served in the Latvian Army, the Soviet Army , the German Army , the American army and the BAOR all as a driver.. now HE had a interesting war diary .. goes to show you will always have a job if you have a truck license 👍
until autonomous vehicles appear and suddenly you will never have a job
@@riskinhos except that will never happen because autonomous vehicles are having problems all over the world. You truly cannot replace a human being with a machine. Even jeff bezos knows that.
@@riskinhos Just saw some tests by a guy who owns a Tesla. Sometimes it stopped in front of the traffic cones, sometimes it went around them, and sometimes it ran them over without even slowing. And then you have to ask what happens when there's a cop or a construction worker with a red flag standing in the road.
@@PolishBehemoth Where DID all of those telephone operators go?
@@dbergerac9632 A telephone operator and a truck driver is not the same.
Felton is doing a great service to humanity. We can never forget.
I got my history teacher to use you as her primary source when showing history videos. I got here to do this because I explained how there was a fact wrong in a D-Day documentary. She asked me says who and I awnsered Mark Felton now you are no longer teaching me but the rest of my class.
You've done your classmates a big favour!
good for you, you are paying attention and that will pay dividends.
I am dumfounded that ANY thing about D-Day is being taught these days. Good news...👍
D-Day is all American media and schools ever talk about.
In which Country do schools teach ww2 history ??
Hey, on the topic of obscure World War Two history, another widely forgotten story is of the Danish Merchant Marine sailors sailing for the British Merchant Marine during the war and participating in the landings themselves. Their boats where favoured because of their shallow draft. They went into action on the first wave, the aprox 800 men secured the recognition for Denmark as an Allied nation. My great-uncle was the last known surviving member of the aprox 6300 Danish sailors sailing for the British during the war. 1072 would perish between the 9th of April 1940 through 16th of May 1945, fighting for king and country. He died of natural causes among his family on the night of the 7th of July.
Do like if you, like me would like to se a video done on the subject!
That sounds like a great story that should be fully told and remembered.
@The Man Delorean he’s a story teller I enjoy, problem?
,🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🤘🤘☝️ fascist fangu germany
I'm 72 years old and NEVER heard this in any form of media nor communication...Mr. Felton, Sir, I salute you and your channel for providing a huge number of us with such amazing information!!
I’m 63 years old and had considered myself fairly knowledgable about WWII...until I found this channel....add this to the list of many things that Mark Felton has taught me.
Compare how these guys were treated with the way the Imperial Japanese treated the White Russian troops who served with them.
So true. Thanks to Mr. Felton
Kenikmatan Terlarang some White Russians fled China and ended up in the Philippines and later the US.
To be fair, Italian POWs that refused to serve Mussolini or Germany were largely put on the ‘Soviet’ diet.
@@kenikmatanterlarang9700 Go watch Mark's last video on Japan's White troops. Really sad.
@A Frustrated Gamer it's Hirohito
Questo non lo insegnano nelle scuole italiane.
That is not taught in Italian schools.
Thank you Mark, your work is highly valuable!
Of course they don't, provided they even get to world war II, they just tell you the lie that one day the partisans, mostly left wingers, one day (25 April ' 45) just got fed up with it all and kicked the Germans and killed off the fascists, ahead of the Allied advance which, of course is just a bunch of horse s**t
sorry, pile of horse s**t
Molte grazie!
@@sebastianoraffa2104
It remains horse...what?
😁😁😁
@@asadattayyem2637 is it something I wrote wrong? as I go along I always apologize for my spellin, as I write and post rushing without checking and while doing other things...oh now I get it, well I did not want to be volgar, I so easily am usually, let's put it like this, I was referreing so some bogus historic propaganda of some leftist parties of my country as horse manure, or you figure out the synonim I "encripted"
As an Italian I thank you for keeping our story alive
My granfather was an air force mechanic in the Regio Esercito,was sent in Russia and then abandoned with thousand of others by his officials,he had to walk to come back home.A lot of his friends died frozen hopping on some train but he survived by walking from siberia to Napoli,he was only 23yrs old..
Well a lot were taken prisonsers, officers included and many did not return. Please let me say that I say and ask with the outmost respect for your grandfather horrible experience and just for historic curiosity. He came back them after the war's end? The last surviving prisoners in soviet union camp returned as late as the end of the 1940s
While authoritaritarian the Mussolini's dictatorship was not totalitarian, he still had to share the Italian people's hearts and minds with the monarchy and the vatican/pope (which fascism actually brought back from the isolation that the previous Italian liberal govts had placed it into); unlike Nazi Germany or the Soviet Russias which, were indeed totalitarian, those parties communist and nazis, controlled their states without having to share power or influences with other "institutions". Up to the late 1930s it is generally acceepted that Mussolini's regime enjoyed the favour of somewhat a relative majority of Italians, there were no polls then, it was still your dicatorship, you could not voice your true opinion. That certainly shaded away, Italians started falling out of love with Mussolini and fascism, as economic policies (also due to isolationism because of envolvement in the Spanish civil war and that usuless colonial adventure in Abyssinia), and also in that order as Mussolini allied with Nazi Germany (racial laws); joining the war besides them; and then even declaring war on the US (imagine how many Italians had relatives there, even fighting as GIs). So much that it was a majority of fascists chiefs (some of whom were always clearly against an alliance with Germany, Grandi for instance) toppled Mussolini finally, under the pressure of overwhelming defeats inflicted to us by the Allies.
That is what Italian Managers do.. Like that Capitano Schettino of Costa Concordia cruise ship in 2013. Dam cowards, as soon as they see hard problems the run away and leave others they send behind..
@@feetgoaroundfullflapsC he was incompetent and shameful surely, and that's supposed to account for all italians? and you being from where anonymous 5 feet below the ground? + va a cagare
@@sebastianoraffa2104I believe he started the walk by the end of '43 was never POW..russian troops where exhausted and didn't care of some scattered troops.. instead he remembers the hospitality of the villages on his route back..
Very interesting, cheers Dr. Felton. I remember my old barber telling me that his father had been part of the Italo-Abyssinian war, then in the French Alps in 1940, then Greece and North Africa from 41-43, but had ended up in the American Army after being captured in Tunisia. And I could not figure out how he had been allowed to join the Americans as a POW, but now I know why. Cheers Sir.
Apparently, some Italian units were actually quite effective in combat, depending on their leadership and also by the amount of combat they had actually seen. Especially if they had seen action in the 1930s, like in Spain or Abyssinia.
Mark could recite his shopping list and it would still be a rip roaring adventure.
Edit: wow that comment blew up.
On July 9th, a brave expedition to a ration and goods distribution center for much need supplies was undertaken. Despite the danger it was a success.
@@g3heathen209 Bravo! 🤝
“Because unlike some other shoppers (looks at the camera), I can speak with an English accent.”
The Black Prince yes! 🤣😂🤣😂👍
Mark explaining his grocery shopping would be priceless!
My grandfather was left behind at Taranto, so he avoided Matapan as he was serving on the RMI Fiume. Then he joined or was forced to join the San Marco battalion. He had British equipment and fought at Montecasino and fought his way up to the North, when he returned to his family once the war was over. We still have his winged lion badge.
I thought San Marco division was a fascist unit of Mussolini's Republic of Salo ?
jigi only the 4th Caorle battalion
It's crazy how history is!;
Italy had a great history actually top 3 Ranked!! The greatest empire ever Rome ruled the known world for over 1,000 years when it split in two (eastern& western empires then Charlemagne had not to mention the holy Roman empire. Mussulini had a short run 10 years.
Then he was with the San Marco Regiment of the Gruppo di Combattimento (sort of small divisions) "Folgore" of the Italian co-belligerant army (fighting with the allies and by that time indeed dressed and equipped by the Brits (while retaining some Italian equipments such as the MAB 38 and some uniform garments. The San Marco division was a fascist republic RSI that at the same time was fighting with the occupyig Germans. WWII is a such a huge piece of history, taken to specific fronts and geographic locations, then there are 100 sub-facets, as in the Italia case. So first of all the most whole hearted congrats to Prof Felton for going into them and with impressive detail. For example, in WWII movies or even people of Europe and the UK there is reference to England, while Felton refers to the british empire. Monty's 8th army has Brits (so English, but also Welsh, Scots and Irish. Plus there were Australians, New Zealenders, South Africans, Africans, Rhodesians even Greeks and Free French elsewhere also Canadians and so forth. When someone referes to them as only English, I can understand how all those others might get offended. Plus, allow me the pun, we Italians can claim we were clobbered not by the English only, but by the British empire. My congrats again to Prof Felton
@@sebastianoraffa2104 Thanks for that. I do not have the exact details. He died before I was born, when my father was 12 (in Argentina, where they migrated). My father always says 3 things: for most Italians this was a shameful topic so it was not discussed as to not stir any passions from any sides, that my grandfather won the lottery by avoiding Matapan but then lost it all by being a heavy smoker and finally, that he always remembers the British paratrooper knife at his home. Now with this information I can have a better idea of where he went through during those years. One note, his brother was on the battleship Roma when it was sunk by the Germans. He survived that. Both being iron workers from Piedmont were assigned to the engine rooms, as this seems made sense :)
Its rare to see someone that wants people to just see the historic truth as it was . Thank you Mark Felton for all your research put into your productions .
Mark Felton is living proof that no matter how much you know, how much you’ve read, there is always more to learn. Although I knew we put Italian POWs to work, I never knew the depth of our efforts. And the really amazing thing about these videos is how well they entertain as well as inform. This is material that in the wrong hands can easily become a bore fest. Thank God for Mark Felton.
It really pisses me off when people deride the Italian soldier of WWII out of hand, as if they were sorry excuses for soldiers. The individual soldier was as able and valorous as any other. But their training (on average, some elite units were well trained) was sub-par. Their command structure was antiquated and socially stratified. The equipment quality was hit or miss. I.E. the Carcano rifle was a fine weapon, but by 1940 the various Carri Armati were horrible. And supply was hit or miss as well. And finally, command doctrine was dated, vague, and ineffective. But often, in spite of these set backs, the Italian soldier fought effectively and bravely, sometimes with a bravado bordering on madness. It is no wonder that, when properly supplied and supported, the Italian soldier distinguished himself so readily. Thank you for sharing this little known bit of truth. I'll be sharing this video every time this debate comes up again.....
👍👍👍👍👍
i totally agree with you italian fight and die those that deride them are just moroons without social life that live with cringey memed
I feel the same about the French soldiers, for many of the same reasons. Read up on the Battle of Stonne in May 1940 for just one example of how hard they could fight.
Yes, everything you stated is a fact. The historical view is unfair to the average Italian service member.
Exactly. I can't add much more to that analysis! Italian tank crews showed great courage and elan, something that Rommel took note of, and Italian gunners were noted for fighting to the last.
You tell a story that I have never heard nor read. Unbelievable the things that remain untaught to history buffs.
Never assume you know everything about a topic, ever. That way it will always be exciting to learn something new. I never even imagined that there were Italians in Normandy during the invasion.
Personally I think it's more exciting to find that rare new information about a topic I already know extensively
“ We fought the wrong enemy “ General Patton
Excellent video once again form Mark Felton about another obscure subject of WW2. My granfather was a leutenant of the CIL (Italian Liberation Corps) and fought along the British, Canadian and Polish army in 1944-1945. Before the armistice he was stationed in sardinia where he never saw action against the allies but fought the germans after the 8th sept. in Sardinia and Corsica. Later his Division Cremona was trained and equipped by the British 8th Army. Those soldiers were largely forgotten in Italy since they were mosty loyal to the King, while the partisans gained a great popularity (sometimes not well deserved).
Your ability to find the neglected and forgotten stories of history is unmatched. I salute you sir!
Having lived in Italy for many years, it is not surprising that there were many Italian conscripts willing and able to enter service in the Allied cause. One old Italian veteran told me how bitter they were when Mussolini allied with the Nazis. Many thought it was a huge mistake. After switching sides, there were atrocities committed against Italians by the Nazis.
yep, my mum was 10yo living in Greece when the Italians invaded. She said that most of them didn't even want to be there and left the locals alone. When Italy changed sides the Germans came over and started executing and killing them. A lot of the locals hid the Italians in their homes to avoid the Germans including my grandmum.
@@aristideau5072 wow, previously unknown acts during WWII. Thanks for sharing ♥️
@@ironbomb6753 I think the book "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" deals with an episode in Greece, where the Germans executed 10,000 Italian POWs after Italy changed sides.
"switching" sides do you mean
@@montecarlo1651 isn't that a sign of craziness...
ever since Ive found this channel I really appreciate your detailed mini documentaries on forgotten aspects of the war - thank you a lot for your efforts, Cheers from Germany!
Daggummit Felton just when I think I know almost everything you go and find something else! Thanks!
I have studied WWII for many years and this is the first I’ve heard of this. As a guy whose paternal grand-parents were both immigrants from Italy before the war, I am not surprised these soldiers couldn’t wait to be on the right side of the conflict. Thanks Mark for sharing this important part of history.
Nope, I never heard of these units, and I have been studying the ETO for most of my 40+ years. I knew extensively about German POWs in the US, and some of the Italian POW camps (which I surmise were the pro-Fascist camps), but I never knew about ISUs and the invaluable non-combat contribution they made to American logistical needs until I watched this short video. Mr. Felton, I tip my military historian's hat to you once again. Well done. A simply amazing find.
Thank you from Italy! I appreciated how respectful you’ve been towards Italians that chose to help the Allies with their volunteer labour. You are a gentleman
Perfect timing for a bedtime story 👍🏻
This is an incredible story. It's amazing how these men were so trusted having been the enemy so recently. Also, think of the good will engendered by giving these men some status, paying them, and making them useful rather than just letting them rot in a POW camp. It would be interesting to see how the average Italian soldier felt about the ISU's.
Perfect example of how to treat POWs humanely to your strategic advantage. The complete opposite of what the Nazis did.
@@eltigre4419 At the same time that was after the war so the analogy is not good.
This was a special case. The Italians were already amenable to joining the Allies or at least indifferent about fighting alongside Germany.
In most conflicts, the opposing sides are too committed to their cause to work for their former enemy as prisoners without taking advantage of the situation when given too much freedom.
@@eltigre4419 Get out of here with your lies!
The Germans treated the Americans and British POws according to the Geneva convention.
@@67claudius Yeah but not the Russians nor Polish, and they had a lot more of them
Proud Italian-american here. Great video Mark!
I still remember watching your very first set of videos. Im Very happy to see you successful in this endeavor.
Its a real treat for all us history buffs out there, to have a great channel like this to enjoy! be it amateur/professional or just a hobbyist, its very nice to have quality entertainment that we can all enjoy!
Interesting how parts of history can be so easily kept quiet.
Yeah. I wonder how people at my school, that live in England, don't know about D-Day, Dunkirk the battle of Britain and the blitz.
The stuff on this guy's channel, while interesting, isn't imperative to understanding the general course of WW2. Everything you don't know about the war isn't some kind of conspiracy, it's just an extremely massive event most people aren't going to bother knowing the minutiae of.
Cubic Gaming out of the events you mentioned Dunkirk surely is the most important to the British that event was probably most important without Dunkirk the war with Britain may have turned out differently!
@@cubix6495 it probably because left leaning people say that "history is racist" because it doesn't fit their narrative or because Churchill wasn't black
kinda their own faults that Italy and France became laughing stocks for the axis and allies respectively. They were simply incompetent and ill-prepared with weak leadership. Their contributions (and casualties) were only fractions compared to other great powers. They did not have strong resolutions to fight and resist but surrendered early, effectively becoming puppet states, which added a complicated layer to their war time history (i.e. were they victims, or accomplices?) that they can't shake off.
A great history lesson. That helps explain why we have a large amount of Italians who settled here in St. Louis. Italy has a long and proud military history. God bless Italy and those brave men who served to help freedom!
I would love to see a video with those blacksmith companies since I'm a blacksmith myself!
You can support yourself by being a blacksmith in these modern times?
Smith there's no need too mention your race
@@Gussyboy06 I get it.
kaxitaksi You should upload videos of your work.
@Roy Dunn someone who makes/ repairs things using metal (to put it simply)
Mr. Felton, thanks a lot from Italy. I knew about ISU but it's completely forgetten in Italy too. You did a great service to my country. Thank You.
Do you remember Italians in Stalingrad?
To me this was an absolutely brilliant use of Italian partisans and POWs. Thank you Mark Felton for bringing to light this forgotten piece of history.
*"I would rather bake bread than be baked under heavy fire."*
- Luigi
Luigi Tolentino Lick a ding dong--
Mario
Screw bayonets , yeh screwa di bayonets and screwa de war , we a no fight a no more, josepe probably lol
SMG4 World War Mario :
Normandy June 6 1944
Hey do you know where Mario went?
Ah... yes I do, he is over there fix-in-a da plumming, It is-a no good.
@Izza Kaiser Luigi "Just one more Isonzo I promised" Cardona
There was an Italian POW camp near North Weald Airfield in Essex...just up the road. The POWs were so disgusted by the bread they were given they set up their own bakery and offered to cook for the camp. It was a huge success ...they even sold it to local civilians!
There's also that one italian commander Baron Amedeo Guillet or "The Devil commander" they called him, who serve in africa. He was pulling some crazy stuff while he was on service and carried out to wage war against the British personally in guerilla tactic.... ON HORSEBACK!
He is quite forgotten in history too.
No, it was a Camel.. Horses dont last in desert fighting..
He & his men used horses. Properly cared for, they do just fine in the desert. Heck, special forces units in the middle east are still using horses to this day when the occasion calls for it.
I see a video about him here on Yt. He was absolutely crazy
Guillet also served with the allies after 1943, an incredible story start to finish.
He served in east Africa, leading colonial cavalry troops, he once did significant damage to a British tank column by charging it on horseback, lobbing grenades and firing pistols before they retreated.
Poppa was captured in Foggia in Italy. He had said that it was the next week he was unloading ships for the Americans, getting paid for it almost instantly. In the Italian army he was often starved and unpaid. He hated the Americans for being wasteful though. Reckoned the war could have been won and done years earlier if they actually used the food, fuel and weapons that they just dumped all over the place without a care. He didn't say if there was a lot of personal bigotism against him (probably a little). But he knew he was better treated by the allies than his own nation, and well off than under the German Nazis.
thanks for this.
Please Continue.
As an Italian with a great interest in history, i didn't knew this. Thank you for showing us the forgotten stories of ww2.
Keep up the fantastic work. One of the best youtube channels there is
since Covid lock-down, I work out 2 hours a day and watch Mark Felton Productions EVERY DAY. Stronger and Smarter.
I'm still baffled by how much research you do for these stories, props to ya!
A lot of people joke about the Italian's effort in the war, but clearly they were a great help to the allies.
Whoever's side the switch to they get a 500% bonus to attack effectiveness.
If we had invaded Japan no doubt Italian soldiers would have been part of that, and not just as support troops, but as fully armed frontline units. When competently led, and with good motivation, Italian soldiers fight as well as any country's.
There wouldn't be any differents if italy just staid out entirely
TreVac TV - Because they were such a burden on the Germans who had to save their asses all the time?
@@alexeygavrikov9472 I assume that you are Russians? You were literally beaten by an Italian cavalry charge, and despite your massive army you couldn't even manage to conquer Finland lol
My mom was a civilian worker for one of the generals at Ft. Mason in San Francisco during the war. There was a small group of Italian POWs at the fort who did casual labor and maintenance. Around 1944, they became drivers for for the officers and some of the civilian workers, including my mom. She was picked up in the morning and taken home every evening. After the war, they were given the option of going back home or staying in the US. They all stayed.
Our Italian friends salvaged their honor under difficult and tragic circumstances. We remember Italy as an Ally in The Napoleonic Wars, WW1 and the Cold War.
You've nailed it! "Salvaged their honour!..." That's a funny but quite an accurate discription! They also salvaged their country without territorial losses!
As a Libyan, this is the first time ever I heard that the Italian joined the alias during ww2 against the nazi, very very interesting information from the facts of ww2 history, thank you Mark, appreciated your work, excellent.
That's an amazing revelation. I never realized that Italians served with the Allies in any way beyond being POW laborers. Yes, it's easy to forget how many different jobs must be done to support an army in the field, and the Italians did them. I love how many new facts your videos offer. I had never heard of these Italian units until now!
But...literally every position listed were as POW laborers?
A proud Italian barber in N. Vancouver is the longest tenant in the old open mall. He proudly displays his Italian officers' photo with him standing inside one of those two man mobile tanks. He's so happy to be in Canada I don't think anyone has ever asked him WHICH SIDE he was on!! Lots of old Brits in the area are his long, long time customers!!! Welcome to Canada, everyone.
TH-cam's best documentary channel by far. God bless your work, Mark. Most of the Western World is trying to revise it's history, but you uncover truth. All your videos are pitch perfect and fascinating. Keep up the good work!
As a person who thought he knew a lot about the Second World War, Mark Felton has shown me how little I actually know, keep it up Mark!
Damn you’ve been cranking these out. Amazing quality as usual
thank you, Mark, for shedding light on the overlooked participation of the Italian soldier during the allied campaign in
Europe. With il Duce and der Fuehrer, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. These ISUs were the saving grace
for many.
Mr. Mark Felton deserves every accolade and accomplishment awarded him. His determination and thoroughness of history are astounding. Why he isn't a major member of the royal historical society is beyond me. I've learned more from these 10+ minute videos than I have watching documentaries and reading history books. His contribution to providing accurate and factual information for free is highly commendable. Everyone, especially students need to be thankful that his channel exists.
I sit at my Lap Top, switch it on and then the Music starts. I pause and grab my coffee and then listen to another wonderful story i had no idea about. 10 minutes seems too short, just flew by. Well made Mark, love your work.
he makes the history channel look like a kindergarten school play
@@thedeathwobblechannel6539 Not wrong there, the best channel on You Tube for me. Cheers
I have been told stories of and read about WWII for some 75 years, and I remain convinced no one will ever tell All the stories of what my parents always called "The War".
Very organized, structured mass murderers were the nazi .incredible. Loss of life in Europe Russia north Africa.Civilan casualties killed were 4 to 5 to one military killed on all sides.
It was too large to even be comprehensible at a human level.
The Good War, an oral history compilation by Studs Terkel
Thank you for this nice explanation. As Italian I'm glad that you contribute to further enhance the fact that in the country there was a vast opposition against fascist dictator Mussolini. Many Italian soldiers joined the allies as you correctly mentioned, and many others especially in the northern region, formed different Resistance movements, that were able to help fighting the Nazi-fascist troops and eventually captured and executed Mussolini in April 1945. My father was one of them, commander of the Resistance Carini brigade in Lombardy.
Every time I watch a new Mark Felton video, I get peckish. Also here's another potential video of a forgotten army (or rather a forgotten unit in this case): The Régiment de Chasse Normandie-Niémen (aka Normandie-Niemen Fighter Regiment).
They fought alongside the Soviets on the Eastern Front, as Charles de Gaulle felt that French servicemen should be fighting on all fronts and not just with the Western allies. They were one of three units who fought on the Eastern Front.
The Russians made a mini series about that which you might be able to find in the Russian Zone of YT. I saw it a few years ago and it was quite good. They wear French dress uniforms with cool Russian decorations.
@@johnberak4851 Also the mini-serie "The Attacker" on YT, sub in English, with Russian and French pilots fighting the Germans together
Unbelievable how much happened in these 5 years of war. Thanks Mark for shedding a light on the lesser known stories.
It’s really something that dr Felton can keep good quality videos pouring out with so many other people that do world war 2 content. But he is truly unrivaled
Interesting, the things you said about POW's needing guards. I used to live in a small village in Derbyshire called Sudbury and during the war POW's were emprisoned there in what is now an open prison. My grandma had a German come to her house most days, on his own, and do her gardening, afterwards my grandfather would take him up to the pub and buy him beer as would the other locals.My grandfather had been a POW in Germany in the first world war and suffered yet there was no rancour. Strange how different nations treat people. The German POW used to come back to England when he could to renew old aquaintences, a good man.
Not all Germans where Nazis and not all Nazis where German.
Lovely and just shows that most people are humans first if given a chance. I had a good German friend whose father had gone AWOL from the Wehrmacht as France was collapsing, and been sheltered by French farmers in their barn until the Americans came through.
Just when I think I know just about everything about WW2, Mark takes me to school. Excellent video
Wow, amazing news Mark. My father was in Mussolini's forces. Never spoke of his time serving. He did say at one time, they we're poorly equipped, out dated technology, some didn't even have boots. 👋 🇦🇺
Sounds about right. A native Italian told the story several times of an Italian unit near her village that was holding off an allied advance and they only had blank rounds left. Most of the officers fled but a few stayed and the men held their positions while only firing blanks. In battle the fact the other side is even firing would often be enough to give pause since most live rounds don't hit anything either. When they ran out of the blanks, then they withdrew, not before.
There's a saying "Any mother's son will do." It means you can recruit any nationality and make the boy a soldier. The catch is they have to be trained and led with a purpose by competent officers.
@@LiveMusicOntario The British made good soldiers out of the Portuguese in the Spanish Peninsula - people who Napoleon totally despised
In both world wars you see exceptional soldiers in the Italians, but they're totally failed by their industry and politics.
When they had a chance to work for a nation that would actually properly feed, house and pay them? Sounds like most felt they were prisoners of good luck if anything.
So much forgotten about WWII for most people, Polish, French, Italians, Natives of the US, so many groups who gave lives that have been mostly forgotten cept for those of us who care to delve into this stuff. Keep on doing the good work sir and thank you.
Once again we thank you for presenting important history which has been ignored innocently or deliberately, and doing it so well. It actually changes my view of the Italian people in the days-of WW2.
As an Italian American I always cringed at this part of my heritage but watching this video really helped me feel better about it. My grandpa fought in an Italian submarine that was blown up by an English torpedo. He didn’t speak much about the war but if you brought up Germany or anything German he would flip out and get really mad. The Italians didn’t want to fight. I’ve been there several times and it’s so beautiful and relaxing that fighting was the last thing on my mind. 🇮🇹🇺🇸♥️
stfu and look at Staliningrad battle, Alessandria raid and El Alamein battle. Oh right, you're good at eating burgers and studying through memes 🤡🤡
@ The Germans did *not* have the "most loyal" soldiers. The Japanese were the least willing to surrender in World War II.
The Allied nations' soldiers were all as loyal as the Germans, and in battle after battle, proved themselves to be at least as combat effective. Read about Operation Dragoon, El-Alamein, Arracourt, Sicily, or the many other battles where the Allies inflicted more casualties than they suffered.
No need to feel embarrassed. The Italian soldiers in WWII get a bad rap but were actually good soldiers with terrible leadership. Many did not support Mussolini/Hitler and had the courage to act on their beliefs, unlike the Germans, many of whom didn't support Hitler or his agenda but still fought for him. This might be because Mussolini was less ruthless than Hitler and didn't just purge disaffected elements.
@@melvillesperryn9268 indeed
@ Last I checked, Battle of the Bulge was a LOSS for the Germans. They FAILED.
The excellence continues!!! 👍
“America “ -a good Italian name !!! Bravo so proud our love and partnership with America goes way back to the time of Columbus ! Bravo Italia !!
My father in law is a second generation Italian.. the family came over on the boat.. just after ww2 .. I will have to show him this video ... well done and superbly presented..
I have a bachelors degree in history and I love every single one of these videos !!! Very detailed and also very entertaining !
yet again another well presented and informative video... so thank you for keeping the best generation and their sacrafices never to be forgotten
I served in WW2 and we had ISU Cooks... they made the best ravioli I ever tasted.
The more I see of this channel, the more humble I feel about what I know.
Mr. Felton always does a great job with his films. I always get great bits of hidden or forgotten history.
And again Mark picks up a piece of WWII history that, despite being pretty well versed in, I had never come across before. Thanks, Mark!
1st Time ever hearing of this and studied WWII for a long time
There was actually another Italian Army that served with the Allies... It was called the US Army. There were some frontline units in the US Army and Marines that were up to 40% Italian American. Like one of my great uncles used to say, "Prior to World War II all of the Italians with balls moved to American & Canada."
No, no women
@soumya naik Make babies of course.
Estate Sales my grandfather served in an army air force service squadron in the Pacific. His unit, the enlisted at least was almost entirely Italian Americans from the NYC area. I always say their loyal service in WW2 is how Italian Americans became “white”
You mean America Canada's doesnt have nowhere near as many Italians like the US does.
Patrick Amato You definitely have a point, in the years after the war the general attitude towards Italian Americans changed a lot.
My mother was evacuated to the Norfolk countryside and her experience of working with Italian PoWs was very similar. She says they were happy to work, were very friendly and needed no guards or supervision.
Wow the amazing thing is I have learned listening to Mark. History in school was never this good!
Once again, a fascinating little vignette uncovered by Mark Felton. Thank you.
Wow, last time I was this early Denmark was still at War with Germany
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lol
(Cries in Leverpostej)
@wargent99 Did not knew this... Found in YT some danes joking on the frenchs demise during WW2... I shall remember this one indeed 😤
@wargent99
Danes volunteered for the ss. So they were agents for German imperialism. Hardly something to write home about
I just read a great book on how the POW’s were shipped to the USA broken up into work groups for harvesting vegetables on farms since there was no one left from the farm cities to work the fields. Training good food and a lot of them in Minnesota with German farmers were amazed at the American culture of so many nationalities working together-an unfortunate contrast is how American ‘s were treated in Germany. Many stayed in the US and many married American women as they loved the freedoms that Americans enjoyed.
Have you made a video regarding this yet?
Mr Felton many thanks for your this very interesting historical documentary. I did not know about this aspect of the Italian Army. My great uncle was General Francesco Buttafuoco who was captured by the British in North Africa, he was a ww1 decorated hero. There is a portrait of him at the Imperial War Museum London.
Mark you are awesome in pulling these completely obscure and amazing histories that I bet 90% of us never knew. Simply just amazing!
I every time I watch a Mark Felton Fulton I am reminded the real narrative is never simple as I was taught. Thank you for that important lesson.
Some state parks in Indiana were partially constructed by Italian POWs. Some of the parks still have plaques commemorating their efforts to create the parks.
I remember a small part of this story concerning a POW camp in Georgia. Once the Italians switched sides, the Americans did not know exactly what to do with the Italian POWs. They could not easily send them home nor could they in good consciousness continue to hold them in camps. So, they were organized into sanitation outfits and paid for their work.
I remember the stories my parents told me concerning Mussolini, the rise of fascism and the clashes with the communists. Most Italians did not want anything to do with such severe and harsh controls. The population wasn’t stupid - they knew what was going on and had enough of the Nazis when Mussolini asked Hitler for help. It was nothing short of an occupation the Italians hated. And they Hated Hitler. It’s been said the Italians are an ungovernable people due to the numerous changes to cabinets and leadership - I rather look upon it as a smart population that is extremely cautious about extremism entering the dialogue again. Viva Italia! Italy Forever!
Unfortunately the old Communist - Fascist schism has reserved its head again. I fear what will happen, how liberal politicians will de-fang the neo-Marxist identitarians without resorting to using right wing firebrands as a bulkwark. .
If you would find reasons for what facism is rise in Italy ask to Fiat founder Agnelli and others wealthy families of italia
When workers have made some demands for being paid fairly and the worker's unions asked for better conditions of working they ask to the right winged veterans to take the power for beating communism with the help of Vatican.
As France as Germany as Spain everything except communism they were so terrified for being seized and loose their money and factories...
"Most Italians did not want anything to do with such severe and harsh controls. The population wasn’t stupid "
2020-2022 proves the exact opposite....
This is utter nonsense. Mussolini established a fascist government in Italy well before Hitler came to power.
Hitler copied the Italian fascist in some ways. Who were the hundred of thousands blackshirts assembled in Rome and other large cities, not.Italians?
Italy wanted to return to Roman Empire greatness and became a burden for Germany. Every place they invaded, North Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia, Albania they were defeated and Germany had to bail them out.
Germany invaded Italy when they surrendered to the Allies.
What an incredible story! 75 years later and there is still so much to learn
Thanks Mr. Felton for shining light on otherwise overlooked periods of WWII. To quote you "Thanks so much".
Perfect timing I have been keeping a few posting to binge watch .
My father was born in the US, his parents and elder siblings were born in Italy.
He was a pre-med student when the war broke out, he "joined up" selecting the army air core.
He was inducted as an enlisted as an enlisted man rather then an officer and made a communications operator because he spoke 4 languages (English Italian French and German) He mustered out as a Sargent, an Air Traffic Controller on an mostly British airbase in the Azores.
He ran into a lot of bigotry during his service.
Mark, I really enjoy your stories. Stories that Academia doesn't wan't known and have hidden. Your format is great ! I'm a History buff and never heard of this before. Thanks again for bringing our true full history to the light of day ! @ "Felton University"
Why is this the only place with these types of programs? Lots of things covered nowhere else. Thank you Mark Felton.
Your videos and discussion on history is truly fantastic! Keep up the excellent work. I love that you give a special focus on the "forgotten", yet still critically important history to humanity. The effort of these Italians who served should never be forgotten. They deserve a thank you for their efforts to defeat tyranny.