Italian invasion of France
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Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice. The offensive was a failure, as the Italian forces did not advance far but sustained heavy casualties.
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[edit] Background
On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on France and Britain. The French government was already fleeing to Bordeaux and Paris was an open city. Feeling that the war would soon be over, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini said to Pietro Badoglio, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito), "I only need a few thousand dead so that I can sit at the peace conference as a man who has fought." Mussolini had the immediate war aim of expanding the Italian colonies in North Africa by taking land from the British and French colonies.
However, Italy was not prepared for war and Italy's armed forces made little impact during the last few days of the Battle of France. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was well aware of Italy's limited military potential and yet he still sought to profit from Germany's successes. But German dictator Adolf Hitler demanded that the Italians participate more if they wanted to share in the spoils.
Of Italy's declaration of war, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, said: "On this tenth day of June 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor."
[edit] The offensive
Much of June was lost as the Italian armed forces prepared for an invasion. On 21 June, troops of the Italian Royal Army crossed the French border in three places. The Italian army attacked in two directions. The Italians attacked through the Alps and they attacked on the Mediterranean sealine towards Nice. Initially, the Italian offensive enjoyed a limited level of success. The French defensive lines on the Italian border were weakened due to French High Command shuffling forces to fight the Germans. Some French mountain units were sent to Norway. However, the Italian offensive soon stalled at the fortified Alpine Line in the Alps region and at the southern end of the Maginot Line in the Mediterranean region. The Italian forces advanced only about 5 miles and were stopped in the vicinity of the town of Menton.
Roughly thirty-two Italian divisions were available (not all were employed) and they suffered over 5,000 casualties. The French had six divisions and they lost 8 men.
[edit] Aftermath
On 25 June 1940, France surrendered to Germany. Italy occupied some areas of French territory along the Franco-Italian border.
During the invasion, Italian casualties were 1,247 men dead or missing and 2,631 wounded. A further 2,151 Italians were hospitalized due to frostbite.
[edit] Order of battle
[edit] Italian
- Army Group "West" - Prince General Umberto di Savoia
- 1st Army - General Pietro Pintor
- 2nd Corps - General Francesco Bettini
- 3rd Corps - General Mario Arisio
- 15th Corps - General Gastone Gambara
- 4th Army - General Alfredo Guzzoni
- 1st Corps - General Carlo Vecchiarelli
- 4th Corps - general Camillo Mercalli
- Alpine Corps - General Luigi Negri
- 1st Army - General Pietro Pintor
Overall, the Italian forces numbered about 700 000 troops. However, they had inadequate artillery and transport, nor were they equipped for cold Alpine environment.
[edit] French
- Alpine Army (l'Armée des Alpes) - general René Olry
- 3 infantry division of type B
- fortification sectors: Dauphiné, Savoie, Alpes Maritimes
- defence sectors: Rhône, Nice
Overall, French forces in the region numbered about 35 000 soldiers.
