We sent the following review at Amazon.com on a recent book where, among other statements the stereotypes of Italian soldiers in WW2 states that "Italian troops were enthusiastic celebration in raping young girls" (!!!).
Average research, and quite anti-italian ... November 27, 2010
This review is from: Bitter Sea (Paperback)
As per title, the book it's a major step back in the research concerning the role of the Italian armed forces in WW2. In the first page of the chapter "The good italians", Mr. Ball correctly states that the "italians, good men" it's largely a myth (i.e. contrary to widespread notions, the Italian Army also had its share of war crimes) , but then proceed with the same historical error... but in reverse; stating among the others, the following, incredible line: "Italian troops were famously fond of raping very young girls" (pag. 212). Without even citing a source for this defamatory remark. Now, if the Italian troops (not just "some units" or "some individuals") were famously (and I emphatize "famously") fond of raping very young girls, it's too much to ask Mr. Ball his sources, and these sources simply have to show evidence of a considerable number of rapes of "very young girls" by italian soldiers, if the above quote has to be proved. This is not "history", or "revisionism", or "original research". It's plain defamation of the Armed Forces (punished in Italy by art. 290, penal code). It's also interesting that Mr. Ball consistently mispells the name ot the authors he cites in the above mentioned book's notes, i.e.: Agarossi for Mrs. Elena Aga-Rossi, or Luigi Ganapi instead of Ganapini. Quite a sad error for an academic historian. Also it's sad That Mr. Ball, writing an essay on the MTO and the war in Italy Did not Make Any Any italian in research archive (judging by the book's bibliography) Disappointing.
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