Like all Italian military bases, the one in Bordeaux, France needed a telegraphic address. At the time, telegraphs (and teletype) were the primary means of communication. The name chosen was a simple one: B for Bordeaux and SOM as an abbreviation for “Sommergibile,” submarine in Italian. In the Italian military world, the letter B was called “Beta”, just like our “Bravo” in the NATO alphabet; the combination of the two created the name BETASOM. This name would enter the history books to signify a lesser known, but very important page of submarine warfare.
- Italian Participation to the Battle of the Atlantic
- Italian Submarines Assigned to BETASOM
- The integration of Betasom with the German Command Structure
- BETASOM: The Italian submarine base in Bordeaux, France
- Italian Officers Assigned to the High Command of BETASOM
- The Bombardments of Bordeaux
- The Bassin à Flot of Bordeaux
- The Port of Bordeaux
- Photographic Memories of the Italian Presence in Bordeaux
- Stories