You know how we always make jokes about French military victories (or the lack thereof)? Why don’t we do that with the Italians? I mean, their army lost to Ethiopians armed with bows and arrows while the French were conquering half of the African continent, and at least the French had some spectacular military successes around the time of the French Revolution and Napoleon (before they lost). The Italians haven’t had any decent victories since the glory days of the Roman Empire. And remember who they got conquered by? The French.
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Idiot! The Italians NEVER lost to the Ethiopians….they may have gotten roughed up during some battles but NEVER lost! Worry about the US getting their asses kicked in Korea, Viet Nam, and now in a quagmire in Afghanistan and Iraq! Don’t judge by recent history or you will be judged my the same measuring stick! Remember Italy (back to the Roman Empire) and its people won many wars in its long history….and if the US is to be proud and brag of its past victories (200 years) so should Italy and France be allowed to brag about its past and not judged by a 70 year measuring stick!!
Ben, redirecting your anger at the U.S. does not make it any less true that the Italians, on the whole, suck at fighting. As for the U.S., why don’t you ask the North Koreans, Afghans and Iraquis if they think they kicked our ass. By any quantitative measurement the asnwer is a resounding “No”. As for Vietnam, the U.S. military never lost a major battle. South Vietnam was even able to survive years after the last of our combat troops pulled out. It was the U.S. civilian leadership (if you can call it that) that should take blame for any failures in Vietnam.
Italy is a young country, united in 1861; however Italies Victories are many.
First of all you talk about Ethiopia….only a few years earlier the English were shooting Zulus that didnt even have bows and arrows. Italy beat the Turks in 1911……..the English and Australians didnt!
Italy alone, caused the end of the WW1 by defeating the Germans and Austro/Hungarian Empire on the Eastern front, look up ARDITI………..the last successful cavalry charge of the 20th century was Italian, it happened on the Russian front in 1942 and it was by the Italian Savoy cavalry.
Look these events up.
-the courageous defence of Keren (east africa) in march 1941
-the two battles of Bir el Gobi (north africa) during operation Crusader 1941
-the conquest of Stalino (Ukraine) october 1941
-the Christmas battle in Ukraine 1941
-the role of Italian motorized forces at Gazala june 1942
-Serafimovich and Isbuscenky (ukraine) july-august 1942
-Cavaleria Savoia:
-the fight against all odds of Folgore at Alamein November 1942
-Idem for Julia at Nowo Kalitwa december 1942
-Mareth line and Takrouna (Tunisia) april 1943
-Second Battle of Sirte
- The charge of Nicolajevka
- The battle of Giarabub 21 March 1941 – 23rd M 1941
-WW1 Mount Pasubio
-WW2 Ruweisat Ridge
- Folgore X Parachute Battalion in Operation Beresford inflicted more than 10 times its own losses on the British 131st Infantry Brigade.
Considering their poor equipment Italy did better than any one.
Italian tanks can move 60 kilometers in a week, but if they spot English troops they can retreat 60 kilometers a day!
Italians never lost to Ethiopians? What about battle of Adua in 1896? They got beaten up so much that they didn’t attempt to try again for 39 years.
Italians broke through the southern front only because Austrians lost will to wage war. When Austrians got a right mindset, they were able to fend off far more numerous Italians. They got German help mainly because Brusilov’s offense wore down their army significantly. But Italians got help from Americans.
Germans during WW2 had to bail out Italians many times, in Greece and Africa. Greeks, theoretically less powerful nation that time than Italians, thouroughly kicked Italian butts and were marching into Albania.
And the quote of an expert of warfare on Italians:
“Certainly they are no good at war,” Erwin Rommel said. “But one must not judge everyone in the world only by his qualities as a soldier: otherwise we should have no civilisation.”
So Italians maybe suck at war, but they have other strong points. Like art and science.
LOL
“Italy alone, caused the end of the WW1 by defeating the Germans and Austro/Hungarian Empire on the Eastern front, look up”
Italy didnt beat the germans and austrians on the eatern front also the italians didnt even fight on the eastern front that was the russians…….. the Austrians had their defenses undermaned and italy still nevr broke through only saved by usa
dont even get me started on eithopia in the 1860′s
Your war in Eithopia in 1930′s only won because you used genocieds and scorched earth………..ONLY TO LOSE TO EITHOPIA IN 1942
Although you guys did conquer France in the bc/ad era OH WAIT THOSE WERE ROMANS NOT ITALIANS WHICH HAVE NO BACKGROUND CONNECTION TO EACHOTHER
The Italian army did suck in certainly the first 100 years of the country’s modern existance. One should never question the individual Italian’s bravery. When trained and properly led, like in the U. S. Army, they can proudly hold their heads up high. Eg. Basalone, Meli and recently Guinta, all Medal of Honor winners. There was even a MOH winner in the American Civil war. The Italian army in WW2 was badly led and equiped and the soldiers were fighting for a cause that the majority of the people had no interest or heart in it.l
wow some on has done real research im have a 3 year degree in history and i can tell you this mans right (france has been in 169 battles from franks to french only 69 battles were lost better track record then british) for italy a long line of defeats plagues there past from 100 BC to 2000 they have lost almost every war(or battle) to almost every nation in europe including the swiss and french many times.
yes an Italian tank can move 60 kilometers in a day can your crappy british tanks even go 40?