MacGregor Knox Book order

The book presents an innovative analysis of Italy's war effort, examining the interplay between society, culture, politics, and war production. It delivers a compelling portrayal of the military institutions and regime, highlighting their shortcomings in effectively mobilizing the nation's resources during a critical period. Through this multifaceted approach, the author sheds light on the complexities and failures of Italy's wartime strategies.

This book explains why the Italian armed forces and Fascist regime were so remarkably ineffectual at an activity-war-that was central to their existence. Italy's economic fragility, Mussolini's strategic-ideological fantasies, and Hitler's failure in the wider war made Italy's ruin inevitable, but did not determine its peculiarly undignified character. Hitler's Italian Allies demonstrates the extent to which Italian military culture-a concept with applications far beyond Fascist Italy-made humiliation inescapable. It offers a striking portrait of a military and industrial establishment largely unable to imagine modern war and of a regime that failed miserably in mobilizing the nation's resources. Above all, it explains why the armed forces, despite the distinguished performance of a few elite units, dissolved prematurely and almost without resistance-in stark contrast to the grim fight to the last cartridge of Hitler's army and the fanatical faithfulness unto death of the troops of Imperial Japan.

Exploring the origins of Fascist and National Socialist dictatorships, this volume examines the interplay between Italian and German societies, their institutions, and national myths. It highlights the impact of World War I and the subsequent struggles that birthed these movements. The narrative focuses on the role of nationalist intellectuals and the military culture of the German Army. The book culminates in the rise of radical nationalist groups, such as Mussolini's Fasci di combattimento and Hitler's National Socialist Party, aiming to reshape the post-war order.

The book is praised for its exceptional scholarship and writing quality, offering a compelling and insightful exploration of its subject matter. The author's expertise ensures a thorough and engaging read, making it a noteworthy contribution to its field.

This book analyzes the origins, nature, dynamics, and ruinous end of the Italian and German dictatorships. Emphasizing themes of aggression, fighting power, and staying power, it offers a comparative overview of the two countries' trajectories from unification in the 1860s to national catastrophe in 1943-45. It evaluates Mussolini's foreign policy, a subject still inadequately explored and poorly understood, and offers a novel and compelling interpretation of the synthesis of Prusso-German military tradition and Nazi revolution, which was a key factor in Germany's ability to fight to the bitter end.