Italian campaign (World War II)
The Italian campaign of World War II, also called the Liberation of Italy, was a military campaign in the Kingdom of Italy from 1943 to 1945. After achieving victory in the North African campaign, the British and American governments agreed to invade Italy before liberating France. In September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies, but the German forces in the country occupied the north of the country and set up a fascist government.
History
In July 1943, the Allied forces landed in Sicily. With the declining popularity of Benito Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy deposed and had him arrested. Then the Allied forces landed in mainland Italy in September and the government surrendered. The German forces occupied Italy and the Italian Social Republic was formed, starting a civil war.
In January 1944, the Battle of Monte Cassino started and it lasted a few months. The Allies won, they liberated Rome and pushed up the Italian mainland.
The Axis forces would build a Defence Line in the north in late 1944 that would be successful with preventing the Allies from reaching the rest of the country for months (thought there were major battles like the Allied victory at Rimini, and the Axis victory at Garfagnana).
In April 1945, the Allied forces began the last offensive into Italy, Mussolini was executed by an Italian partisan on the 28th of April. around the same time Mussolini was executed, Axis forces unsuccessfully fought US-Brazilian forces (and local partisans) at the Battle of Collecchio where the axis surrendered on the 29th. On the 1st of May, the New Zealanders met the Yugoslavs near Monfalcone, that same day the National Republican Army (the army of the RSI) surrendered. The next day, the other Axis forces surrendered and the war in Italy ended.
Italian Campaign (World War II) Media
Artillery being landed during the invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno, September 1943
The situation south of Rome showing German prepared defensive lines
Troops of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division examining a knocked out German Panzer IV tank on the road to Rome, 26 May 1944
US 13th Armored Regiment enters Rome, 4 June 1944
British infantry moving cautiously through the ruined streets of Impruneta, 3 August 1944
Brazilian troops arrive in the city of Massarosa, Italy, September 1944.
References
- ↑ Fascist Italy until Mussolini was deposed on July 25 1943.
- ↑ Nepalese Gurkas served within the British Indian Army.
- ↑ World War Two. Week 297 - Allied Victory in Berlin, Italy, and Burma! - WW2 - May 4, 1945 (2024-05-04). Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ↑ on May 1 1945, Yugoslav forces reached Istria. a place that was controlled by Italy before the campaign and where the western allies wanted to liberate. [3]
- ↑ World War Two. Week 297 - Allied Victory in Berlin, Italy, and Burma! - WW2 - May 4, 1945 (2024-05-04). Retrieved 2024-09-24.