Italian Battle of the Bulge - Operation Winter Storm 1944

At the same time as the Ardennes Offensive was raging in Belgium, a joint Italian-German operation was undertaken in northern Italy, Operation Winter Storm, which proved, unlike the Battle of the Bulge, to be completely successful.
Enjoy reading, then check out my latest book, The Bridge Busters: The First Dambusters and the Race to Save Britain www.amazon.co.uk/Bridge-Buste...
Help support my channel:
www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
/ markfeltonproductions
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[@vladdrakul7851]

Mr Felton has more original material than ANYONE else (and I mean he does not even have competition when it comes to NEW or rarely shown information). I ALWAYS come here to learn NEW THINGS. Rarely am I surprised by new information despite being a historian myself fascinated by the history of my British/German family since the late 1970's as my initial cause of interest. Mr Felton should be a world wide recognized expert. Terrific stuff as usual!!

[@j.chiari4222]

I have also been found to like some Tom Richey videos quite a lot

[@AudieHolland]

Hear hear!

[@iqbalzaidi353]

No doubt some Italian units did well under good leadership, when provided by training and guidance

[@coleparker]

They did. During the North African campaign, the Ariete Division did well when they were led by Rommel and the German Staff. That was one of the real weaknesses of the Italian Army in the early days. The Command staff was corrupt and constructed more along the lines of a 19th century/early 20 century, Colonial Army than a modern army.

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

I think it was a RAF ace Stanford Tuck story.. The squadron had downed a rare flight of Italian bombers near the base. After they landed some of the RAF pilots drove out to inspect the downed Italian aircraft. The Italian aircraft were loaded with deli meats cheeses and casks of wine. In true Italian form. It had been a long flight and they didn't intend to make war on an empty stomach.

[@shyF0x]

@@coleparker TIK has some great info on that stuff.

[@dannyv8577]

@@h.r.puffnstuff8705 I think your mate telling the story is pulling your leg ....

[@christianschlogl6295]

I read that Italian troops actually were very good, but poor equipment and leadership limited them

[@brainyskeletonofdoom7824]

There is another interesting Italian success in Operation Agreement, where an attack by the Royal Marines got stopped by surprised Italian army mechanics and second line (administrative) troops and repelled by San Marco marines

[@matteoorlandi856]

love this focus on the italian war. suggestion: why don't you talk about the battle of nikolaevka? it's a small battle, but allowed ten of thousands of italian troppos to escape from operation little saturn encirclement... not even germans did it, so i think it's interesting.

[@andreaghilardi1069]

Excellent video and historically correct, I live just few kms from the Gothic Line, bunkers and fortifications are still there

[@ryanbramblin]

Andrea Ghilardi really? That’s so cool!

[@nicho3051]

Interesting video here’s some Italian video ideas. The Italian Co-belligerent army/airforce/navy. Italian Calvary charge against the soviets. Attempted french invasion of Italy (only time Italian partisans and Italian facists worked together) Post war Italian Army

[@sdsd2e2321]

Most interesting i think would be the Decima MAS. They had some impressive kills

[@BrettonFerguson]

I'd like to see a video about the Laconia Incident. There aren't any documentaries on the subject I'm aware of.

[@davidmaxey656]

I would like to know more about the battle at Anzio

[@clawrence034]

A video on Italian partizans in general would be nice. Also, the CIA's intervention in the 1948 election.

[@diego6109]

Also against Tito Italian fascist army and not communist partisans collaborate. Close Nation Valley.

[@Nattleby]

My great uncle helped break the Gothic line. Company G, 85th regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He was KIA April 14th, 1945 fighting back a German counterattack on hill 909 near Mt. Della Spe.

[@marcellovia.5942]

The ALPINI..(Italian Alpine units) were some of the bravest and best fighting units of WWII. My Papa's cousin was one of them during the war. Italy wasn't really prepared for the war having to use old firearms and tanks. The Italian Air Force was better equipped with more modern and effective aircraft and the Italian Navy also had well built and effective ships. Only later in the war did Italy have better and more modern firearms and tanks but it was too late in the war to matter. Italian Alpine troops actually had better success than the German troops in Russia do to their training in the Italian Alps and their having better winter clothing and equipment.

[@nino71]

the "Italian Social Republic" had nearly 800.000 soldiers with an amazingly high rate of volunteers. This is way more than the CIL (Italian "co-belligerant forces") not to talk about the so called "partigiani". There are some high quality interviews of RSi veterans on KZbin with great English subtitles.

[@a.f.w.froschkonig2978]

Indeed it should be acknowledged that not all Italian troops were traitors that fell in the back of their german comrades. The loyal troops fought a civilian war. A difficult decision for them.

[@gavinyip4680]

I was expecting the Operation Winter Storm when the Germans tried to saved the German 6th army in Stalingrad. The video being about an Italian offensive of the same name is a surprise, but a welcome one for sure.

[@lexington476]

I always thought there were no Italian field forces after 1943. I love these small battles you keep finding. It's also interesting to see that the Axis can still carry out successful offensive operations this late in the war.

[@beniaminosani2719]

There were also in the Allied Side, quite good in quality with English equipment, but italian small arms. corpo di liberazione I think It was named.

[@giovannifontana1433]

Italy after 8 of September 1943 fall under a terrible civil war. With Rsi force on the side of axis and CNL and the regio esercito on allied side.

[@THRACIA776ISTHEGREATEST]

A successful Italian operation in WW2? This truly is an exceptional case.

[@chip9649]

Germans helped.

[@bigblue6917]

Not really. Their losses were not far below those of the Americas. And by that time the Allies could make them up quickly, unlike the Italians. No more then a pyrrhic victory.

[@enoughnonsenseamericana328]

Of course the Germans helped. That is what an allied power does for an allied power. No different from the "allied" coalition supporting one another. Italy put up a hell of a fight in many engagements that they got no recognition for. Particularly in the naval theater.

[@enoughnonsenseamericana328]

But at day's end they were the weaker link in the Axis chain so naturally they were targeted first. This also deprived Hitler and his SS Germany of a vital reserve resource.

[@frankryan2505]

"A generation brought up on the old joke about Italian tanks with five reverse gears and one forward was probably unaware of the fierce resistance put up at El Alamein by the crack paratrooper regiment, the "Folgore", which simply refused to surrender. Of 5,000 Folgore troops who fought, only 304 survived. Or what about the last message sent from the divisional commander of the Italian Ariete artillery regiment at El Alamein? "We have three tanks left. I am counter-attacking". upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/c/ca/TargaRommel.jpg "The German soldier has astonished the world; the Italian Bersagliere has astonished the German soldier." Erwin Rommel en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decima_Flottiglia_MAS www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/7866571/Amedeo-Guillet.html The "Knight from other times" "Aosta gave Guillet command of the locally recruited Amhara Cavalry Bande, as well as 500 Yemeni infantry - approximately 2,500 men. With almost no armour, the Italians used Guillet's horsemen to delay the advance of the British 4th and 5th Indian Divisions when they crossed the Eritrean frontier in January 1941."

[@peteralderson1483]

Mark 90 % of your videos I’ve never knew anything about and the 10% I knew about you have filled in the massive gaps of information I lacked. Thanks again for a great video

[@joeford860]

I don't understand how anyone can give this work a thumbs down, thanks for the video.

[@maconescotland8996]

Mark - how about the role of the Italian Airforce in the Battle of Britain ? I suspect a lot of viewers are unaware they took part.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Mark, you must spend every waking hour researching this stuff. I am amazed at what you produce and the quality of it. Keep up the good work.

[@bernardourquhart]

The Brazilian Expedicionary Force was nearby to the 92nd. The offensive against the 92nd was due to previous engagements with the Brazilians and the aggressive posture constantly seeking contact. Late in 1945 Fretter-Pico and the entire 148th division surrender to the Brazilian forces leaded by General Mascarenhas de Morais.

[@themajor2830]

I used to know an old former SS man who fought in Italy and he actually liked them for the most part but said there was never any middle ground with them as a combatant, either the units would fire a few rounds and surrender or fight to the death.

[@josefoglio9250]

This is the result of Italian mentality where many were really facists and fought to the deth and others were antifascist and /or reallist . If there is nothing to do you just surrender. What you do when you have to fight a tank with a rifle ???? . Germans were just germans and folowed the mad man to the end

[@roberttelarket4934]

We all have this preconceived narrow image of the Northwestern European theater of war consisting of Germans without Italians against Allies. Thanks for enlightening us.

[@ThatGuy-a48]

Italy is in southern Europe so yeah the Germans where against the US UK etc in the north without the Italians as they where still in Italy fight them there.

[@simonkevnorris]

The Italians also fought on the Eastern Front against the Soviets.

[@oliverstianhugaas7493]

I feel happy for Italy, this operation should be thought in every classroom to inspire confidence.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

It does demonstrate that a blanket rubbishing of the Italian military in WWII is both inaccurate and unfair. Properly motivated and led, Italian troops were easily the equal of Allied forces.

[@TheSeperatistConfederacy]

"the World was astonished by the German Soldier, And the German Soldier was astonished by the italian bersaglieri" -Erwin Rommel

[@tomasjay1005]

From what my grandfather said, They had the very best submarine crews.

[@samdoeszenx2177]

Love your work Mark

[@davidmiller767]

Mark is Dead ....

[@geordie1032]

I hope you make a video on the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino.

[@artofwar7262]

I have never heard of this offensive, thank you for bringing it to light!

[@jordanturpyn24]

More on Italy!

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

Request for a video on the fight between Robert S. Johnson vs German ace Egon Meyer. After all Robert S. Johnson managed to get his Thunderbold all the way back to England after his plane was severely damaged and severely damaged is a major understatement.

[@marioacevedo5077]

Another great video. I'd heard about the 92 ID being routed but never understood the context. Good job.

[@glanza12345able]

History based on facts - very refreshing Mr. Felton.

[@pablocampos2349]

The German general surrendered to the Brazilian force later

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Right. I must do something about the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. Almost unknown today.

[@WanderlustZero]

@@MarkFeltonProductions I'd love that. Would also love to hear about the Italian co-belligerent army.

[@patches6309]

Another Fantastic video on forgotten, little known military history that is never taught in any classrooms now. Cheers to you once again Mark Felton! This former combat Vet salutes you for all of your hard work & excellent material presented in a very interesting and intelligent manner.

[@2Quietus]

Once again, you did not disappoint. WWII documentaries focus primarily on four things: Pacific, France/Germany (D-Day), Battle of Britain, and North Africa. Nice to see the "forgotten" battles covered! Well done!

[@zackscott903]

Best history channel on KZbin

[@nevsky69420]

The fact that you can pump out so many vids in such a short time amazes me.

[@brianrobson5208]

Greatly appreciated Mark . Thank you for your interesting subjects, and great research.

[@joeschlotthauer840]

These videos need to be shown in every school at lunchtime....

[@andrewleonard475]

No thanks, I'd rather stick to playing football than sit in a small classroom for half an hour watching irrelevant history videos that have nothing to do with our curriculum.

[@discoverynorthcarolina9824]

Thought I was a student of WW2, first time I heard of this offensive...... Thank you

[@stuartharper3968]

***** 5 star professional and educational video. I have been learning about ww2 for 50+ years and still learn something new from this brilliant world wide recognized expert.

[@anthonycesena6300]

Love the last two videos on the italian military a truly little studied army during ww2 very fascinating. Great vids on obscure ww2 topics

[@JoseSanchez-wb5rz]

Always a river of information I had never heard about. Awesome work as always !

[@allengeary5595]

Excellent video as usual, Keep up the great work

[@nenesundog]

Please do a video on the 92nd infantry. Specifically what happened to the pow's. fascinating stuff.

[@Durchbruchs]

Subbed earlier this year, certainly not dissatisfied. Keep up the good work lad.

[@tomjustis7237]

Italians are excellent combat soldiers ... when they are given a valid reason to fight. (I think that applies to all nationalities.) The Italian military during WW2 was so lackluster in performance because the majority of Italians did not support Mussolini's personal quest for glory and conquest nor did they support the alliance with Nazi Germany. Due to that many of them felt there was no reason to sacrifice their lives needlessly for a cause in which they did not believe. The Italians in this particular battle performed so well because they were the die hard Fascists who truly supported Mussolini and his views and so were willing to make that sacrifice. JMHO.

[@martinryder6910]

I play your opening music on my phone when my boss moves down the corridor. Has everyone in stitches !

[@hermanhedning4220]

Great to see a video on the italians! Would you consider doing something about the Decima MAS during the RSI?

[@SupesMe]

Yeah the only problem is we could more than afford to lose 1000 troops axis forces couldn’t afford to lose anything. Once it was gone it was gone and it wasn’t being replaced.

[@paulwolf2775]

I've studied World War 2 front and back for years, and there's always something new to learn. Thanks again, Mr.Felton. I'd love to know where you find it?

[@danieleacquavera4107]

Thanks from Italy!!!

[@sullivannix4509]

Not surprised that I heard of this from you, Mark! Great story

[@loddude5706]

0:10 behind Il Duce's left elbow, is that Hugh Laurie?

[@woff1959]

Another excellent video. Thanks very much!!

[@welshpete12]

As always , interesting and informative !

[@FRONT-rc1qg]

Mark felton. Muchas gracias por su video .

[@axlerodthegreatbauman6763]

I learn so much from your channel and all of your videos hold my attention. I have very bad ADHD so you deserve some kind of award!!! Lol keep them coming!!!!!

[@Vranabg]

Really appreciate your factual videos and lack of hollywood-like HistoryChannel additions. Thank you for the rare and well made content.

[@jasondaniel918]

I never knew about this offensive. I have always thought the Italian army was not really as bad as their reputation. But, they had very poor leadership. Maybe this offensive validates my perspective. At any rate, I cannot imagine how the Germans treated black Americans.

[@Dimythios]

Outstanding research!

[@engineco.1494]

Brilliant channel! When can I order complete series on dvd!

[@cheekychupakabra]

Mark Felton has opened a history channel. nicee!!

[@tuskegeeace2840]

Pretty please do a video on WW2 myths of colored soldiers (Why the 92nd performed so poorly in Italy) and their combat performance in comparison with their contemporaries and circumstances that may of contributed please. Some clarification as to why units like the 761st Black Panther TB, Tuskegee Airmen, 333rd etc are more popular in hindsight than the poor performance and struggles of the 758th and 92nd ID. Would love to hear you explain it. Edit: Also a video on why the 555th "Triple Nickles" PIB Weren't allowed to serve in over seas fighting

[@HankWest-er8iw]

Even the official history by Ulysses Lee is rife with racism and outright lies regarding Black troops. According to vets in my family, "medal hogging" was a real thing, Black troops not getting equivalent decorations and many given to people from units that were never there (Nisei in particular ). The Army set these men up to fail, not sending their best Black Infantry trained units, but raising new units instead and putting them under Southern officers, the worst possible choice for morale possible. Note, we are talking about real racism here, not the communist radical version post Vietnam still in use today...

[@evilcrow]

Awesome episode! Thx.

[@joepapp01]

Another great video, Mark. Just curious (Mark, or anyone else) ... can anything be inferred from the footage of the disabled Tiger at 3:11 as to how it was knocked out? I love your videos, Mark!!

[@sadwingsraging3044]

After hearing the names of all those Italian towns rattled off I, amazingly enough, have a burning desire for some baked zitti!

[@hshs5756]

For a fascinating look at the fighting in this area from a personal memoir, read Canadian author Farley Mowat's book _No Bird Sang_ which is a reference to the eerie post-battle silence that marks every battlefield. Mowat went ashore in the Sicily landing and then fought his way up the east side of Italy until a sympathetic CO saw the early signs of shell shock coming on and reassigned him to intelligence.

[@scottleft3672]

All I want for christmas is the results of BF devs discovering this gem.

[@marcelgroen6256]

Love your content, Mark .

[@eisenhertz]

Thanks again,Mark!

[@atago-chan7390]

I love your Videos! Keep on! But I have one question, can I get a link to the Music you use for your beginnings of your Videos?

[@McTeerZor]

To add to the Gothic line part of the video. It was the Canadians who finally broke the Gothic line if I am not mistaken Mr. Felton?

[@davidfusco6600]

Great video, short and to the point

[@fetusofetuso2122]

The italian campaign is one of the most interesting theaters of late WW2. Edit; 2:15 all of it is Mediterranean, Winter Storm was on the Tyrrenian side, vs the Adriatic side.

[@ThePerfectRed]

One of the many forgotten realms of war. Today only the iconic buzzword battles are discussed but in reality so many troops faced stiff encounters as well as endless preparations under constant stress that are completely neglected today. War is a complex succession of actions experienced individually be each participating person.

[@kennethworde862]

Good job who knew? I like finding out this stuff and not letting it be forgotten!

[@iqbalzaidi353]

Awesome work mark

[@MrSvarun77]

Hi, Mark! Your work is exceptional. Is there perhaps any noteworthy event/battle that happened on the territory of Yugoslavia? Would be interesting to find out.

[@WanderlustZero]

This is mentioned in Italy's Sorrow by James Holland, who puts the Americans' poor showing down to bad Generalship (although he goes against the grain by being a fan of Mark Clark) and their distrust and lack of confidence in the Buffalo Soldiers. Sad really.

[@aaronblaylock2092]

My uncle was in the 92nd. They were denied replacements when they lost troops and they were given officers did not believe in them, primarily southerners. They still served well in spite of setbacks created by their superiors.

[@ltcajh]

When I was 5, in 1965, my mom told me not to talk to, or go near a guy next door, on the lake. She said he had shell shock from Italy. I didn’t understand, but I was scared. One day I bumped into him, and he was actually pleasant. Confusing for a little kid.

[@rossrockomurphy2277]

0:17 Tree - "Watch where your going baldy" XD

[@saigon68foxtrot83]

Two of my WW2 uncles fought both in Italy and Germany. They said the standard WW2 military WOP's (As Italians were called in USA) salute were two arms raised up in the air. One of them even recalled that a German prisoner of war told him that if the Italians had been on the side of the allies, Germany would've won the war. A third WW2 uncle is buried in Normandy.

[@esotericterrorism3308]

No offense mate but your uncles were idiots. If you make jokes about war than its evident you didn't see much, at least not enough to strike fear and shock into your mind. My grandfather fought on the western front and refused to talk about the war. However he did have profound respect for his opponents. Basically what um trying to say is your uncles likely paraded themselves are esteemed vets of the big war but in reality they were likely camp mules.

[@esotericterrorism3308]

Your third uncle was probably better off lying in the mud than to tour Europe with the same lack of humility as his nephews other geezers.

[@vasudevcharan8329]

Good effort Mark.

[@samiam5557]

Another Mark Felton Production! 😃

[@alexanderchenf1]

Mark Felton is the Reich Marshall of obscure WWII history.

[@Gonkawonga]

My friends grandpa was a volunteer fighting for Saro Republic, surrender to Yanks in. March 1945.

[@FoodLaneAdventures]

Germans: "Congratulations on your promotion, Major General Carloni. Here is your new hat." * snickering *

[@tekis0]

Another quality video!👍

[@wotan20]

Not surprisingly I haven't heard about this short, but successful local campaign by combined German - Italian forces. No wonder as I said, because so much of it, goes against the Allied propaganda narrative, which contrary to expectations is still alive and well after 70 years to the end of war. So 'suma summarum' a big thanks for the author, to dig out this episode and present it in an unbiased, factual way.

[@NomoSapienss]

Awesome channel. One suggestion to increase clarity: maps with tons of equally fonted make it hard to see where the place you're talking about is. Suggestion: add lines via attack axes and highlight/underscore important objects/names in maps. Now that's all the complaints keep up with your amazing work!

[@henrysaka6402]

Later Brazilians forces capture the place.

[@russelder9743]

Excellent...........good job

[@garydesarro2968]

You never hear about this part of the war on documentaries on television. I not known at all about this raid. But the documentary ended too soon. How was this Italian army finally defeated?

[@alerossi8564]

I Live in the gothic line near where they fought this battle

[@blueindigo1000]

I would be very interested in information concerning axis allies participation in, for example, the German attack of Russia - the Bulgarians and Italians, I think, although I could be wrong, as well as other fronts. Also, how did the Germans treat the African- American prisoners?

[@TheFaderland]

They got very well treated, no racial segregation in POW-camps. First time experience for them. But coming home, move aside.

[@onlinecommentator2616]

Better than the yankees treated them.

[@TheLAGopher]

@@onlinecommentator2616 There was some grumbling among black troops that maybe they were fighting the wrong white men because southern whites would take every opportunity to keep their boots on the neck of black soldiers to "keep them in their place" and northern ones just looked the other way to focus on the war.

[@andraslibal]

You could do a video on the Arpad line in 1944.

[@garydesarro2968]

The Italian Eighth Army was at the battle of Stalingrad.

[@l0lLorenzol0l]

"We are helping!" Italy in 1944

[@Matt_from_Florida]

Italy in 1944: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOam2apiryinqc

[@planescaped]

2:07 look at everyone flinching as the shots go off... Not surprising Shell Shock was a thing.

[@diogovieira1784]

Could you speak about the Kingdom of Italy in the south (1943-1946) ? I always found it interesting but not many info about it

[@sindreherstad8739]

In short: before the war Italy still had a king with power, so Musolini had to play with him to rule the country. In the middle of the war Musolini probably sidelined the king. Italy also didnt do well in the war. Then the Allied innvaded Italy, thus the unhappy poppulation used this oppertunity to overthrow Musolini and give more power to the king and non fachist parties

[@donjones4719]

A big omission, Mr Felton: did the operation gain it's goal of relieving pressure on the eastern coast end of the Gothic Line? Your summary mentioned several things, but not this goal you carefully listed in the intro.