Blue Devils -- 2009 release

[Custermen]

Blue Devils

Le battaglie del Nord-Appennino nell'autunno 1944 raccontate dai protagonisti dell'88 Divisione

by Valerio Calderoni & Renzo Grandi

Publisher: Editrice La Mandragora (www.editricelamandragora.it )

ISBN 978-88-7586-244-4

HardBack 312 Pages, large 8.5 X 11.0 inches format

Retail Price: 40 Euro

 

A new release from Italy, this is a collection of photos and stories from veterans of the 88th "Blue Devil" Infantry Division in WW2. Introduction begins with "This book is not and doesn't want to be a history book". The intent of the authors was to memorialize the soldiers who fought for the freedom of the Italians. The book is written in both Italian and English. For the text, the Left-hand page is in Italian and the Right-hand in English. (That makes the book actually only 150 pages in length.) The captions under the photos are in Italian & English, too.

 

The Preface does have a brief 6-page history of the Division with photos of the commanders. There is also an organization chart and 3 maps of the Itlaian Campaign, that can be found on Center for Military History.

 

The main body of the book are stories from Veterans. Some stories are told by the family. For example, one story is about how a soldier's body was found 50 years after the war and returned to the States. It includes photos of personal items retrieved with the body. The book contains several accounts of the fighting on Monte Battaglia(Battle Mountain).

 

The book has many photos throughout it. The photos and text are printed on nice glossy paper. However, many photos are blurry---some may be copies from old newspapers that have been edited. Also, he throws in many photos that I can identify from other sources as not directly related to the 88th Division. A lot of filler stuff. I don't see where he mis-identifies any of these but that does make me suspect some of the other photos. Good war-time photos of Castel del Rio, Lioana, Monghidoro, Livergnano (aka "Liver 'n Onions" by the GIs), and Monte Battaglia.

 

There are some color photos of dug relics. And some very nice color panaromic photos of various mountains and ridges; some marked to show routes of advance. In the back is a full color photo page of patches and DUI's worn by the 88th Division and one page of Medals, one of badges (CBI, CMB, Tech, etc) and one page of US Army rank. Don't know why he identifies them with long names; example Staff Sgt is "Staff Sgt Third Grade".

 

With all the photos and the large print, this book is probably not worth the expense of buying and shipping to US.

 

Steve