Italians in the Waffen-SS

[MVSNConsolegenerale]

After Italy's surrender in 1943, there remained pro-fascist Italian troops willing to continue the struggle on the side of Germany. Some 15,000 Italian volunteers spent a period of time training in the south of Germany, returning as the SS Legion Italia. Originally used in anti-partisan operations in February 1944, Himmler was reluctant to grant the unit full Waffen-SS status. But later in 1944, when troops of the SS Legiona Italia distinguished themselves in action against the Allied landings at Anzio, Himmler proclaimed them full units of the SS. Later, the SS Legiona Italia was granted full divisional status. Elements of the division lasted to the last days of the war, when having runout of ammunition, they unwisely surrendered to the partisans, who massacred the survivors to a man.

Anybody have more information that this?

- MVSN

[MAXIS]

This topic is fully developed on

"SENTIRE PENSARE VOLERE - STORIA DELLA LEGIONE SS ITALIANA" by Sergio Corbatti & Marco Nava

EDIZIONI RITTER S.A.S.
CP. 17191 - MILANO - ITALY

The "bible" on subject.
Cost in Italy >50 euro

Best
Max

[daveh]

english source

the classic

http://www.wssob.com/029divita.html

and http://www.eliteforces.freewire.co.uk/W ... SS%201.htm

a book

http://www.helion.co.uk/Sentire-Pensare.html

recruitment poster

[Ostuf Charlemagne]

Just tought you had like this picture....

[Rodrigo]

This obituary published in the italian press after the Anzio's landings.

[Daniel L]

Here's a picture of count Pio Filippani- Ronconi.

Best regards/ Daniel

[Luca]

This obituary published in the italian press after the Anzio's landings.

This was published in "Avanguardia" year I N.8 6-05-44
Luca

[David Lehmann]

In 1943 after the armistice signed between the allies and Badoglio, 150 French men with italian origins joined the RSI of Mussoloni.
In March 1944 : the Longobardo Bataillon is formed with these 150 man. They receive the same formation and training as the San Marco units.
Integrated in the Decima Flottiglia MAS in July 1944. Forms the 3rd company of the Fulmine bataillon (mainly anti-partisan warfare on the Yugoslavian border where many Tito's partisans are infiltrating). 19th January 1945 they fight against 2000 Tito's Partisans : 1 week battle, 86 KIA and 56 WIA ... but the infiltration is blocked thanks to reinforcements (several POW are decapitated by the partisans).
There were also 160 French men from the Nice area in the republican national guard (Blackshirts) = Guardia Nazionale Reppubblicana.
I know several of these men joined the 29. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS but I have no more info.

David

[Dan E. Moe]

Can anybody here show me pictures of Italian SS Troops. I have seen the picture of Pio-Filipani Ronconi, the wounded Italian SS troops, and the recruiting poster. Can somebody show me some others, and if possible, one showing the "Axe" collar patch?

Dan

[Luca]

Survivors of the Battaglione Vendetta in the Nettuno front recive the iron Cross of second class. The first from left is the Sottotenente Massimo Flick from Torino.

[Luca]

Again two pics of the cerimony in Mariano Comense.
The gagliardetti of the Battaglioni "Onore" and "Vendetta". ("Honor" and "Vengeance")

[gabriel pagliarani]

Pio Filippani Ronconi is still alive! Yesterday "il Messaggero" published a fine article about the anniversary of the Battle of Anzio. As usual some german and allied survivors were interviewed, but as the 1st time in Italy the memories of a young Italian SS were hosted amid all the others, giving them the dignity of soldiers.
http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/successiva.php
data=20040120&ediz=01_NAZIONALE&grpag=pagine/CULTURA&pag=0&ps=0&vis=G&tt=
or:
http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/view.ph ... e=STANDARD

That day we were at Anzio (author FABIO ISMAN)

WINSTON Churchill decided it at Casablanca, during the 2nd lasting War X-Mas, and it was done in only few days. Encrypted its name is "Shingle Operation". Germans were hit totally unskilled: Gen Westphal said "Only 2 Infantry Abteilungen to be added to coastal artillery" said to Feld Marshall Albert Kesselring, the chief of OKW in Italy to the leader of the nazi forces in Italy when they were hidden in the tunnels of Monte Soratte. 60 years ago, at 02:00 of 22 jan, the blasts of 792 salves of rockets erased anything standing the shores of Nettuno, Anzio, Lavinio. They were launched from 374 american, british, french, polish and greek ships before the landing from 237 landing vessels of 36034 troopers and 3069 vehicles. It was the Landing at Anzio studied to solve the "impasse" of the Allieds still blocked while facing the "Gustav line": not casually the struggle all around Cassino lasted from january to may originated a British Cemetery (4065 casualties), a Polish one (1052) an Italian one (975), one of the French Foreign Legion, and the widest German cemetery in Italy (20035 bodies). But incredibly, Shingle Op.never attacked the German forces who never forecasted a so massive landing so close to Rome: only few days before landing Admiral Wilhelm Canaris's "Abwehr" gave the "alert" pointing at Civitavecchia as landing site. Only in 2 weeks 69000 Allieds landed in the hometown of Caligula and Nero. Gen. John Lucas, their leader, thought that a beach-head facing a 24 kms front-line and deep only 11 kms, it was enough. Field Marschall Harold Alexander while leading the allied HQ in Italy said "Lucas has lost his train". Effectively Kesselring had the time necessary to displace 260000 troopers in only 3 days. And the landing at Anzio became one of the worst battles: in 4 months 22219 americans were killed, 22025 britishes, 7421 frenchmen, 398 italians and 27500 Germans Sixty years after RAI educational traced some veterans for a show of the sequel "We are the history" by Erwin Flores and Vanessa Roghi to be transmitted tomorrow rfrom 20:00 CET till midnight. (this night!!!) Edward Grace....Wilhelm Velten...Pio Filippani Ronconi, teacher of Eastern Languages at the University of Naples, wrote for "Corriere della Sera" but he abandoned after the discovery that he was the teacher of Delfo Zorzi, condamned as author of Piazza Fontana bombing (1970). He was present to the plot at Pollio Institut, from wich "strategia della tensione" had the start...........

[Dan E. Moe]

Thanks Luka and Gabriel!

Regards,
Dan

[DrG]

Great photos Luca! May you tell me in what book you have found them?

[DrG]

I have seen [cut] the recruiting poster.

Which of these posters have you seen?



(reproductions of those posters can be bought here: http://www.novantico.com/)