TIMELINE OF...MUSSOLINI’S ARMY

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© Alamy EDWARD VIII AT VIMY 26 July

STRIKE AT AFRICA

Mussolini envisaged building an empire to rival Ancient Rome. Once he’d established his grip on Italy, he set his sights on Abyssinia as the place to begin

CORPO TRUPPE VOLONTARIE

During the Spanish Civil War, tens of thousands of Italian soldiers fought in Spain to support the fascist Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco

SHOWDOWN IN THE DESERT

The Italian campaigns in Africa sought to end British rule over Egypt and control of the Suez Canal, strengthening Mussolini’s dominance over the Mediterranean

ITALIANS IN THE EAST

Reeling from his setbacks in North Africa, and eager to prove his forces’ worth against the communist foe, Il Duce sent a large expeditionary force to join the Nazi invasion of the USSR

AIR BATTLE FOR KURSK

On the eve of Operation Citadel, the Red Air Force sought to pre-empt the attack by smashing the Luftwaffe. The risky spoiling operation failed spectacularly

PROKHOROVKA AND THE FIGHT FOR HILL 2 5 2 . 2

The Battle of Prokhorovka, on 12 July 1943, was the culmination point of the southern pincer of Operation Citadel. The Soviets ultimately emerged victorious, despite suffering extremely heavy losses to their armour. Here, Dr Ben Wheatley recounts the struggle for one critical position during the battle: Hill 252.2

SUPER SSPREADERS IN THE TRENGHES

During the latter period of WWI, infection and disease were a universal enemy on both sides of no man’s land. Vaccination and prevention methods became essential for survival, never mind victory, on the frontline

JOHNSON BEHARRY

Two acts of valour from this young private saved the lives of his comrades in the narrow streets of Al Amarah, Iraq

KAP’YONG

During the Korean War, in April 1951, amid a renewed Chinese offensive, a UN force consisting largely of Australian and Canadian troops fought off repeated enemy assaults

HATRED IS NOT THE WAY

Speaking to mark the publication of his new memoir,Ivor Perl describes how he surviced both Ausch and Dachau concentertion camps during the Holocaust

AMX-10 RC

This French armoured fighting vehicle, in service for decades, provides flexible infantry support with high-calibre firepower

THE IRA’S WAR IN COUNTY TYRONE

The IRA’s East Tyrone Brigade was one of its deadliest units. This is the inside story of how one of its attacks triggered a retaliatory ambush by the SAS

MUSEUMS & EVENTS

Discover the RAF Museum’s tribute to Bomber Command, a medieval tower in Peterborough and a ‘Unicorn’ in Dundee

JULY 1943

To commemorate 80 years since the Second World War, History of War will be taking a look at some of the key events taking place during each month of the conflict

BISMARCK’S WAR

Our pick of the latest military history books

THE BUFFS’ WOODEN SPOON

This shooting ‘prize’ was awarded to the worst shots among the NCOs in one of the British Army’s oldest regiments