Hallo! My name is Federico Peyrani, and I live in Milan, Italy. I work at the Libreria Militare in Milan, a little bookstore dealing in Military history. In 1998 I had the luck to meet for my studies the members of Tiger Battalion 504, who fought against British troops in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. After some 20 years from my Graduation at the University, in History with a Thesis about the employ of 2nd Company of Tiger Battalion 504 in Sicily, I am trying to write down the whole Combat History of the unit. I intend to do my best in understanding the tactical situation of every combat the unit was involved, so I would like to know the "other side of the hill". I would be very glad to exchange my knowledge of the German side (I have many unit histories of the German divisions in Italy and North Africa). To let you know better, Tiger Battalion 504 is the former owner of Tiger 131, now in Royal Tank Museum Bovington. The Campaigns of 504 are: In March 22-29 at Mezzouna Maknassy (against US troops) In April it was moved in Medjez el Bab sector (I guess against 145 Regiment among others) In May it was split, with the core surrendering in the Cap Bone area and some tanks destroyed south of Bizerte by El Alia. In July-August 1943 2nd Companie was in Sicily (against US paratroops) in the Gela Area, then defending Gerbini airfields against many attacks from British and Canadian troops, and then retreating north along the east coast of Sicily (Belpasso, Nicolosi, Trecastagni). The Veterans told me they met some Chuchill tanks in mid August (just before being ferried to Italy on August 17th) and spoke about an operation Black Cock. After reconstitution, the unit come back in Italy and fought in Toscana from June to late August 1944 (against US troops). In early September 1944 it was transferred to the Gothic line, area south of Rimini, and there it remained opposing to the advance of British and Canadian units until April 1945, when the New Zealanders broke the frontline near Massa Lombarda. After loosing all the heavy material at the Po River, the unit surrendered in Italy on May 2nd, 1945. The book is a long time project, and it will take some years to be completed. I will ask here questions as long as they will emerge from the wealth of data I have gathered in those years. I really like "British" way of making history and appreciate particularly the After the Battle books. So, that's me! Regards Federico Peyrani PS: Please forgive my "Macaroni" way of writing and typos!
Ciao Federico, Good to have you on the forum I live in Umbria and have written several books on the war in Italy as well as having several websites, the latest of which deals with POW camp 82 at Laterina powcamp82laterina.weebly.com and a former one with the bombing by the Americans of a POW train at Allerona near Orvieto bombedpowtrain@weebly.com. However, I know very little about German tanks other than the fact that any German tank was held to be a Tiger by the locals here on the Trasimene Line. If you send me a private message I will give you my email address, A presto, Vitellino