Bastian Matteo Scianna

• After the Second World War, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were singled out as evil geniuses who misled the masses and plunged them into an “unwanted war.” In relation to their armed forces, this narrative argued that the generals under their command had been demoted to powerless tools in the hands of the dictators, having to follow orders and with no sway over decision-making. It was further asserted that Germany and Italy had not been able to secure a victory due to the dictators’ meddling. Yet, as this chapter shows, there are important differences between the German and Italian cases. The chapter compares both the command structures in which the dictators operated as well as their grand strategies and how they cooperated during the war. Their personal relationship will be also analyzed, as it is impossible to look at the Axis without understanding the complex personal relationship at the very top. The strategies of both Hitler and Mussolini will be looked at and how each leader behaved in terms of working withAfter the Second World War, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were singled out as evil geniuses who misled the masses and plunged them into an “unwanted war.” In relation to their armed forces, this narrative argued that the generals under their command had been demoted to powerless tools in the hands of the dictators, having to follow orders and with no sway over decision-making. It was further asserted that Germany and Italy had not been able to secure a victory due to the dictators’ meddling. Yet, as this chapter shows, there are important differences between the German and Italian cases. The chapter compares both the command structures in which the dictators operated as well as their grand strategies and how they cooperated during the war. Their personal relationship will be also analyzed, as it is impossible to look at the Axis without understanding the complex personal relationship at the very top. The strategies of both Hitler and Mussolini will be looked at and how each leader behaved in terms of working with their closest ally, together with some examples of cooperation on the lower military rungs.…