Alfredo Dallolio
@alfredodallolio.bsky.social
Amateur Historian. Focus on: WW1 Italy | WW2 North Africa & Mediterranean | Italian Colonialism & Fascism | Military Logistics. Enthusiasm for: Speculative Fiction | AS Roma
alfredodallolio.substack.com
alfredodallolio.substack.com
The Virgin Mary surrounded by U.S. paratroopers in a stained glass of the church in Sainte-Mère-Église
August 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Virgin Mary surrounded by U.S. paratroopers in a stained glass of the church in Sainte-Mère-Église
A view from the colombier of La Roche-Guyon castle
August 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A view from the colombier of La Roche-Guyon castle
OTD, 4 August 1944, the nazi-fascists abandoned the left bank of Florence and blew up the bridges over the Arno. The city was not immediately liberated. The Partisans issued the order for an uprising and begun a long battle, that ended with the liberation only on 1 September. #ww2 #italy #resistance
August 4, 2025 at 6:49 AM
OTD, 4 August 1944, the nazi-fascists abandoned the left bank of Florence and blew up the bridges over the Arno. The city was not immediately liberated. The Partisans issued the order for an uprising and begun a long battle, that ended with the liberation only on 1 September. #ww2 #italy #resistance
Later in the day, Italian high-level bombers attacked the convoy again in the Sicilian narrow. A 100 kg bomb detonated off the port side of the destroyer HMS Firedrake, near the boiler room. The shockwave disabled her, so that she had to be towed back to Gibraltar by the destroyer HMS Eridge. 5/5🧵
July 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Later in the day, Italian high-level bombers attacked the convoy again in the Sicilian narrow. A 100 kg bomb detonated off the port side of the destroyer HMS Firedrake, near the boiler room. The shockwave disabled her, so that she had to be towed back to Gibraltar by the destroyer HMS Eridge. 5/5🧵
Another S.79 of 283a Squadriglia, flown by Ten. Francesco "Ciccio" Di Bella, launched a torpedo, badly damaging the cruiser HMS Manchester (35 crewmen were killed and 39 wounded). The vessel was out of service for nine months. 4/5🧵 #ww2 #wwII #airwar #aviation #navalhistory #mediterranean #history
July 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Another S.79 of 283a Squadriglia, flown by Ten. Francesco "Ciccio" Di Bella, launched a torpedo, badly damaging the cruiser HMS Manchester (35 crewmen were killed and 39 wounded). The vessel was out of service for nine months. 4/5🧵 #ww2 #wwII #airwar #aviation #navalhistory #mediterranean #history
Pandolfi’s S.79 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the stricken destroyer, moments after it had released its torpedo. The crew of the S.79 was captured. HMS Fearless was later scuttled by a torpedo fired by the destroyer HMS Forester. 3/5🧵
July 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Pandolfi’s S.79 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the stricken destroyer, moments after it had released its torpedo. The crew of the S.79 was captured. HMS Fearless was later scuttled by a torpedo fired by the destroyer HMS Forester. 3/5🧵
Three of the S.79s were repelled by the Fulmars, but the remaining three closed on the ships, and Ten. Bruno Pandolfi (283a Squadriglia) released his weapon, which struck the destroyer HMS Fearless. Badly damaged by the resulting explosion, the vessel had 25 members of its crew killed. 2/5🧵
July 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Three of the S.79s were repelled by the Fulmars, but the remaining three closed on the ships, and Ten. Bruno Pandolfi (283a Squadriglia) released his weapon, which struck the destroyer HMS Fearless. Badly damaged by the resulting explosion, the vessel had 25 members of its crew killed. 2/5🧵
In the morning OTD, 23 July 1941, six Italian S.79s torpedo-bombers based at Elmas (Sardinia) attacked the "Substance" convoy, headed to Malta from Gibraltar. Defending Fulmars from HMS Ark Royal were distracted by Italian high-level bombers. This allowed the S.79s to attack at low level. 1/5🧵
July 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
In the morning OTD, 23 July 1941, six Italian S.79s torpedo-bombers based at Elmas (Sardinia) attacked the "Substance" convoy, headed to Malta from Gibraltar. Defending Fulmars from HMS Ark Royal were distracted by Italian high-level bombers. This allowed the S.79s to attack at low level. 1/5🧵
...Now the roles reversed. In Spain, when Bastico wanted to do something, he would invoke the Duce's orders as a last resort against Franco; similarly, when Rommel wanted to do something, he would point out the Führer's orders against Bastico and Gambara.» (E. Canevari) 2/2🧵 #ww2 #wwII #desertwar
July 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM
...Now the roles reversed. In Spain, when Bastico wanted to do something, he would invoke the Duce's orders as a last resort against Franco; similarly, when Rommel wanted to do something, he would point out the Führer's orders against Bastico and Gambara.» (E. Canevari) 2/2🧵 #ww2 #wwII #desertwar
OTD, 18 July 1941, the "Spanish Mafia" of the Italian Army settled in Cyrenaica with the appointment of Ettore Bastico as Supreme Commander. «A curious twist of history: Rommel found himself in the same situation in which Bastico and Gambara had found themselves in relation to Franco in 1937... 1/2🧵
July 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM
OTD, 18 July 1941, the "Spanish Mafia" of the Italian Army settled in Cyrenaica with the appointment of Ettore Bastico as Supreme Commander. «A curious twist of history: Rommel found himself in the same situation in which Bastico and Gambara had found themselves in relation to Franco in 1937... 1/2🧵
If you are interested in the history of the Normans in Italy, don't miss visiting the "Musée Tancrède" in Hauteville-la-Guichard maps.app.goo.gl/xLYnUWPUCnbc... #middleage #history #sicily #normandy
July 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
If you are interested in the history of the Normans in Italy, don't miss visiting the "Musée Tancrède" in Hauteville-la-Guichard maps.app.goo.gl/xLYnUWPUCnbc... #middleage #history #sicily #normandy
With her rudder jammed and engine and boiler rooms flooded, the Waterhen was abandoned by the crew, who were all picked up by the Defender. The ship sank by capsizing at 01:50 on the 30th, seven miles north of Sidi Barrani. She was the first Australian ship to be lost during #WW2. 3/3 #WWII
June 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
After an unsuccessful dive by the German Stukas, the Italian "Picchiatelli" immobilized the Waterhen by hitting her near the stern with a 500-kg bomb, and a second bomb of the same caliber on the port side. Credit for the hits was given to Sgt. Ennio "Banana" Tarantola and Sgt. Dino Fabbri. 2/3
June 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
After an unsuccessful dive by the German Stukas, the Italian "Picchiatelli" immobilized the Waterhen by hitting her near the stern with a 500-kg bomb, and a second bomb of the same caliber on the port side. Credit for the hits was given to Sgt. Ennio "Banana" Tarantola and Sgt. Dino Fabbri. 2/3
OTD, 29 June 1941, the destroyers HMAS Waterhen and HMS Defender sailed from Tobruk to Alexandria, embarking soldiers of the 6th Australian Infantry Division. They were attacked near Sollum by twelve Ju 87s of I./StG 1 and seven Italian Ju 87s of the 239a Squadriglia. 1/3 #navalhistory #aviation
June 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
OTD, 29 June 1941, the destroyers HMAS Waterhen and HMS Defender sailed from Tobruk to Alexandria, embarking soldiers of the 6th Australian Infantry Division. They were attacked near Sollum by twelve Ju 87s of I./StG 1 and seven Italian Ju 87s of the 239a Squadriglia. 1/3 #navalhistory #aviation
My best guess in Campochiaro
June 24, 2025 at 9:38 PM
My best guess in Campochiaro
...liquidate North Africa. Then, finally, we'll be free to turn towards the centre of the British Empire (...)». (Giacomo Zanussi's memoirs, published in 1945) [I have omitted all of Zanussi's "far-sighted & accurate" considerations, probably revised at the end of the war with hindsight 😉] 3/3🧵
June 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
...liquidate North Africa. Then, finally, we'll be free to turn towards the centre of the British Empire (...)». (Giacomo Zanussi's memoirs, published in 1945) [I have omitted all of Zanussi's "far-sighted & accurate" considerations, probably revised at the end of the war with hindsight 😉] 3/3🧵
OTD, June 22 1941, the freshest news about the start of Operation Barbarossa reached North Africa via Gen. Gause, who had arrived a few days earlier directly from the OKW. According to Gen. Zanussi, Gause told him: «The Russian campaign will not last more than two or three months... 1/3🧵 #WW2 #WWII
June 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
OTD, 21 June 1941, the diary of the Italian Comando Supremo laconically reports that "General Marras (Italian Military Attaché in Berlin) informs that on the evening of the 21st the Führer will receive the Soviet ambassador". #barbarossa #WWII #nazism #WW2 #fascism
June 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
OTD, 21 June 1941, the diary of the Italian Comando Supremo laconically reports that "General Marras (Italian Military Attaché in Berlin) informs that on the evening of the 21st the Führer will receive the Soviet ambassador". #barbarossa #WWII #nazism #WW2 #fascism
Pardi's howitzers at Halfaya operated alongside the more famous German 8,8 cm FlaK guns of the I./Schützen-Regiment 104 (Hptm. Wilhelm Bach). Born in Novara, Pardi formed an odd but very effective couple with Father Bach, an evangelical pastor from Mannheim. Both were adored by their troops. 3/3🧵
June 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Pardi's howitzers at Halfaya operated alongside the more famous German 8,8 cm FlaK guns of the I./Schützen-Regiment 104 (Hptm. Wilhelm Bach). Born in Novara, Pardi formed an odd but very effective couple with Father Bach, an evangelical pastor from Mannheim. Both were adored by their troops. 3/3🧵
The Italians gunners did not have hollow charge shells, which became available for them only at the end of 1941. But the HE shell could damage a Matilda: they discovered that the shot was even more effective without the use of the fuse, creating an improvised and solid anti-tank round 2/3🧵#WW2
June 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The Italians gunners did not have hollow charge shells, which became available for them only at the end of 1941. But the HE shell could damage a Matilda: they discovered that the shot was even more effective without the use of the fuse, creating an improvised and solid anti-tank round 2/3🧵#WW2
OTD, 15 June 1941, a first British attempt to take Halfaya Pass during Operation Battleaxe is stopped. The myth of the 8,8 cm FlaK in North Africa is born. Few know that at Halfaya, the Italian 100/17 howitzers of I/2nd Artiglieria Celere (Maj. Leopoldo Pardi) played an important anti-tank role 1/3🧵
June 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
OTD, 15 June 1941, a first British attempt to take Halfaya Pass during Operation Battleaxe is stopped. The myth of the 8,8 cm FlaK in North Africa is born. Few know that at Halfaya, the Italian 100/17 howitzers of I/2nd Artiglieria Celere (Maj. Leopoldo Pardi) played an important anti-tank role 1/3🧵
Yes, post '33 pretty much all of them, artilley included. Here you can see from the left in summer/white uniform: four MVSN officers (with black shirts), one from the administration, one from the carabinieri, one from the infantry, one from the bersaglieri and one from the bridge engineers.
June 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Yes, post '33 pretty much all of them, artilley included. Here you can see from the left in summer/white uniform: four MVSN officers (with black shirts), one from the administration, one from the carabinieri, one from the infantry, one from the bersaglieri and one from the bridge engineers.