The divisions of the army of the R.S.I. 1943-1945 - Vol. 2: 3rd Marine Division "San Marco" 4th Alpine Division "Monterosa" (Witness to War)

The goal that we have set ourselves with this series of two volumes, written by four hands, is to give an overall picture of the Divisions formed by the Army of the R.S.I. on the departments employed in the fight against the partisans by the Republican National Army, starting from the last months of 1943, offering a purely military point of view, free from judgments of any kind.

The intention to "continue the war" had always been present since the beginning of autumn 1943 in the military authorities of the Social Republic. In the course of talks, three Mussolini and Hitler agreed to form a new fascist army, which, in the intentions of the Fuhrer, was to be composed of an army of 10/15 Divisions. In reality only 4 were planned and formed by the Republican National Army: 1st Bersaglieri Division "Italia", 2nd Grenadiers Division "Littorio", 3rd Marine Infantry Division "San Marco", 4th Alpine Division "Monterosa".

This second volume is dedicated to the "San Marco" Division, which operated in Liguria and Garfagnana, against the Allies, until the end of the conflict, and to the "Monterosa" Alpine Division.

Paolo Crippa (23 April 1978) has cultivated his passion for Italian history since high school. His research interests are focused mainly in the field of military history and in particular on italian armored units from the 30s until the end of World War II. In 2006 he published his first volume, "I Reparti Corazzati della Repubblica Sociale Italiana 1943/1945", the first organic research carried out and published in Italy on the subject. In 2007 he published "Duecento Volti della R.S.I." and in 2011 " Un anno con il 27° Reggimento Artiglieria Legnano". He regularly contributes to several journals: Milites, New Historica, SGM - World War II, Batailes & Blindes, Armoured Vehicles and history of the twentieth century, Mezzi Corazzati, both as an author, or in collaboration with other researchers. He published with the editor Mattioli 1885 in 2014 "Italy 43 - 45 - Civil War improvised AFV's" (2014), "Italian AFV's of the Civil War 1943 - 1945" (2015) and "Italy 43 - 45 - AFV's and MV's of co-belligerent units" (2018).

Carlo Cucut was born in Nole (TO) in 1955. He cultivated a passion for history as a boy and over the years has deepened this interest by dedicating himself to historical research. He published articles in the italian magazines: "Storia del XX Secolo", "Storie & Battaglie", "Milites" and "Ritterkreuz". He published various volumes for Marvia Edizioni: "Penne Nere on the eastern border. History of the Alpini's Regiment "Tagliamento" 1943-1945 ", winner of the "De Cia" Award; "Attilio Viziano. Memories of a war correspondent "; "Armed Forces of RSI on the eastern front"; "Armed Forces of RSI on the Western Front"; "Armed Forces of RSI on the Gothic Line"; "Alpini in the City of Rijeka 1944-1945". For the Trentino Modeling Group he published "The armed forces of RSI 1943-1945. Land forces ".