n the morning of 22 June 1941, when Mussolini was told of Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union, he instantly pledged his country’s military support to the venture. Joining a crusade against communism was just too good an opportunity to miss – and not only from an ideological viewpoint. Apart from the potential plunder to be had, there was also the possibility of redeeming Italy’s martial reputation. After its military blunders in North Africa, piggybacking Hitler’s giant invasion force – the largest
