Figure 1.--This wire service photograph, shows youth that began fighting the Germans in Naples after the Italian surrender (Armistice). Naples was the largest port in southern Europe and the first objective of the Allies when they invaded Italy. This photograph was taken November 2, after the liberation of the port. The photograph was titkes, "They fought Germans in Naples". The caption read, "These youngsters whose ages range from 14 to 19 are seasoned warriors. They are Neopolitan lads who took up arms against the enemy, the Germans, when the latter, upon hearing of the Italian Armistice , stated to inflict punishment upon the Naples populace, such as the looting of shops and homes; the killing of civilians simply because they were Italians, and other similar NAZI attricities. The youngsters, anr=ti-Fascists, led by Antonio Tarsia, fought an effective guerilla warfare until the entry of the Allies."

Although Italy was an Axis partner, anti-Fascist resistance groups played an important role in the Italian campaign, especially in the fighting north of Rome (1944-45) We have not much compiled much informsation on the Itsalian Resistance. As best we can tell Mussolini and his Fasvists suceeded in supressing resistance to the rgime in the 1920s. Italy was a founding member of the Axis. And while there was no great enthusism for the war when Mussolini entered the War by declaring War on Britain and France and subsequently the Soviet Union and America. While there was no enthusism for the War, there was also no resistance to the War or the Fascist regime. This remained the case even after after terrible Italian losses in North Africa and the Soviet Union. And even after the Allied invasion of Sicily (July 1943), we do not note any major actions by the Resistance in Italy. Allied airmen shot down in Italy did not find the same Resistance network to get them home as was the case of The Low Courtries and France as well as Yugoslavia. This did not change until the Fascist Grand Council arrested Mussolini abd even more importantly the Italian surrender (Armistice) (September 1943). The Italian Army did not offer effective resistance to the Germans. Anti-Fascist groups began organizing armed bands. When the Allies announced that Italy was surrendering. Hitler expecting this, ordered the Wehrmact to seize control of Italy. Fied Marshal Kesserling set up a defensive line in the south. Hitler assigned Rommel to intern the Italian Army. They were given the option of joining a Fascist militia or being interned. Units that attempted to resist were analilated. The Italian Navy as required by the armistice left Italian ports for Malta to surrender to the Allies. The Luftwaffe succeeded in sinking a battle ship with a remotely controlled missle. The Germans transported the POWs (both Italiahs and Allied soldiers) to Germany. The NAZIs also began roundups of Italian Jews and the conscription of workers for war work in Germany. The Italian Left which had been effectively silenced by Mussolini began organizing to confront the NAZIs and their Italian Fascist allies. Some soldiers mamaged to evade capture and internment and organize resistance cells. In addition, German brutality towrd civilans also help motivate Italians civilians to form resistance units. The conscription of workers as in France also fueled the Resistance. The Italian resistance was largely organized along political lines. The Resistance at first was primarily involved with assisting Allied trops (1943-44). This changed after the liberarion of Rome (June 1944). The Italian resistance essentially began at this point. Young people who rose up formed the nucleus for the Resistance that would play an important role in the campaign against the Germans and Fascists in northern Italy. The Resistance organized larger units that actualy confronted the Germans and Fascists, although experiencing heavy losses. They also organized non-military resistance such as strike actions. The main goal of the Resistance was to drice the Germans out of Italy. The timing of final German surrender was more the result of insurections in northern cities (Genoa and Milan) more than impending Allied assaults. [Katz] It was Italian partisans that captured and hung Mussolini.

Sources

Katz, Robert. The Battle for Rome: The Germans, The Allies, the Partisans, and the Pope, September 1943-June 1944 (Simon & Schuster, 2003).

Created: 3:54 AM 7/31/2008
Last updated: 3:55 AM 7/31/2008