Preserving the History of World War II
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Eldred World War II Museum
Copyright © 2007. Joseph Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220
Copyright © 2007. Joseph Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220
Italy
The Eldred World War II Museum
By the time Italy had declared war on France in June 1940, Mussolini had already added Ethiopia and Albania
to the Italian Empire. Italy had signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in September
1940, becoming a full-fledged member of the Axis Powers.
When Germany invaded France, Italy declared itself neutral. As German victory became evident, Italy
declared war on France in the hope of cashing in on the fall of France.
Italy, desperately wanting to rival the territorial gains of Germany, attempted to invade Greece in October
1940. However, Greece drove Italian forces back into Albania. The invasion was a failure. After the German
invasion of Greece, Italy would eventually control parts of the country.
Italy also attempted to conquer much of the North African coast. This would result in Italy being drawn into
conflict with Great Britain in the North African desert. As it became clear that Italy would not defeat Great
Britain, Germany again sent forces to aid their Axis ally. After initial success, combined German and Italian
forces were defeated by British and American forces in May 1943.
Italy contributed troops to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Initially, the number of Italian troops in
the Soviet Union was under 100,000. At the peak of Italian troop concentration, over 200,000 Italian troops
were sent to the Eastern Front.
A weakened Italy was invaded by Allied forces in July 1943. Shortly after the invasion, Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini was removed from power and Italy signed an armistice with the Allies. German forces remained in
the country to fight the Allied forces that had landed in southern Italy. Allied forces would chase the
retreating German forces north. The rest of the war in Italy would find the Germans retreating from one
defensive line to the next until the war ended in May 1945.
Italy, entering the war as a founding member of the Axis Powers, would finish the war on the sideline of the
Allies. By war's end, Italian troops had fought in the Battle of Britain, North Africa, France, Greece,
Yugoslavia and in the Soviet Union.
to the Italian Empire. Italy had signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in September
1940, becoming a full-fledged member of the Axis Powers.
When Germany invaded France, Italy declared itself neutral. As German victory became evident, Italy
declared war on France in the hope of cashing in on the fall of France.
Italy, desperately wanting to rival the territorial gains of Germany, attempted to invade Greece in October
1940. However, Greece drove Italian forces back into Albania. The invasion was a failure. After the German
invasion of Greece, Italy would eventually control parts of the country.
Italy also attempted to conquer much of the North African coast. This would result in Italy being drawn into
conflict with Great Britain in the North African desert. As it became clear that Italy would not defeat Great
Britain, Germany again sent forces to aid their Axis ally. After initial success, combined German and Italian
forces were defeated by British and American forces in May 1943.
Italy contributed troops to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Initially, the number of Italian troops in
the Soviet Union was under 100,000. At the peak of Italian troop concentration, over 200,000 Italian troops
were sent to the Eastern Front.
A weakened Italy was invaded by Allied forces in July 1943. Shortly after the invasion, Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini was removed from power and Italy signed an armistice with the Allies. German forces remained in
the country to fight the Allied forces that had landed in southern Italy. Allied forces would chase the
retreating German forces north. The rest of the war in Italy would find the Germans retreating from one
defensive line to the next until the war ended in May 1945.
Italy, entering the war as a founding member of the Axis Powers, would finish the war on the sideline of the
Allies. By war's end, Italian troops had fought in the Battle of Britain, North Africa, France, Greece,
Yugoslavia and in the Soviet Union.
Affiliation: Axis*
Entered the War: June 10, 1940
Killed in Action: 330,000
*Became a member of the Allies in 1943
Entered the War: June 10, 1940
Killed in Action: 330,000
*Became a member of the Allies in 1943
