The Italian government signed an armistice with the Allies on September 8, 1943, but that did not mean the war was over in Italy. Italians continued to fight on both sides for the duration of the war. This study is focused on Italian volunteers in formations of the Waffen-SS. These include the SS Legion "Italiana" and 29th Waffen Grenadier Division "Italienische Nr.1." Beyond the explicitly Italian units, handfuls of men found their way into other divisions, such as the 4th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Polizei," 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Reichsfèuhrer-SS," the Karstwehr Battallion (later 24th SS Gebirgsjèager Division "Karstjèager"), and even the famous 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte." This work includes histories of the Italian Legion and the 29th Division, extensive interviews with Italian SS veterans from various units, and many excellent photographs from private collections in Europe.

Massimiliano Afiero is a historical researcher on the Axis forces of the Second World War and for at least 30 years has contributed to numerous military history magazines, publishing hundreds of articles and about 30 books, with particular emphasis on Waffen-SS units.