Tyrolean’s - The Germans in Italy (1932-41)
Soon after many German Nazis found themselves south of the Alps they got integrated into their new homeland. The most of them was settling in southern Tyrol, since the majority of the people there spoke German. This part was Austrian country before the Great War and it was taken by Italy via the Treaty of Versailles. But not there only, many of them soon get into the Fascists Blackshirt Regiments, a formation similar to the SA in Germany.
It took not too long time until the Italian Army get knowledge of the capabilities of the former military people and starting in 1934 they get into the Army and Regia Aeronautica as well. Some of them get into the Regia Marina, especially for their submarine capabilities.
Mussolini had different thoughts about his new comrades and he did not fully believed in the German Italians or ‘Tyrolean’ as he named them all, ignoring that the Germans came mostly from north of the Alps.
The former main politicians were ‘stored’ in special areas, especially Göring and Göbbels. But these people did not learn the Italian language well, so there influence on Italian politics was minimal. Soon after the new Tyrolean’s were integrated these men wanted new jobs and none of the old Nazis could help them here inside a new country.
When Mussolini got notice of the good behaviours of Tyrolean’s inside the military another solution got through his mind. Since Mussolini was nervous about the capabilities of Italian generals he was getting nervous about the Tyrolean’s as well.
He asked one of his Generals, Bergonzoli about the capabilities of the Tyrolean’s. “How do they rearrange in Italy, now nearly three years after the come to us?”
General Bergonzoli of the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) looked to Il Duce and then answered: “They were good in their job, that’s sure. After the language problem was solved and since we put them in some regiments sometimes as a whole we learned from each other. Dammed, sometimes they got their ideas; sometimes we could give them ours. All in all the Esercito Italiano is getting better with the Tyrolean’s.”
Mussolini now turns towards the other General, General Balbo. He spoke for the Regia Aeronautica. “Here it’s the same. We got problems in the past, but now some squadras were filled with Tyroleans only and their fight many times as the enemy during trials and manoeuvers. We and they are getting better.”
“So we got special battalions and squadrons filled with Tyrolean, only?”
Bergonzoli answered first: “Yes and no. Today we got for sure four battalions and two regiments in total filled with them. The filled the ranks very soon, after we called them. We use them during manoeuvres many times as the enemy, like the Regia Aeronautica and fight against them. Mostly they win!”
“They win?” Mussolini exploded suddenly. “They win against Italians? Where and how?”
“Last time in April this year (1936), but our officers learned from them, too. It looks like their kind of warfare school taken from Germany is better than ours. Duce, the Esercito Italiano lost many times during the Great War against the Austrian-German Generals, now we could learn from them. And do we have better connections, now? Germany is building a new army and air force, this ‘Luftwaffe’ as they called it. Like our Regia Aeronautica!” He looked towards Balbo, which nodded, too.
“But we do have a second army inside Italia. That is not good.” Mussolini said.
“They were capable and I do not think they were doing problems. Many times I asked them they told me about the warm country here and the feeling of fascist, what they want. May be in the first year, but not know. We could use them for better connections towards Germany and Austria. What we, the Esercito Italiano learned is it worth.” Bergonzoli told his master. “There influence on some issues is good. During one case they ask a Bersaglieri Regiment, why they got so many different weapons in one Regiment?”
Mussolini waited for the explanation and Bergonzoli continued: “In our Army many different weapons were given. We gave the Tyrlolean’s only one type of weapon, mostly the older ones, what is another argument against a rebellion inside them. But this is firing back.”
“Why? Tell me!”
“We gave sometimes squads inside one battalion different weapons for many reasons. So in manoeuvre the supplies were getting out after one fight. The Tyrolean’s got only one type and no supply problem. We have to change that, too.” General Bergonzoli ended his explanation.
Mussolini waited a few seconds and then said: “HHmmm, I thing we could learn from each other, like you said. General Balboa, do you agree on this matter?”
“Il Duce, yes for sure. Our fighters still want to fight for sure and these Tyrolean’s were the enemy in the eyes of them. We learn, they learn. That’s good for both sides. And we could connect better towards Germany, after they soon were getting problems with there Luftwaffe. This time the Regia Aeronautica is better prepared.”
Thereafter Mussolini asked about the Tyrolean’s inside the Regia Mariana. There mainly the experience of some former submariners was taken, but some were getting into the ranks of the navy as well.
Then the Spanish Civil War broke out. The Italian Legion was send and one battalion and a few squadras were sent out with Tyrolean’s only. There they connect later with their German comrades of the Legion Condor.
TBC
Ovaron97
