Folgore at El Alamein by David Pentland [Print]

Artist: David Pentland [Browse all David Pentland]

 North Africa, 30th September - 6th November 1942. During the final battle at El Alamein the Italian paratroopers of the 185th Folgore Parachute Division held the southern end of the Axis defence line down to the Qattara Depression. For several days they repelled constant attacks by a succession of Commonwealth units including the vaunted 7th Armoured Division, The Desert Rats. All of this ended on November 6th, when the last organized group commanded by Colonel Camosso and Major Zanninovich, surrounded by British tanks, finished its ammunition reserves. From an initial strength of 5,000, only 306 paratroopers were still alive. For their bravery, the British gave them the singular honour of allowing the Folgore survivors to retain their weapons on their surrender.