Folgore Division reference documents and photos

[Jean-Loup]

Do any good pictorial history books exist about the Folgore in North Africa? I mean a quality book with hundreds of photos, as can be found for most of the famous US or German units? If no such books exist, somebody has to start working on one!
When I search the internet, it is always the same handfull of photos, and the same stereotypical information that is repeated everywhere.

Do any good pictorial books exist about the Italian army in North Africa in general between 1940 and 1943?

I found this pretty good movie about the Folgore on youtube recently and enjoyed watching it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCB4Zn408o4
A bit old, but it has some good scenes, and it is refreshing to see a style different from that of modern war movies.

JL

[Dennis S]

"Folgore" by Nino Arena originally Printed in 1967 plus several editions. Italian language with many photos.


Google the title and author as several available on the internet.

[Dennis S]

Also "I paracadutisti" by Nino Arena . Maybe basically the same book with some changes and additions. You can google the author Niño Arena I believe he ha some smaller ones also.

Arena was a paratrooper himself. Here is a short biography in English .

http://www.dxpo.com/dx/06/vip/vip-nino-bio.asp

[Dennis S]

Here's another book also in Italian

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks Dennis, I was not aware of the "Folgore" book, and will have to buy it.

[Jean-Loup]

I didnt manage to find a copy of the book mentionned by Dennis for a resonable price.
However, I noticed this book that has just come out by Paolo Morisi: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folgore-Par...ywords=folgore

I have ordered a copy and hope it will be good!

[andrea]

I didnt manage to find a copy of the book mentionned by Dennis for a resonable price.
However, I noticed this book that has just come out by Paolo Morisi: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folgore-Par...ywords=folgore

I have ordered a copy and hope it will be good!

Hello Jean-lup if you go to this Military bookstore website ( bokshop located in Milan) you will find at least 25 books on Folgore....
www.libreriamilitare.com
Ciao

[Jean-Loup]

The thing is I dont speak Italian, so I am looking mostly for a picture book. Also, I am only interested on the Folgore in Africa, not their later campaigns.
Do any of the books you mention fill these criteria? It is hard for me to tell without holding the books in hand.

[andrea]

The thing is I dont speak Italian, so I am looking mostly for a picture book. Also, I am only interested on the Folgore in Africa, not their later campaigns.
Do any of the books you mention fill these criteria? It is hard for me to tell without holding the books in hand.

Hello Jean -loup , the most of the books on Folgore in Africa you can found are veterans report with some photo/ maps but not picture books as you need.
Ciao
Andrea

[Jean-Loup]

I would love to read such books, but I bought one (Folgore e si moriva), and the simple fact is that I cant understand italian well enaugh to be able to read it properly...

[Jean-Loup]

I got the book by Morisi yesterday, but am disapointed by the photos. All of them are from the official military archives so have that posed propaganda look to them. The captions most often have no details about the date or location. Few of the pictures are nice, and the few that are are the ones that have been published many times before.
Didnt the soldiers take any personal photos in the desert? There are plenty of DAK photos, why not Folgore photos as well?

I havent looked at the text yet.

[me6_130]

I had a cousin in Italy who's father-in-law had been in Afrika...but I'm not sure in what unit. He drove an artillery tractor, I believe.

Carles