One of the enduring myths about World War Two is that only the Allies liberated occupied Europe. Many countries had anti-fascist Resistance movements, and Italy's was one of the biggest and most politically radical, yet it remains relatively unknown outside of its own homeland.
Within Italy many plaques and streets commemorate the actions of the partisans -- a spontaneous movement from below that grew as Mussolini's dictatorship unravelled. Led by radical left forces, the Resistance trod an uneasy line between fighting their enemies at home and maintaining their alliances abroad. Essential for courses on World War Two and European history, Tom Behan uses unpublished archival material and interviews with surviving partisans to tell an inspiring story of liberation.
Italy in WWII...
Related Scanning WWII dates...
- 28 Oct 22: Fascist Mussolini takes control of Italy
- 11 Feb 29: Lateran Treaty signed between Mussolini and the Vatican
- 03 Oct 35: Italy invades Ethiopia
- 06 Nov 37: Italy signs the Anti-Comintern Pact
- 10 Jun 40: Italy declares war on Britain and France
- 21 Jun 40: Italy unsuccessfully invades southern France
- 27 Sep 40: Italy signs Tripartite Pact with Germany and Japan
- 09 Jul 43: Allies invade Sicily
- 25 Jul 43: Italy's king imprisons Mussolini, replaces him with Badoglio
- 08 Sep 43: Italy surrenders to Allies; Germans seize Rome and northern Italy
- 09 Sep 43: Italian forces in German-controlled areas made prisoners of war
- 04 Jun 44: Allies liberate Rome - one down, two to go
- 27 Apr 45: Mussolini captured by Anti-Fascist partisans and executed
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by Benito Mussolini - The Pope and Mussolini:
The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe - Avanti:
Mussolini and the Wars of Italy 1919-1945 - Hitler & Mussolini:
The Secret Meetings - Anzio:
Italy and the Battle for Rome - 1944 - The Italian Resistance:
Fascists, Guerrillas and the Allies