The Italian invasion of France on June 1940 was a small scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice and to win the colonies in North Africa. The offensive did not meet its planned goals, with the Italian forces making only limited headway.

Background

On 10 June, 1940, Italy declared war on France and Britain. The French government was already fleeing to Bordeaux and Paris was an open city. Feeling that the war would soon be over, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini said to Pietro Badoglio, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito), "I only need a few thousand dead so that I can sit at the peace conference as a man who has fought" . Mussolini had the immediate war aim of expanding the Italian colonies in North Africa by taking land from the British and French colonies.

However, Italy was not prepared for war and Italy's armed forces made little impact during the last few days of the Battle of France. Mussolini was well aware of Italy's military limitations at the time, but he still sought to profit from Germany's successes . Of Italy's declaration of war, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States, said: "On this tenth day of June 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor."

The offensive

Much of June was lost as the Italian armed forces prepared for an invasion. But, even after additional time for preparations, the hastily prepared Italian forces were not at their prime. The Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito Italiano) massed thirty-two divisions in two armies on the French border. The Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica Italiana) supported the Royal Army and flew 716 missions and dropped 276 tons of bombs. The Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina Italiana) did little to support the invasion.

The French armed forces were in no shape to resist the Italians. The French Army (Armée de Terre) was already defeated in the north and only a relatively small force was maintained on the border with Italy. The French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) was relocating to French North Africa by the time of the Italian declaration of war and the subsequent offensive.

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) was the only service in a position to act against the Italians. At dawn on 14 June, the French Third Squadron based in Toulon carried out an operation in Italian waters. Four heavy cruisers and eleven destroyers opened fire on the oil storage tanks and military installations on the Ligurian coast and in the port of Genoa. No Italian aircraft appeared and the coastal artillery scored only one hit. The French destroyer Albatros received a 155 mm round on its boiler room, which killed 12 seamen.

On 16 June, the French sloop La Curieuse forced the Italian submarine Provana to surface off Oran and then sank it by ramming. This was the first Italian submarine to be sunk by the French Navy.

Armistice sought

During the night of 16 June and into the morning of 17 June, Marshal Philippe Pétain proposed an armistice with the German government. On Thursday 20 June, the French government asked the Italian government for an armistice.

Italians cross the border

On 20 June, the Italian campaign began and, on 21 June, troops of the Italian Royal Army crossed the French border in three places The Italians attacked in two directions. One force attempted to advance through the Alps and another force attempted to advance along the Mediterranean coast towards Nice. Initially, the Italian offensive enjoyed a limited level of success. The French defensive lines on the Italian border were weakened due to French High Command shuffling forces to fight the Germans. Some French mountain units had been sent to Norway. However, the Italian offensive soon stalled at the fortified Alpine Line in the Alps region and at the southern end of the Maginot Line in the Mediterranean region. The attack through the Little Saint Bernard Pass in the Alps had to stop due to a massive snow storm. The Italian forces attacking through the French Riviera advanced only about five miles and were stopped in the vicinity of the town of Menton , which was partially occupied by the Italian army; on the Cote d'Azur the Italian invasion was held up by a French NCO and seven men.

On 21 June, the French battleship Lorraine opened fired on the port of Bardia in Italian Libya. French naval aircraft also attacked Taranto and Livorno in mainland Italy during some of the last actions of the French against the Italians.

Casualties

During the invasion, Italian casualties were far greater than French casualties. Italian losses were 631 men killed, 2,361 wounded, 2,000 cases of frostbite and 616 men missing. This compares to French losses of 40 men killed, 84 wounded, and 150 men missing.

Aftermath

In the evening of 22 June 1940, France surrendered to Germany.

On 25 June, France and Italy signed an armistice. Italy occupied Corsica and the Alpes-Maritimes, plus some areas of French territory along the Franco-Italian border further north.

Order of battle

Italian

• Army Group 'West'

General Officer Commanding: Prince General Umberto di Savoia

Chief of Staff: General Emilio Battisti

• • 1st Army

:General Officer Commanding: General Pietro Pintor

:Chief of Staff: General Fernando Gelich

• • 2nd Corps - General Francesco Bettini

::Forlì Infantry Division, Acqui Infantry Division, Livorno Infantry Division, and Cuneese Alpine Division

• • 3rd Corps - General Mario Arisio

::Ravenna Infantry Division, Cuneo Infantry Division, and 1st Alpine Group (3 Alpine battalions plus 2 mountain artillery battalions)

• • 15th Corps - General Gastone Gambara

::Cosseria Infantry Division, Modena Infantry Division, Cremona Infantry Division, and 2nd Alpine Group (4 Alpine battalions, 1 Blackshirt battalion, and 2 mountain artillery battalions)

• • Army Reserve

::Pistoia Infantry Division, Caccittori delle Alpi Infantry Division, Lupi di Tuscana Infantry Division, Pusteria Alpine Division, 1st Bersaglieri Regiment, 3rd Armored Regiment, and Monferrat Cavalry Regiment

• • 4th Army

:General Officer Commanding: General Alfredo Guzzoni

:Chief of Staff: General Mario Soldarelli

• • 1st Corps - General Carlo Vecchiarelli

::Superga Infantry Division, Cagliari Infantry Division, and Pinerolo Infantry Division

• • 4th Corps - General Camillo Mercalli

::Assietta Infantry Division and Sforcesca Infantry Division

• • • Alpine Corps - General Luigi Negri

::Taurinese Alpine Division, Levanna Autonomous Group (3 Alpine battalions and 1 mountain artillery battalions), and 3rd Alpine Regiment

• • • Army Reserve

::Legnano Infantry Division, Brennero Infantry Division, Tridentina Alpine Division, 4th Bersaglieri Regiment, 1st Armored Regiment, and Nizza Cavalry Regiment

Overall, the Italian forces numbered about 700,000 troops. However, while they enjoyed a huge numerical superiority to the French, they had several deficiencies. The Italian armored regiments were from the 133 Armoured Division Littorio and included between 150 to 250 L3/35 tanks each. But these vehicles were often classified as "tankettes" and were little more than lightly armored machine-gun carriers not suited for modern warfare. Most Italian units had inadequate or obsolete artillery and lacked motor transport. Specific to this front, the Italians were not equipped for the cold Alpine environment.

French

• Alpine Army (l'Armée des Alpes) - General René Olry
  • 3 infantry division of type B
  • fortification sectors: Dauphiné, Savoie, Alpes Maritimes
  • defence sectors: Rhône, Nice

Overall, French forces in the region numbered about 35,000 soldiers.

Written By Frans DeWall

See also

• Alpine Wall
• East African Campaign

References