Assistance - Alpini Julia Division WW2

[Slaviero1]

Hi everyone,

Firstly, I'm not sure if I have posted in the right area, so Mods please feel free to move or delate this post.

I'm writing from Australia and hoping I can get some expert insight on the Alpini in WW2. In particular, the Julia division that my Nonno served in. I don't have a lot of detail as he has unfortunately passed away and never felt comfortable sharing stories.

Does anyone know where I can find any potential photos, information on their deployments and activity during the war, and of course the best way to retrieve his military records? I often think about him and he would never share stories from the war. I know it's a long shot, but my dream is to find a photo of him during the war. Also, I would love to find his military records and share it with my other brothers & sisters.

I would be incredibly grateful if anyone could provide insight or advice on how to best source out this information.

 

[jwsleser]

Good day Slaviero1

Welcome to the forum!

To start with, what information do you have that he served in the 3ª divisone alpina «Julia»? This will provide a place to start in researching your Nonno.

If he was a member of the Julia, then his reluctance to speak of his experiences is understandable. The alpini of the Julia fought in two very grueling and punishing campaigns, the Greek (1940-41) and Russian (1942-43) campaigns. The division suffered terribly and many alpini were lost.

While there is a wealth of books and such on the division in Italian, information is more limited in English. Below are two recent works that cover the campaign in which the division fought. I have only read one the two books listed.

THE ITALIAN ARMY IN THE BALKANS 1940-41
The invasion of Greece and Jugoslavia
https://www.helion.co.uk/military-h...-41-the-invasion-of-greece-and-jugoslavia.php

SNOW, ICE AND SACRIFICE
The Italian Army in Russia, 1941-1943

Snow, Ice and Sacrifice | Military History Book | Helion & Company

Snow, Ice and Sacrifice - just one of the military history books available from Helion & Company.

www.helion.co.uk

I have Snow, Ice, and Sacrifice and it is a solid work. It mainly reprints in English what is in the Italian Army's official history. My guess is that The Italian Army in the Balkans will be similar.

A book that touches directly on the experiences of the alpini in Russia is Sacrifice on the Steppes. It uses personal accounts to tell the story of that campaign. I have this book and recommend you read Snow, Ice and Sacrifice first so you have knowledge of the flow of the campaign.

https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Steppe-Stalingrad-Campaign-1942-1943/dp/1612000029

Once I known what sources you currently have available, we can go from there to seek other sources.

Pista! Jeff