As a slightly tongue in cheek aside:
Years ago I sat in the cockpit of the Fiat CR 42 that is now with the RAFM
The pilot defected to the U.K. from Belgium.
He said he didn't want to fight, hated the Belgian weather and the food more so. .
Finally, he couldn't stand his German " colleagues".
As a cynical German officer once asked me:
"What is the Italian war flag?"
"A white cross................... on a white background".
But that was years ago of course...