Italy Surrenders to the Allies
A September 8, 1943, war report from Allied Force Headquarters outlines Italy's unconditional surrender, known as a "volte-face," announced earlier that day by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.
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Italy Surrenders to the Allies
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A September 8, 1943, war report from Allied Force Headquarters outlines Italy's unconditional surrender, known as a "volte-face," announced earlier that day by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.
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In September, 1943, Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, while German forces quickly occupied north and central Italy. Aided by the Germans, Mussolini escaped from prison and established a puppet republic in northern Italy. Meanwhile, the new Italian government declared war on Germany, and Italy was recognized by the Allies as a cobelligerent. The Allied Italian campaign was a slow, grueling, and costly struggle. The fall of Rome in July, 1944 was followed by a stalemate. In April, 1945, partisans captured and summarily executed Mussolini. In May, 1945, the Germans surrendered.
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