I found a question on a WW forum on why the Italian army was so weak..
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 5&t=180734
The best reason to be found is because of Italy's economy
also:
Tough.. this guy is completely rightIn fact, it was arduous to advance quickly in the African desert or in the Russian snow walking by foots without trucks, moreover when the enemy (and the ally) had more lorries and tanks...
It was arduous to fight with few and low "tankettes" against the better armoured enemy tanks...
It was arduous to win against the main industrial powers if Italy was an agricultural country...
It was arduous to win with a military leadership selected for the loyalty to Mussolini and not for the competence...
Anyway, with their poor equipment and with their bad leadership, the Italian soldiers made miracles during WWII and they fought with honour alongside an ally (the German) that they hated.
The real answer to why the Italian military was considered weak is that they lost! If you read the contemporary reports, I do not think the British considered them weak when in combat in North Africa. And the RAF cerainly did not think that the Italian Airforce was easy to fight.