Jonathan Steinberg has provided a clearer picture of the Italian and German alliance which is so often neglected by WW2 historians.
He details reasons why the Italians didn't participate in Germany's twisted attempt to annihilate European Jewry and actually thwarted German demands that they hand over Jews residing in the Italian occupied zones.
I found the book factual and enlightening. It never occurred to me before that the Italian army was still traditionally loyal to the king of Savoy and was more of a Royal army with little sympathy for Fascism or Fascists but more disposed toward the allies! Especially after the Italians had determined that the Germans had sinister motives for not just their "Jews" but all Jews under Axis occupation.
The only area I feel Steinberg has neglected is the feeling of Empathy. Whilst the Germans by the nature of their language and generational anti-semitism failed to empathise with their "enemies" the Italians were disposed toward a more empathetic relationship with The Jewish population which they could see as Italian subjects with civil and human rights. The Italian soldier could see the faces of his Grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters in the faces of the Jews under their occupation.
| Publisher | Routledge; 2nd edition (December 6, 2002) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 364 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0415290694 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0415290692 |
| Lexile measure | 1410L |
| Item Weight | 15.2 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.76 x 8.5 inches |
