Garson, Paul Bersaglieri. "The Devil's Griffins". A Visual History of Italy's Elite Plumed Warriors

Military historians have often regarded the roll of the Italian military as somewhat "bi-polar". During the First World War, Italy sided with the Allies including Britain, France, Russia and the U.S. against Germany and the Central Powers. During the Second World War it signed on as a member of the Tri-Partite powers joining Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The legacy of the latter often presents a less than positive appraisal of the Italian soldier's performance - one espoused both by its enemies and allies. However a positive consensus appears when focusing on the Bersaglieri - translating as "sharp shooter" - and acting as shock troops often leading both assaults and defences. As "The Tip of the Spear" they would thus pay the price during the Italian Wars of Unification, the early colonial forays into Africa, WWI, the Ethiopian War and lastly WWII with much Bersaglieri blood soaked up by European soil as well as the burning sands of Africa and frozen in the vastness of Russia. Over 300 images including rare unpublished photographs chronicle Italy's elite "Plumed Warriors".

They were the "spearhead" in the Italian wars of unification, in the early colonial expeditionary trains to Africa, during the First World War, in the Ethiopian War and finally during the Second World War. The Bersaglieri paid a heavy price in blood between 1939 and 1945, and they were deployed on all fronts where Italian troops fought. Over 300 b/w and colour illustrations, including rare unpublished photos, document Italy's elite unit with the striking feather on their headgear.