Sideshow War: The Italian Campaign, 1943-1945 (Texas A & M University Military History) [Hardcover]

George F. Botjer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Texas A & M University Military History | Publication Date: November 1996

In Sideshow War: The Italian Campaign, 1943-1945, George F. Botjer examines the economic, political, and cultural factors that influenced the unfolding of the fight for the Italian peninsula. He also provides new, unpublished documentation highlighting Axis defensive operations in Sicily, their takeover of Italy, and the internment of the Italian army along with new data on economic conditions in German-occupied northern Italy and the extent to which Germany exploited the industries of that region.

Allied leaders, who never fully committed to liberating Italy as a whole, constantly debated the various possible terminal points: Sicily, Naples, and Rome. An awareness that the mountainous terrain strongly favored the defender resulted in this indecision.

Incorporating the German, Allied, and Italian points of view, this study presents a more comprehensive overview of this phase of the war than any previous book.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Allied offensive in Italy during World War II has generated much controversy. The consensus of historians is that this venture was unnecessary, resulting in significant casualties and accomplishing little to hasten the end of the war. In this work, Botjer (history, Univ. of Tampa) argues that both sides accomplished their objectives: The Allies tied down a large number of German troops, while the Germans, under General Kesslering, conducted a delaying action that kept a large Allied army away from German borders. Unfortunately, the campaign did not have to happen in the first place. Botjer's study collects both Allied and Axis military archives as well as offering political, social, and economic details not covered in traditional military studies. Especially interesting are the activities of the Italian Fascists, Mussolini, and Pope Pius XII. While Richard Lamb's The War in Italy, 1943-1945 (St. Martin's, 1993) remains the best one-volume coverage of the Italian campaign, this volume is recommended for history collections because of its political and economic coverage.?Richard S. Nowicki, Emerson Vocational H.S., Buffalo, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

" A unique account, blending political, diplomatic, military, and social history."--Edgar F. Raines, Jr., US Army Center for Military History

(Edgar F. Raines, Jr., US Army Center for Military History ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 226 pages
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press; 1st edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890967180
• ISBN-13: 978-0890967188
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,048,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative on Italian Partisans, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sideshow War: The Italian Campaign, 1943-1945 (Texas A & M University Military History) (Hardcover)

This book gives a general overview of the Allied campaign in Italy from the invasion of Sicily to the end of the war in the Po valley. It focuses more on the Italian Partisans and their role in both the poltics and military action of the time. It is somewhat rambling, but the information contained is worth the effort, especially for those who are either interested in the Italian front specifically, or in an in-depth view of the entire Second World War.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great for undergrad students to read as an example of how not to write a book and conduct research, July 26, 2006

By 

History Grad (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sideshow War: The Italian Campaign, 1943-1945 (Texas A & M University Military History) (Hardcover)

While this book may be interesting to the history buff I caution all seriously wanting to learn the history of WWII and the campaign in Italy: BEWARE!!! It isn't as though author Botjer does not have good style. On the contrary. However, there are minor inacuracies in basic historical facts, the research that was done is sub-par, and it is quite out of date. There are more recent compilations on the Italian Campaign that are more thorough than this. As an academic work it is unnotable. This was written as a high school report, there was nothing new. Also, the research of primary sources was severely lacking, and the secondary sources were not much better. Overall, as a historian Botjet should have utilized more resources and done a better job writing a history on these campaigns.