Page 39 - History of War - Issue 29-16

MUSSOLINI’S DOWNFALL

AOSTA COMO
MUSSOLINI’S CAPTURE
07 On 27 April 1945, while
MILAN attempting to ee Italy as German
VERONA forces crumble under the Allied
onslaught, Mussolini is captured by
the 52nd Garibaldi Brigade, near
VENICE the village of Dongo and the Swiss
border. A day later, he is executed.

RSI SET UP
03 Mussolini’s only
function from September
1943 is as the head of a
ANTI-PARTISAN puppet regime in northern
04 OPERATIONS Italy, effectively supported,
March 1944 sees an FLORENCE RIMINI organised and run by the
increase in the number and Germans. Based at Salò,
scale of operations against LEGHORN Mussolini has no power and
Italian partisans. Forces virtually no in uence left.
comprised of both German
and Italian fascist units strike
in a series of raids (known as
‘rastrellamentos’) in northern MUSSOLINI DEPOSED
Italy, with partisan casualties 01 The path to Italy’s eventual
often reaching the hundreds. surrender to the Allies lies open
following the ousting of Benito
Mussolini. Taken into captivity at
the Hotel Campo Imperatore, he is
forgotten in the scramble to leave
THE LIBERATION Rome in the face of the German
06 OF ROME advance upon the city and is
On 4 June 1944, just two days before rescued by German paratroopers.
the Normandy Landings on D-Day, PESCARA
the American Fifth Army liberates ROME
Rome. Controversy still remains L’AQUILA
over the American commander’s
determination to reach Rome rst,
which may have cost the Allies the
chance of bottling up AOK 10. ANZIO

CASSINO
FOGGIA
BREAKTHROUGH
05 AT CASSINO
After three previous assaults on the
area around Cassino fail, the Allies
area around Cassino fail, the Allies
nally break through the Gustav
nally break through the Gustav SALERNO
Line, with II Polish Corps to the
Line, with II Polish Corps to the
fore, in May 1944. Tantalisingly, it
fore, in May 1944. Tantalisingly, it
looks as if the entire German 10th
looks as if the entire German 10th TARANTO
Army (AOK 10) might be trapped,
Army (AOK 10) might be trapped,
but the opportunity is lost. THE ALLIES INVADE
but the opportunity is lost.
02 Just hours after the
surrender of Italian forces to the
Allies, landings begin at Salerno on
Allies, landings begin at Salerno on
9 September 1943. The strength
9 September 1943. The strength
of German resistance surprises the
of German resistance surprises the
Allies, who make slow progress and
Allies, who make slow progress and
THEATRE OF along the Gustav Line. A typically “THE PATH TO ITALY’S
are then stalled by defensive works
are then stalled by defensive works
along the Gustav Line. A typically
harsh Italian winter does not help.
harsh Italian winter does not help.
’
“
S
T
E P
H
Y
H T
T
O I
A
T
L
A
NIGHTMARES PALERMO TO THE ALLIES LIES OPEN
EVENTUAL SURRENDER
EVENTUAL SURRENDER
TO THE ALLIES LIES OPEN
LER
A
M
O
P
PALERMO
FOLLOWING THE OUSTING
ITALY WAS THE SETTING FOR SOME OF THE MOST FOLLOWING THE OUSTING
OF BENITO MUSSOLINI”
BITTER FIGHTING OF THE ENTIRE WAR, AS WELL AS THE OF BENITO MUSSOLINI”
POLITICAL INTRIGUES BEHIND THE FALL OF MUSSOLINI
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