The Italian Navy In World War II Hardcover – Import, January 1, 1957

better then i thought! :-)

Marc Antonio Bragadin presented a fairly thorough account of the Italian Navy from before the war, the beginning of the war, through to the very end of conflict, and beyond (after Italy surrendered). He presents the material very well. The book does not go into heavy and overwhelming detail like other books I have read in the past, which can be a good thing. The reader will walk away from this book with a very good understanding ot the Italian Navy and its struggles throughout the war. Bragadin is fair and objective on how he presents his material, and the book is very easy (and even pleasant) to read. After reading so many books written by the victor of the war (British authors and their point of views), it is very refreshing to read a book that presents the Italian Navy by someone who actually knows his subject. He presents the war as viewed by the Italians; their strengths, their weeknesses, the why's and why not's; why the Italians did this, or did that, and what were the circumstances affecting them at the time. I very highly recomend this book! A must read for any Naval history buff who is interested in this theater of war. I read the book twice now, and getting ready to read it again.

A great deal has been written about the naval aspects of World War II in the Mediterranean, but for those of us fluent only in English, this means we see the war from the American or British point of view. The Mediterranean was the principal theater for Italy and Commander Bragadin provides a comprehensive, careful and thoughtful view of the war from the Italian perspective. He concludes that the Italian Navy fought well, but was handicapped by poor political judgments (the war was begun before the Navy was ready and was expected to be short) and military shortcomings beyond its control: too little oil, too little air support for the Navy and weakness in modern technology (especially radar). The author's service in the Italian Navy during the war gives him insights into the thinking of the naval leadership. Unfortunately, his service also reveals itself in more partisanship than should exist in what is intended as an objective history.Too many Italian actions are "superhuman."

It's not a chance if the Naval Institute Press decided to make this book known to US people, written by a gallant sailor and a gentleman who fought for his homeland before the italian armistice because the honour,and after the armistice,for the freedom.An excellent book that testify as Italians fought a wrong war on the wrong side, most of them understanding it,with the higest feelingof sacrifice.