By Andrew Sangster and Pier Paolo Battistelli.
Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2023.
ISBN 978-1-63624-312-2. Maps. Bibliography. Notes. Index.
Pp. v, 277. $37.95.
The Italian Campaign remains in the shadows of World War II history. Andrew Sangster and Peter Paolo Battistelli dedicate five chapters to the military commanders during the Italian Campaign in their book, Flawed Commanders and Strategy: In the Battles for Italy, 1943-45. The five commanders analyzed included Allied generals George Patton, Mark Clark, Bernard Montgomery, Harold Alexander, and German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring. The authors articulate the five commanders’ personalities, backgrounds, and historical events to draw inciteful conclusions about each one. The strategies, battles, and leaders provided the lens to understand military leadership’s significant impacts during the Italian Campaign.
The Allied strategy in Italy was designed to create multiple war fronts, drawing German resources away from Western Europe and the Eastern Front. As the Allies prepared Operation HUSKY, the invasion of Sicily, the Germans acted on Hitler’s orders, “to defend Europe in the ‘forward areas’ to keep the war away from the German border…” (p. 13). German Field Marshal Kesselring quickly assumed command of Italy, while Erwin Rommel moved back to France to counter possible Allied invasions.
The Americans initially disagreed with the British in the necessity for invading Italy. Even with disagreements, the Allies knew the importance of their relationship. Churchill and General Marshall agreed that, “Britain needed American manpower, resources, and financial help…the Americans needed Britain as a launchpad into mainland Europe…” (page 98). The Americans reluctantly agreed with supporting the Italian Theater but remained primarily focused on supporting a western European invasion. As war priorities shifted during the campaign, the authors stress the effects of the Allied Normandy invasion “…when everybody’s attention was focused on the battles at Casino and Anzio, Italy now turned into some sort of backwater war, forgotten both by generals and the public” (page 162). Far from over, the Italian Campaign would remain a fierce challenge for the Allied militaries.
The Italian Campaign’s battles were characterized by the rugged terrain. One of the major disadvantages Allied forces faced on the Italian peninsula was the mountains that restricted lines of communication and movement. The Allies suffered high casualties at Anzio and struggled to maintain progress at Monte Casino.
Lastly, the authors provided a closer look into the senior leaders’ personalities. The book highlights the numerous human flaws in senior leadership. Although General Patton was not regarded as a politically savvy leader, he generated results on the battlefield. Field Marshall Montgomery was highly critical of others, Allied plans, and often did not compromise. Even with these flaws, Montgomery became one of the most famous British military leaders. Montgomery’s counterpart, Harold Alexander, placed the coalition’s unity as a priority but faced criticism for not keeping subordinates’ actions in check. Additionally, the authors highlighted General Mark Clark’s keen interests in notoriety: “…taking Rome was an opportunity to hit the headlines and seek personal glory for himself and his Fifth Army, which was a theme…” (p. 148). The controversial Allied advance into Rome instead of cutting off the German Army served to prolong the conflict. In contrast, Field Marshall Kesselring proved to do more with less, exploited the coalition’s lack of unity, and used the mountainous terrain to hinder the Allies at every engagement.
Flawed Commanders and Strategy provides an insightful perspective into the human elements of military leadership during the Italian Campaign. The authors present the problems, decisions, and the political landscapes that all greatly influenced the five military commanders. Additionally, the book provided numerous arguments that the Italian Campaign’s strategy was poorly developed and was commanded by a divided Allied coalition. Outgunned and lacking fresh manpower, the Germans fought a delaying defensive effort for nearly two years, prolonging the inevitable.
Andrew Young
Tampa, Florida