The Office of Strategic Services and Italian Americans

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.

• Italian Americans
• Office of Strategic Services
• Max (Biaggio) Corvo
• Anti-fascist Italians
• World War II Italian invasion

“Salvatore LaGumina’s accessible study gives a cogent account of the up-to-now overlooked Italian Americans’ contribution to the behind-the-lines operations of the U.S. intelligence in Italy during World War II. This book not only offers further evidence of Italian Americans’ loyalty to the United States at wartime. It also casts new light on the military campaign in Italy, stressing the importance of the U.S.-assisted partisan warfare in engaging the German troops, and points to the successful efforts of the OSS to save the country’s art treasures and to spread American democratic values among the anti-Fascist forces.” (Stefano Luconi, University of Naples L'Orientale, Italy)

“The OSS was key to U.S. victory in WWII and embryo of today’s CIA. As this fascinating book reveals, a generation of anti-fascist Italian-Americans played a leading role every step of the way despite the hostility of OSS blue bloods.” (Jefferson Morley, Author, Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA)

“Professor Lagumina adds to the portrait of Italian Americans a view of which few people are aware. While Americans viewed a number of Italian immigrants as dangerous aliens, those secretly working in the OSS willingly put their lives on the line carrying out infiltration and raids behind enemy lines in Italy. Their efforts helped the Allied cause immensely. This is a timely and fascinating read which will enhance the value of immigrants in general, and, Italian Americans, in particular.“ (Luciano Iorizzo, Professor Emeritus of History, State University of New York at Oswego, USA)

• Nassau Community College, Massapequa Park, USA

  Salvatore J. LaGumina

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.

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