This book explores the contributions of Italian Americans employed by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. Italian Americans fluent in Italian language and customs became integral parts of intelligence operations working behind enemy lines. These units obtained priceless military information that significantly helped defeat the Axis. They parachuted into frozen mountains tops to link up with Italian guerilla units in northern Italy or hovered in small patrol torpedo boats and row boats across the Mediterranean Sea in pitch black darkness to destroy railroad junctions.

Provides the first book-length analysis of the formation of the Office of Strategic Services and the role played by Italians in the invasion of Italy Includes first-person interviews with key players Utilizes government documents and oral histories with current scholarship

Autorentext

Salvatore J. LaGumina is Professor Emeritus and Director of the Center for Italian American Studies at Nassau Community College, USA. He has been president of the American Italian Historical Association, has written dozens of scholarly articles and is the author, editor and co-editor of twenty books on the Italian American experience. He has received many honors including the Pietro DiDonato/ John Fante Literary Award.

Inhalt

.1.Introduction .-.2.Intelligence Agency in Embryo.-.3.Recruitment and Training Strategies .-.4.Corvo and the Connecticut Connection.-.5.Agents Extraordinaire .-.6.Operation Husky .-.7.Conquering the Islands.-.8.From Salerno to Anzio to Rome.-.9.Italian Mainland Operational Groups .-.10.Interaction With Italian Partisans.-.11.Conclusion.