The Battle for Rome

As the German 2nd Parachute Division advanced on Rome, several Italian formations, including the elite 21st “Grenadiers of Sardinia” Division, set up blocking positions and attempted to halt it. Slowly but inexorably the paratroopers pushed closer and closer to Rome. …

1942-09-10

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As the German 2nd Parachute Division advanced on Rome, several Italian formations, including the elite 21st “Grenadiers of Sardinia” Division, set up blocking positions and attempted to halt it. Slowly but inexorably the paratroopers pushed closer and closer to Rome. By September 10th the fighting had reached the suburbs outside the city walls, and General Carboni reinforced his embattled Grenadiers as best he could. However, ammunition was running low, and casualties were mounting at an alarming rate. As the defenders began to crumble under the relentless pressure, the Italian leadership agreed to cease all resistance in order to prevent the Germans from bombing the city.

Rome, Italy

Operation Achse, originally called Operation Alaric, was the codename for the German operation to forcibly disarm the Italian armed forces after Italy's armistice with the Allies on 3 September 1943. Several German divisions had entered Italy after the fall of Benito Mussolini in July 1943, while Italy was officially still an ally of Germany, despite the protests of the new Italian government under Pietro Badoglio. The armistice was made public on 8 September. German forces moved rapidly to take over the Italian zones of occupation in the Balkans and southern France, and to disarm Italian forces in Italy.

Wikipedia: Operation Achse

Italian

German