Unconditional surrender: ITALY QUITS WAR! (9-8-43)

U.S. State Department (September 8, 1943)

The President’s Personal Representative in North Africa to the President

AFHQ North Africa, September 8, 1943

Personal and secret

My Dear Mr. President: In accordance with the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief I departed from Algiers on August 31 with General Walter B. Smith, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Harold Macmillan, British Minister Resident at Allied Force Headquarters, and General Zanussi, the second emissary sent to Lisbon by General Ambrosio, arriving at Cassibile airport, near Syracusa (this is a landing field which our forces carved out of an almond grove and is a splendid piece of work), and stopped at Fairfield Camp nearby. We arrived simultaneously with Brigadier General Strong, Assistant Chief of Staff G-2, who had gone to Palermo in advance to meet Giuseppe Castellano, who, accompanied by Signor Montanari (of the Italian Foreign Office acting as interpreter – his mother is an American), arrived from Rome that morning. Castellano, you will recall, was the first emissary sent by Marshal Pietro Badoglio to Lisbon. Castellano and Montanari were the emissaries at Lisbon with whom General Smith and Brigadier Strong conferred two weeks ago. In the party at Fairfield were also Brigadier Sugden (G-3 at Allied Force Headquarters), Commodore Dick, Chief of Staff of Admiral Cunningham, General Joseph Cannon and General Lemnitzer, both of whom are now with the 15th Army Group.

General Zanussi and General Castellano got together for a few minutes and then entered into a military conference with General Smith and the others above-mentioned, Macmillan and I staying in another tent with General Alexander who had come over from the headquarters of the 15th Army Group.

This meeting lasted until about 2 p.m. According to General Smith, General Castellano’s attitude had stiffened considerably since his meeting in Lisbon. Both General Smith and Brigadier Strong attributed this to the arrival in Italy of increased German forces which now amount to nineteen divisions. It was apparent that in the minds of the Italians the great question was not the character nor the harshness of our armistice terms (you will recall that the British Ambassador in Lisbon had communicated to General Zanussi informally the complete armistice terms), or even the question of unconditional surrender. The outstanding factor is that the Italians are not free agents at liberty to do as they please. It is a nice balance in their minds whether we or their German allies will work the most damage and destruction in Italy. They are literally between the hammer and the anvil.

The Italian representatives in this first conversation at Fairfield insisted that they could do but little and were not prepared to sign anything, long or short terms, unless we could guarantee an Allied landing north of Rome – even a little bit north of Rome. They asserted that if we only land south of Rome the Germans will take the city and everything north of it. In their minds the slaughter, pillage and destruction would be too awful to contemplate.

General Smith made no commitments but said there was a possibility of our landing – for example, a force of airborne troops north of the Eternal City. The Italians said that in such a case their forces would guarantee no opposition to the landings on the Rome airfields and would aid our forces in holding them.

There was lengthy discussion of the military situation, eventual German plans, the possibility of a German deal with Russia and also the question of the Italian fleet. Commodore Dick appeared confident that the Italians are prepared to yield on the fleet and come over. There was considerable question of an operation in Taranto which was subsequently developed and now contemplates the landing of the First British Airborne Division in cooperation with the fleet and with the promised cooperation of the Italian forces.

After the military meeting, Macmillan and I had a brief conversation with Generals Castellano and Zanussi. We impressed on them the urgency of stimulating their government to take immediate steps, reminding them that this is their last chance. The Allies, we pointed out, had not bombed the city of Rome as yet, but there was no reason to defer such action. We suggested that if the Italians declined now to accept and sign, three things were indicated:

(1) The King and the present Italian Government would be all through as far as the Allies are concerned.

(2) We would be obliged to incite disorder and anarchy throughout Italy, even though it might not appear that it would be in our interest to do so and from the military point of view such a state of affairs might present certain disadvantages.

(3) We would obviously be obliged to bomb relentlessly and on a large scale until all the major Italian cities, including Rome, would be reduced to ashes and piles of rubble.

The reaction of the Italians remained the same and, in a sense, it was like preaching to the converted. The fact remained that the Rome Government still appears more afraid of the immediate German peril than of the Allies. Generals Castellano and Zanussi both said that it is a question of inducing the cautious and frightened men at Rome who, as much as they yearned to be rid of the Germans, lack the bold initiative to act against them, especially as they are not entirely convinced that the Allies are strong enough to take immediately a major part of Italy, even with Italian help, and protect the country against the large German forces. The latter, in their fury against the Italians, they believe, would unquestionably destroy ruthlessly.

Generals Castellano and Zanussi were permitted to depart from Sicily about 5 p.m. August 31, returning to Rome by Italian plane via Palermo. It was understood between them and General Smith that if Allied Force Headquarters had no reply indicating Italian acceptance by midnight September 1, the Allies would find it necessary to bomb Rome heavily.

That evening we dined with General Alexander and after dinner General Smith, Brigadier [Major General] Richardson, Macmillan and I went with General Alexander to his trailer for a discussion. General Alexander, as he had done in our earlier conversation that day, emphasized the weakness of the Allied position and the danger that unless the Allies are actively aided by the Italians in landing in AVALANCHE and elsewhere, the operations might fail or at least gain a limited success at a very heavy cost of lives. It was obvious that in his mind, as well as that of Macmillan, a disaster at the present time would have a catastrophic effect in England even to the extent, they say, of causing the fall of the British Government and seriously compromising Britain’s determination to remain in the war. They talked much of the fatigue, both of the British people as well as of the soldiers, many of whom have been away from home over three years. General Alexander pointed out that the Germans now have at least nineteen divisions in Italy which, added to the sixteen Italian divisions, makes a total of thirty-five divisions. AVALANCHE contemplates an initial landing of three to five divisions and a buildup over two weeks of a maximum of eight divisions. He also emphasized that a landing on a hostile shore is the most dangerous of military operations. General Alexander, therefore, is positive that literally everything must be done to persuade the Italians to help our forces, both during the landing as well as afterwards. Without that aid he would have no assurance of success. There would be, in his opinion, a grave risk of disaster. He urged that nothing be neglected to persuade the Italians to cooperate and said that he would be quite willing to risk his reputation and, if necessary, to retire from the army should his Government disapprove his insistence on immediate signature by the Italians of the short armistice terms, and Allied acceptance of Italian military cooperation.

On September 1, a radio message was sent from Allied Force Headquarters to Rome, in accordance with the recommendation of Generals Smith and Alexander, that Allied airborne forces should land in the Rome area incident to AVALANCHE. This was done after Brigadier Strong, Commodore Dick and Brigadier Sugden returned to Algiers and reported to General Eisenhower, who considered their recommendations, as well as that of Admiral Cunningham, who has always vigorously supported the idea of an operation in the Rome area.

We therefore waited at the Fairfield Camp, which is pleasantly situated in an olive grove, making a side trip to Palermo (one hour by air) to inspect the Allied Military Government organization there. Incidentally, we found that the Allied Military Government has performed remarkably well and we greatly admired both the efficiency as well as the fine spirit of both the American and British officers who are engaged in that task.

After dinner September 1, we received a radio message from Rome saying that the emissaries would return on the morning of September 2. This was most encouraging and General Smith decided to go to the Termini airfield to meet their plane. On August 31, the Italian plane had landed at the Palermo airport by mistake and caused somewhat of a sensation. It had been expected at Termini, a more isolated airport which is a bit east of Palermo.

Early on September 2, General Smith met the Italians at Termini and accompanied them to Fairfield – General Castellano, Signor Montanari, Major Marchesi and the Italian pilot who, incidentally, knows the Rome airports well.

General Smith ascertained from the Italians that they were not yet authorized to sign either the short or the long armistice terms, but that they were instructed to discuss the matter of military cooperation with the Allies. They suggested that the signature be postponed until after the Allied landing on the mainland. This sounded bad and General Smith indicated great dissatisfaction. The Italians had brought with them considerable military data – maps showing the disposition of the German forces, etc.

It was decided at this point that General Alexander should make an impressive entrance in full dress uniform, approach the Italians, who were in a tent which had been assigned to them at Fairfield, and indicate that he was coldly furious that they had returned unprepared to sign, thus wasting our time. He went through with this performance very well, making thereafter a stern exit, and the Italians seemed impressed. General Alexander insisted also afterwards, in discussing the matter with us, that under no circumstances were the Italians to leave Fairfield unless and until they signed. General Smith missed no opportunity to impress on the Italians the terrible destruction and chaos which their country would suffer if they failed.

Shortly thereafter the Italians requested the transmission of a radio message to Rome in which they urgently recommended that immediate authorization be given them to sign and discuss afterwards the details of military cooperation with the Allies. This was done about noon.

It was decided also that, in the interval, it would be best to let the Italian representatives “stew in their own juice” and all conversation with them was avoided.

General Alexander, in a conversation with us, reviewed again the disproportionate situation of fighting thirty-five Axis divisions with an initial five or six divisions available in the first days of AVALANCHE, and those not even landed but faced with the perilous test of getting ashore under the fire of several first-class German divisions. He again and again said that our forces needed every possible aid we could induce by hook or crook the Italians to extend. He said he was ready to stake his military career in the effort to prevail upon the Italians to come over to our camp, employing any ruse or subterfuge to gain this end. Everyone agreed that the odds against the Allies without Italian aid are unreasonably great and were determined to prevail on the Italians to sign the short terms and then work out the details of military cooperation.

In the afternoon of September 2, we were greatly relieved to receive from the Commander-in-Chief a message saying that you and the Prime Minister were agreed that our dealings with the Italians should be governed by military considerations alone. We had all been disturbed over the thought that it might be believed that the stage was all set for a public Allied-Italian armistice ceremony, forgetting that the Italians are living in the cage with the tiger and are not free agents. Military necessity required that the negotiations be conducted with the Italians in the greatest secrecy.

During the afternoon, I participated in a conference attended by Generals Cannon, Timberlake, Lemnitzer and Taylor, who are engaged in the preliminary planning for the landing of the 82nd Airborne Division on the Rome airports. They all agreed that it is a hazardous undertaking which could only succeed if the four Italian divisions in the Rome area, or part of them, actively cooperate in resisting the German Panzer forces said to be six hours distant. They all thought the risk was worth taking, even if the divisions were lost.

No news was received from Rome late September 2 because the last message from Allied Force Headquarters despatched from Castellano to General Ambrosio was only transmitted at 9 p.m. due to atmospheric difficulties. In that message General Castellano informed General Ambrosio that it was urgently necessary that he be authorized to sign immediately and that Marshal Badoglio transmit to the British Minister in the Vatican a document confirming the authorization to accept the terms unconditionally and to sign the short armistice terms.

We received on the morning of September 3 an encouraging message from Rome saying that the matter was under consideration. At 4:30 p.m., a radio message was received from the Badoglio Government granting General Castellano the necessary authority and stating that the deposit of the document confirming the authorization had been made. The British later received advice that the document had been deposited with the British Minister in the Vatican.

In the meantime, General Eisenhower had arrived on a visit to Sicily in connection with the BAYTOWN operation and conferred with General Smith, several officers, Macmillan and myself. He approved General Smith’s signing the armistice terms as his representative as a strictly military arrangement which must be regarded as highly secret until announcement can be made a few hours before the AVALANCHE operation.

At 5:30 p.m. on September 3, at Fairfield Camp, the short armistice terms with Italy were signed in behalf of Field Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Head of the Italian Government, by Brigadier General Giuseppe Castellano, and in behalf of Lieutenant General [General] Dwight Eisenhower, Allied Commander-in-Chief, by Major General Walter B. Smith, Chief of Staff.

After congratulations and amenities, General Eisenhower informed General Castellano that the latter had acted in the best interests of his country. General Eisenhower stated that in the case of the Italian people, as had been the case of all other peoples determined to combat Nazi Germany, the Italians could count on the Allies for full cooperation to this end. General Eisenhower thereupon bade General Castellano goodbye and departed for North Africa.

Thus, precisely four years after Great Britain and France declared war on Germany, the duly constituted Italian authorities acknowledged Italy’s defeat, surrendered unconditionally to an American General acting as Chief of Staff to another American General, the Allied Commander-in-Chief. But the Italians went further and agreed to place the resources of their country in the fight on the side of the Allies against Germany. It is truly an historic milestone.

Incidentally, the signature occurred under an olive tree and I enclose a branch of the olive tree as a souvenir.

General Alexander arrived immediately thereafter and a discussion of Italian military cooperation with the Allies ensued between the Italians and Allied staff officers through the night.

Before the military conversations, several questions were asked by General Castellano and Montanari regarding the possibilities which would face the Italian Government in the event of a German spearhead movement to seize Rome. General Castellano talked of the Italian Government and King proceeding to Corsica or Sardinia or Sicily, but expressed a preference for Albania. Macmillan and I took no position but mentioned that possibly in such an event the Palermo region of Sicily might be considered should circumstances require, in which case the Allied forces might delimit a region where Italian sovereignty would be maintained. It was pointed out, however, that the Italian mainland would be available after the future Allied military operations, the details of which, of course, had not been disclosed to the Italians, had been successfully completed.

Immediately after the military surrender terms had been signed, General Smith, in accordance with your instructions, handed General Castellano the text of the full armistice terms with a covering letter which made it clear that these terms must be accepted. It is our thought that as soon as direct contact with the Italian Government can be established after landing, the complete armistice can be signed with appropriate ceremony on behalf of the United Nations and in the presence of their representatives.

At this point I want to speak a word of sincere praise for the superb manner in which General W. B. Smith has handled these negotiations under the intelligent supervision of General Eisenhower. It is an excellent example of what our military men are capable when put to the test.

General Castellano seemed perturbed over some of the conditions, but a detailed discussion of them was avoided.

Macmillan and I also discussed with General Smith the matter of setting up a program for the radio announcement by the King and Badoglio of the signing of an armistice. This would be made immediately prior to AVALANCHE. Macmillan made the point that the announcement should be prepared and registered on phonographic discs so that they could be given immediate and widespread publicity by radio stimulating the maximum aid for our military operations from the Italian people and armed forces. It was agreed to order General McClure to Fairfield immediately to work out the details of this program.

Among the miscellaneous items of information we gathered from the Italians was that Farinacci left Rome wearing a German uniform by the German Embassy plane, which took him to Germany. They also informed us that von Rahn, a German diplomat with the rank of Minister, arrived in Rome four days ago. We recalled his odorous reputation in French affairs. He was the agent who proceeded to Syria in 1941 and was one of the most effective German elements in France after the armistice. We believe that his arrival in Rome may portend the imminence of a German political spearhead involving an effort to capture the King and the Badoglio Government, looking to the establishment of a Farinacci Quisling régime. The Italians stated that Farinacci has absolutely no popular support.

The Italians told us also that over 600,000 additional persons, refugees from the northern bombed cities in Italy, especially Turin and Milan, are now in Rome, because they believe that Rome will be protected from Allied bombing. This is one of the weak points of the Italian position and explains the Italian reaction to our suggestion that it would probably be necessary to bomb the city if prompt and favorable action were not immediately undertaken. It would appear that not much would be necessary to create complete demoralization of a surplus population of hundreds of thousands who have literally no other place to go.

General Castellano informed me in strictest secrecy that Mussolini is now in Maddalena (a small island off the northeast corner of Sardinia). Ciano has departed from Rome but Castellano does not know his whereabouts. Castellano also indicated that during the course of Mussolini’s last meeting with Hitler at Verona, Hitler promised numerous German divisions from the Russian front but said they could not arrive in Italy before October when the mud in Russia would reduce operations in that area.

All of the Italians said that food conditions in Italy are unsatisfactory, largely due to the prevailing lack of transportation. There are important supplies of food in the country, resulting particularly from the excellent cereal crop, but inadequate distribution reduces the supply in urban centers. There is a flourishing black market.

You may have heard the story of General Patton at Licata. The Podestà at that place pointed out to General Patton the ruins of a former Greek temple, saying that it had been destroyed in the last war. General Patton expressed surprise and said that he had not realized that Licata had been shelled in the 1914-18 war. The Podestà explained that he was not referring to the 1914-18 war, but that by the last war he meant the second Punic War.

Faithfully yours,
ROBERT MURPHY

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AFHQ announcement
September 8, 1943, 1:00 p.m. ET

Some weeks ago, the Italian government made an approach to the British and American governments with a view to concluding an armistice. A meeting was arranged and took place in neutral territory.

It was at once explained to the representatives of the Italian government that they must surrender unconditionally. On this understanding representatives of the Allied Commander-in-Chief were empowered to communicate to them the military conditions which they would have to fulfill.

One clause in these military terms binds the Italian government to comply with the political, economic and financial conditions of the Allies which will be imposed later.

Further meetings were arranged and took place in Sicily. The armistice was signed at Allied advanced headquarters there on September 3, but it was agreed with the representatives of the Italian government that the armistice should come into force at a moment most favorable to the Allies and be simultaneously announced by both sides. That moment has now arrived.

The possibility of a German move to forestall publication of the armistice by the Italian government was discussed during the negotiations. To meet this eventuality, it was agreed that one of the senior Italian military representatives should not return to Rome.

He is now in Sicily.

Further, Marshal Badoglio arranged to send the text of his proclamation to Allied headquarters.

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Proclamation by Marshal Badoglio of the Italian surrender
September 8, 1943, 7:45 p.m. CET

Il Governo italiano, riconosciuta la impossibilità di continuare l’impari lotta contro la soverchiante potenza avversaria, nell’intento di risparmiare ulteriori e più gravi sciagure alla Nazione, ha chiesto un armistizio al Generale Eisenhower, Comandante in Capo delle Forze Alleate e Angloamericane. La richiesta è stata accolta. Conseguentemente ogni atto di ostilità contro le forze Angloamericane deve cessare da parte delle forze italiane in ogni luogo. Esse però reagiranno ad eventuali attacchi da qualsiasi altra provenienza.

The Italian Government, recognizing the impossibility of continuing the unequal struggle against the overwhelming power of the enemy, and with the object of avoiding further and more grievous harm to the nation, has requested an armistice from Gen. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the Anglo-American Allied Forces. This request has been granted. The Italian forces will, therefore, cease all acts of hostility against the Anglo-American forces wherever they may be met. They will, however, oppose attacks from any other quarter.

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The Pittsburgh Press (September 8, 1943)

ITALY QUITS WAR!
Unconditional surrender

Badoglio agrees to fight Hitler; Allies get fleet
By Richard D. McMillan, United Press staff writer

Bulletin

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Axis radio reports insisted today that the U.S. 7th Army was sailing northward across the Mediterranean against the continent. The Axis radio reports have persisted since Monday.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Italy has surrendered unconditionally and ordered its armed forces to resist the Nazis if they should try to interfere with the surrender.

The Italian collapse was announced today by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean, who said that he had granted Italy a military armistice on Sept. 3 and that it was effective “this instant” (12:30 p.m. today ET).

At that hour, Gen. Eisenhower went to a microphone of the United Nations radio station here and read his statement to the world.

Gen. Eisenhower said:

This is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces. The Italian government has surrendered its armed forces unconditionally. As Allied Commander-in-Chief, I have granted a military armistice, the terms of which have been approved by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics acting in the interests of the United Nations. The Italian government has bound itself to abide by these terms without reservation. The armistice was signed by my representative and the representative of Marshal Badoglio and becomes effective this instant. Hostilities between the armed forces of the United Nations and those of Italy terminate at once. All Italians who now act to help eject the German aggressor from Italian soil will have the assistance and support of the United Nations.

Thus, five days after the Allies invaded Italy proper, the nation was officially out of the war.

A special announcement issued from Allied headquarters explained the developments leading up to the capitulation of Italy as follows:

Some weeks ago, the Italian government made an approach to the British and American governments with a view to concluding an armistice. A meeting was arranged and took place in neutral territory.

It was at once explained to the representatives of the Italian government that they must surrender unconditionally. On this understanding representatives of the Allied Commander-in-Chief were empowered to communicate to them the military conditions which they would have to fulfill.

One clause in these military terms binds the Italian government to comply with the political, economic and financial conditions of the Allies which will be imposed later.

Further meetings were arranged and took place in Sicily. The armistice was signed at Allied advanced headquarters there on Sept. 3, but it was agreed with the representatives of the Italian government that the armistice should come into force at a moment most favorable to the Allies and be simultaneously announced by both sides. That moment has now arrived.

The possibility of a German move to forestall publication of the armistice by the Italian government was discussed during the negotiations. To meet this eventuality, it was agreed that one of the senior Italian military representatives should not return to Rome.

He is now in Sicily.

Further, Marshal Badoglio arranged to send the text of his proclamation to Allied headquarters.

Badoglio’s proclamation as the head of the Italian government recognized the impossibility of continuing “the unequal struggle against overwhelming power,” and said the armistice was requested to avoid “further and more grievous harm” to the country.

Under terms of the armistice, Badoglio pledged Italy to “oppose attacks from any other quarter,” which meant she would war against Germany if the Nazis attacked Italian soil.

Negotiated secretly without Hitler’s knowledge, according to official reports, the armistice represented the most severe blow the Germans had suffered and meant that the original Axis was no more.

The armistice was signed on the fourth anniversary of the declaration by Britain and France that a state of war with Germany existed.

The Italian government bound itself to comply with the political, economic and financial conditions which the Allies will impose later.

Italy fell out of the war just under three ways and three months after she entered it on June 10, 1940.

The armistice was signed on the day the British 8th Army launched the invasion of southern Italy, apparently explaining why slight resistance was encountered. The Allies, however, continued bombing the key centers of Italy, presumably directing their continuing offensive against the German elements in control of them.

The announcement of the Italian surrender was prepared in greatest secrecy, unlike any previous formal statement at Allied headquarters.

At noon, correspondents were told that a special press conference would be held at 5:15 p.m. local time (11:15 a.m. ET). At 5:30 p.m., the doors were closed. The censors and correspondents were alert and tense when Lt. Col. Joseph B. Philips said the tiny press work room would be sealed for 70 minutes, during which officers would collect the copy and take it to the censors, eliminating the usual mad scramble to file the first flash.

Thereafter, 25 correspondents typed madly at tiny tables while their colleagues, who had no immediate deadlines, clustered on the balcony overlooking the busy street.

An hour after Gen. Eisenhower made the announcement by radio, a special release was issued, saying that the Italian people were being informed by radio and leaflet of the armistice.

The leaflets said:

Italians! Backed by the might of the Allies, Italy now has the opportunity of taking vengeance on the German oppressor and of aiding in the expulsion of the enemy from Italian soil.

The Italians were exhorted to see that no single train carrying German material be permitted to pass and that dock workers allow no German ships to unload.

Sailors of the Italian Navy and mercantile marine were being notified that “the Germans have become your enemies.” But they were asked not to scuttle their ships, instead sailing them, if possible, to safe ports in North Africa, Malta, Black Sea ports or wherever they could be put into Allied hands.

The sailors were told to fly a black or blue pennant and identify themselves to Allied ships and planes, to burn dim navigation lights at night, and to follow all directions of the United Nations forces.

The Italian Navy consists of seven battleships, three aircraft carriers building, two heavy cruisers, nine light cruisers, 25 destroyers, and 60 submarines.

Besides completing the Allied control of the Mediterranean, the new acquisition of the Allies curtails German U-boat operations there.

With the use of Spezia, Pola, Taranto and Genoa naval bases, the Allies will be able to command and blockade the French coast, as well as the Adriatic including the Yugoslavian, Albanian and Greek coasts.

Italian shipping resources remaining in the Mediterranean are estimated at 300 vessels (totaling 1,500,000 tons). Italy had 2,000,000 tons of shipping in the Mediterranean when she entered the war.

An official announcement credited the Italians with still having possession of the Rex and Conte di Savoia, two luxury liners, despite a Washington announcement that one of the class was sunk off Bagnara last August.

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‘It’s Eisenhower’s story,’ White House comments

Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt kept silent today on the capitulation of Italy, feeling, the White House said, that “it is Gen. Eisenhower’s story – let him tell it.”

The President’s deference to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was made known by White House Secretary Stephen T. Early, who also revealed that Mr. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were not in conference when the official news came from North Africa. The President was in his office at the time and Mr. Churchill in the White House proper.

The President may however refer to the capitulation in his radio address tonight opening the third war loan drive.

Secretary of State Cordell Hull declined immediate comment at his regular noonday press conference.

Planned at Casablanca

The surrender represented the culmination of brilliant operations conceived, in consultation with their staffs, by Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill in conferences begun here in December 1941 and climaxed, so far as the Mediterranean theater was concerned, in the historic meeting at Casablanca early this year.

That Italian unconditional surrender was imminent was surmised here because of Mr. Churchill’s prolonged stay in this country after the conclusion of the Québec Conference last month.

It appeared probable that the President and the Prime Minister had laid down the general terms of Italian capitulation – terms consonant with the “unconditional surrender” formula announced at Casablanca – but had left Gen. Eisenhower with a relatively free hand to deal with Italian offers.

Almost the first speculation after the news arrived here was that other of Germany’s satellite states will follow Italy’s suit, possibly in the near future. The example of Italy’s defeat, for example, might encourage Finland to make a separate peace with Soviet Russia, some sources believed.

In any event, the Italian disaster is bound to be received with great joy in the various conquered countries of Europe.

At the War Department, the news, packed with portents as the most tremendous single break in the Axis war front to date, was received with official silence for the time being.

Military observers, however, were quick to recognize the thus-far-unparalleled opportunities now opened up for the Allied forces under Gen. Eisenhower.

Known to be inevitable

It appeared likely that Italian capitulation had long been known to be inevitable and that the British 8th Army’s assault upon the toe of Italy was designed to spur Italian leaders to “surrender with honor.” It had been pointed out that the Italians could hardly be expected to give up until the homeland had been invaded.

War Department observers believed that the Italian surrender will lead to rapid occupation of at least a substantial portion of the Italian peninsula.

The Germans, however, may be expected to oppose complete Anglo-American domination of Italy. There have been indications that they will undertake to hold a line somewhere in northern Italy, despite the collapse of their erstwhile allies.

Po Valley stand likely

The Germans may try to hold the Po River Valley and may attempt to establish a line in the Apennine Mountains across Italy in the region of Florence. European sources have recently reported the withdrawal of German forces into northern Italy.

In addition to giving the Allies a tremendous advantage in land and air fighting, the Italian surrender will remove the last potential threat – inherent in continued existence of the Italian fleet as a fighting force – to Allied domination of the Mediterranean. The fleet comprises about 190 vessels, of which, however, by no means are all fit for sea duty.

The surrender also appeared to advance the day of all-out continental operations against Germany itself. Gen. George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Adm. Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations, were in the White House when the news from North Africa arrived.

Hopkins hurries in

At about the same time, Harry Hopkins, the President’s right-hand man, hurried into the building. High-ranking British staff officers were also present, as was Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information.

Some sources believed the impending announcement of Italian collapse may have been the progress to which President Roosevelt alluded yesterday in referring to the prospects of a meeting between him, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Mr. Churchill. With Italy out of the way, it was pointed out, the hour when forces of all three nations will be pressing against Germany would appear to be closer.

The Italian collapse brought to the fore again the question of Benito Mussolini’s whereabouts and the question of his surrender, as a war criminal, to the United Nations. The United States, Great Britain, and Russia have warned neutral nations not to give sanctuary to Mussolini or other Axis leaders. Whether the terms of Italian surrender dealt with the fate of the erstwhile Fascist dictator was not known.

Has army in Balkans

Another question yet to be resolved, it would appear, is the destiny of Italian troops in the Balkans, where thousands of them had been on Axis policy duty, and of such Italian forces as may have been engaged against Russia. The Germans, it seemed likely, will attempt to disarm any Italian soldiers now willing to go on fighting now that their mother country has cried quits.

In Greece and Yugoslavia, guerilla patriots may be expected to rally against their enemies with renewed fury. Yugoslav Ambassador Konstantin Fotić said Italy’s surrender means that “the day of Yugoslavia’s liberation approaches.” The news, he said, will electrify into action 300,000 Yugoslav patriots who have been waiting for this moment.

To get bases

Possession of southern and central Italy will give the Allies bases for invasion of the Balkans and for intensification of the air war against Germany. The Allied bomber line, observers pointed out, will be much closer to German home industries and resources.

Recent authoritative estimates place the number of Italian divisions in the Balkans at from 22 to 30. Axis forces in Europe all told were estimated at around 300 German divisions, 70 Italian divisions and 80 divisions of various satellite countries. Thus, the defection of Italy will represent a loss of about 15% of Axis manpower.

Nazis hurled back

The collapse of Italian resistance comes at a time when German forces are being hurled back over a long front from Smolensk to the Sea of Azov, and Allied offensive action throughout the Pacific and Far East is mounting. The psychological effect on the Nazi will to resist may well be profound.

Meanwhile, President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill were believed to be awaiting word from Stalin as to whether, in the light of new events, he will be able to meet with them.


Buenos Aires, Argentina –
Blaring sirens of the newspaper La Prensa and La Nación, which hadn’t been blown since Pearl Harbor, announced the fall of Italy today.

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Satellite empire may collapse

London, England (UP) –
Spokesmen for the European governments-in-exile said today that Italy’s unconditional surrender would probably lead to a speedy collapse of Adolf Hitler’s entire satellite empire.

Hungary and Bulgaria were expected to seek peace immediately.

One exiled spokesman said:

With Italy’s eastern coast in Allied hands, Germany cannot expect to hold the Balkans.

Other observers described the Italian capitulation as:

…a tremendous blow to the whole united European Axis structure, like a great building rocked and tumbled by an earthquake.

Greek and Yugoslav officials said they expected an immediate surge of anti-German activity by nearly 300,000 guerillas in their countries. They pointed out that guerilla leaders recently conferred with Allied Middle Eastern staff members, presumably in anticipation of just such a development.

Bulgaria was expected to sue for peace and withdraw her divisions from Greece and Yugoslavia unless the Germans were able to take over total control of the country.

King Peter of Yugoslavia said Italy’s surrender means:

We now can see the day of liberation nearing… We hope soon to be fighting alongside our British and American brothers.

He said the Yugoslav government-in-exile would soon move to Cairo.

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‘Let Us Go on Dreaming’

London, England (UP) –
One hour and a half after London received the word of Italy’s capitulation, the Berlin radio was feeding its listening public a musical program entitled, “Let Us Go on Dreaming.”

Up to that time, neither Berlin nor Rome radio had broadcast the disheartening news.

Late today, the Rome radio broadcast the statement by Marshal Pietro Badoglio on the Italian armistice.

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Mackenzie King: First of three goals reached

Canadian Premier hails surrender of Italy

Ottawa, Canada (UP) –
Canadian Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King said today that with the capitulation of Italy, “the Allies have attained the first of their three main objectives.”

The first chief of an Allied government to comment on the surrender, Mr. Mackenzie King said in a radio address that the capitulation “was achieved according to plan.”

He said:

The Allied nations have attained the first of their three main objectives – the unconditional surrender, in turn, of each of the Axis powers.

Allied strategy, for more than a year past, has aimed at driving Italy out of the war and thus clearing the way for a concentrated attack upon Nazi Germany by the Allied forces in Europe. It was hoped and expected that the defeat of Italy might be accomplished by this autumn. That end has now been achieved, and achieved according to plan. Its accomplishment more immediately is the outcome of the campaigns in Africa and in Sicily and of the bombardment and invasion of the Italian mainland. It is the result of the combined efforts of the United Nations in all theaters of war.

We in Canada may rejoice today that, from the very beginning of the present world conflict, our country took up arms against the forces of aggression and tyranny, and we may rejoice that throughout four years of war, the Canadian people have put forth their utmost effort in the cause of the world’s freedom.

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Times Square bond rally cheers armistice news

Ticker tape cascades from New York skyscrapers as office workers swarm into streets

New York (UP) –
Ticker tape, torn telephone books and newspapers rained from the skyscrapers of Manhattan today as word of the Italian armistice brought a spontaneous demonstration of joy and hope from thousands who swarmed into the streets.

Several thousands attending a noonday bond sales rally in Times Square broke into a roar of cheering when the news was announced from the platform by Newbold Morris, president of the City Council. Their numbers were augmented by many more thousands who tumbled out of offices and stores.

On historic spot

Morris held up his hand and said over the loudspeaker system:

Here in Times Square, this historic spot, I have an announcement to make and if you want to cheer, let it go. It has just been announced that Italy has unconditionally surrendered–

His words were drowned in a roar of cheers that lasted three or four minutes.

Movie star Carole Landis, who was one of those on the platform, shouted at the top of her lungs.

Foul forces dead

When comparative quiet was restored, Morris shouted:

The foul forces of Fascism are dead and the people of Italy will live again. This means the soldiers of America will not have to shoot again at the soldiers of Italy.

In “Little Italy,” the city’s chief Italian section, there were wild shouts and spontaneous dancing. Some snatched corn and tomatoes from pushcarts and tossed them in the air.

One Italian mother, Mrs. Margaret Baroni, who was buying from a pushcart, let a bunch of grapes fall from her fingers and cried:

God bless us all.

Son may come home

She shouted to all who could hear that her son Dominick, 23, who is with the Americans in the South Pacific, would “maybe be home soon now.”

At City Hall, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia called in reporters and said:

I just can’t help feeling now that the jig is up soon in Europe.

La Guardia expressed confidence that the American people would help in the reconstruction of Europe, and added the hope that no one would stop work today or slacken the war effort on the strength of the good news.

Cheering broke out on the floor of the stock exchange and torn newspapers snowed down from the galleries.

Soldier’s lament

A soldier in Times Square with his girl was overheard to say:

I’ll miss the big show if they don’t hurry me over.

A civilian shouted:

Out of the trenches by Christmas!

A taxicab driver observed:

This will break the German morale.

Bets were being made that the war would be over by the end of the year.


‘Glorious,’ Hoover says of surrender

New York (UP) –
The Italian surrender “is a glorious turning point in the war,” former President Herbert Hoover said today.

In a statement, Mr. Hoover said:

The Italian victory is a glorious turning point in the war. We can take pride in the share of our splendid forces with the British in bringing it about. We have now quickly to show the Italian people that this is their redemption from oppression; that it is the resurrection, not the destruction, of their national life. Great statesmanship will now hasten the surrender of others.


Providence, Rhode Island –
Wendell Willkie said today that the unconditional surrender of Italy was “not unexpected but a magnificent result.”

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La Stampa (September 9, 1943)

LA GUERRA E’ FINITA
Badoglio annuncia alla Nazione che la richiesta di un armistizio è stata accolta dal gen. Eisenhower

Le forze italiane cessano ovunque da ogni ostilità contro gli anglo-sassoni ma sapranno reagire contro eventuali attacchi da qualsiasi altra provenienza

Resa all’ineluttabile

Soffochiamo il flotto di amarezza che ci sale dal cuore. Scriviamo. Ancora ci risuona nell’orecchio la voce del grande soldate, che poco fa annunciava al popolo il compiersi di un destino ormai ineluttabile. Era la voce di un uomo che ha servito la Patria con le armi in eventi fortunosi e memorabili. Con Diaz, che lo aveva chiamato al suo fianco dopo Caporetto, aveva preparato all’Italia la grande ora solare, l’ebrezza infervorante di Vittorio Veneto. Succeduto a un condottiero improvvisato nella direzione dell’impresa etiopica, aveva prontamente riparati gli errori del suo predecessore, e portate le armi italiane vittoriose ad Addis Abeba. Immaginiamo il sentimento del Maresciallo, nell’atto in cuoi adempiva al duro compito riservatogli dal destino, il più duro che il destino potesse riservare ad un italiano e ad un soldato: quello di annunciare le fine di una guerra, in cui la sorte è stata avversa all’Italia. Energica e ferma, la voce di Badoglio ci è apparsa in qualche instante velarsi di tristezza. Non si può chiedere a nessuno, neppure ad un animo fortissimo, l’impassibilità di fronte alle sventure della Patria.

Ma la realtà va guardata in faccia, anche se è una faccia ingrata. E’ inutile illudersi. Le guerre si combattono fino a che c’è speranza di vittoria, o almeno di una pace meno dura. Quando anche questa speranza è perduta, insistere sarebbe follia. Se avesse insistito, Badoglio si sarebbe reso responsabile di un delitto. Altre mamme, altre spose italiane avrebbero pianto la morte dei loro figli e dei loro mariti. Altre citta avrebbero conosciuto la furia devastatrice dei bombardamenti nemici. Per quale scopo, con quale utilità? E’ assurdo supporre che il nemico, la cui strapotenza di mezzi appariva di minuto in minuto più schiacciante, ci avrebbe fatto tra quindici giorni condizioni migliori di quelle che ci farà oggi. Nessun uomo di coscienza e di umanità si sarebbe mai preso la responsabilità di chiedere al popolo nuovi sacrifici solo per aggravarne la situazione.

La decisione dell’Italia è deli resto ineccepibile sotto ogni punto di vista. Il pipilo italiano non abbandona le armi, è rimasto senz’armi. Si ritira da una lotta che non è più in condizione di combattere. Nessuno poteva pretendere che esso si offrisse inerme alla offesa nemica, passivo bersaglio si suoi potenti mezzi distruttivi. Una tale ostinazione, un tale gratuito suicidio non sarebbero stati di utilità per alcuno. Fino a che ha avuto la possibilità di resistere, l’Italia l’ha fatto, e l’ha fatto con onore. Non si può negare la superba dimostrazione di valore che il nostro soldato ha offerta sui campi di battaglia, in condizione di perpetua inferiorità di mezzi. Questo ci consente di proclamare che l’Italia esce dalla guerra con onore. Tutto può essere perduto: ma l’onore è salvo.

Non sappiamo che cosa ci riserverà l’immediato avvenire. Ogni illusione sarebbe fuori luogo. La guerra è stata dura, la pace sarà forse durissima. Ma dobbiamo fortificare in noi la decisione di affrontare, in concordia di spiriti, le difficoltà della ricostruzione. Abbiamo commesso dei grandi errori, ma abbiamo in noi la possibilità e la capacita di superarli. In questo tristissimo momento il nostro pensiero va ai gloriosi Caduti e ai combattenti tutti, che hanno tenuto alto, sui campi di battaglia, il prestigio delle armi italiane. Va alle popolazioni delle citta straziate dai bombardamenti nemici. Va alle genti intrepide della Sicilia e della Calabria che hanno conosciuto l’amarezza dell’invasione straniera. Va al nostro Sovrano, che, come già il 25 luglio, dimostra oggi di non essere sordo alle voci delle aspirazioni popolari, e accetta ancora una volta le responsabilità delle supreme decisioni. La guerra è costata molto all’Italia la sangue, lutti, rovine. Ma la storia ammaestra che anche le avventure possono essere lievito di nuova vita e di feconda ripresa. Il popolo italiano non può morire. Il popolo italiano non morrà.

Un appello a tutti gli italiani

In quest’ora di profonda commozione l’animo nostro è con i gloriosi Caduti, con quelli che torneranno, con le Madri che non soffriranno più.

L’armistizio è il primo passo necessario per la rinascita della Patria dilaniata: il Popolo italiano, a fianco dei suoi fratelli in armi, la difenderà contro ogni offesa, deciso a tutelare sino all’ultimo i suoi ideali di libertà.

E un altro dovere oggi si impone; nella serietà della coscienza trovare la forza e la dignità di rimanere al proprio posto di lavoro; guardare con fede a quell’avventure che su fante sventure dovrà per virtù nostra essere riconquistato.

PARTITO LIBERALE ITALIANO
PARTITO D’AZIONE DEMOCRAZIA CRISTIANA
PARTITO SOCIALISTA DI UNITA’ PROLETARIA
PARTITO COMUNISTA ITALIANO

La notizia alla Casa Bianca

Roosevelt e Churchill hanno avuto un nuovo colloquio – Il Presidente parla di un incontro con Stalin

Washington, 8 settembre –
La notizia dell’armistizio con l’Italia è stata immediatamente comunicata a Roosevelt e Churchill. Era questa la notizia per la quale Churchill si è trattenuto a Washington cosi a lungo. Presumibilmente egli si tratterrà a Washington ulteriormente allo scopo di discutere col Presidente Roosevelt sulla situazione che s’è venuta determinando.

Finora né alla Casa Bianca né al ministero della guerra l’avvenimento è stato ufficialmente commentato.

La frequenza dei colloqui fra Roosevelt e Churchill in queste ultime ore aveva resa febbrile a Washington l’aspettativa per nuovi grandi avvenimenti. I due capi di stato si sono incontrati stamane dopo un lungo colloquio avuto fra di loro ieri sera.

Il segretario particolare di Roosevelt ha dichiarato che Churchill ed il Presidente americano hanno avuto oggi numerosi incontri ed hanno inoltre conferito coi membri del loro seguito.

Si considera adesso come possibile che Churchill e Roosevelt aspettino ora ulteriori notizie sulla possibilità di una conferenza con la Russia che è stata associata con le potenze occidentali nelle discussioni sulla situazione dell’Italia. Si ritiene che la creazione di una commissione mediterranea nella quale l’Unione Sovietica sarà rappresentata apre, una nuova possibilità di approcci ed ha tanto avvicinato la possibilità di una conferenza a tre da permettere a Roosevelt di fare, ieri, delle predizioni ottimistiche in questo senso.

Questa commissione è considerata a Londra a Washington come prototipo per simili organizzazioni che possono fornire i necessari strumenti per una collaborazione anglo-sovietica-americana in altre parti d’Europa.

Roosevelt ha dichiarato che sono stati realizzati progressi, dopo la conferenza di Québec, particolarmente in questi ultimi giorni in vista di un incontro fra lui Stalin e Churchill, Roosevelt ha aggiunto che si possono attendere nuovi progressi al riguardo nelle prossime 24 o 48 ore.

Da Algeri si annuncia che, 48 ore dopo lo sbarco dell’VIII Armata in Calabria, il generale sir Harold Alexander è arrivato sulla penisola italiana a bordo di un aereo pilotato dal vice-maresciallo dell’Aria sir Arthur Cunningham, comandante l’aviazione tattica nel Mediterraneo. Il generale Alexander si è intrattenuto col generale Montgomery.

Il generale Giraud ha ispezionato alcuni reparti armati nei pressi di Casablanca ed ha pronunziato un discorso nel quale ha detto fra l’altro che desiderava che essi si battano alla perfezione e sfruttino nel miglior modo possibile il materiale bellico fornito dagli Stati Uniti.

A Casablanca Giraud ha ispezionato quindi la corazzata Jean Bart.

Secondo una corrispondenza si giornale France il governo avrebbe proposto si principali governi alleati di riconoscere la Francia come una delle nazioni unite. Il comitato francese, aggiunge il giornale, nel caso non dubbio che la proposta venisse accettata sarebbe trattato in seno si consessi internazionali su un piede di completa eguaglianza con gli altri governi.

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Völkischer Beobachter (September 9, 1943)

Zum zweitenmal dem Bundesgenossen in den Rücken gefallen –
Feiger Verrat der italienischen Regierung

Badoglio liefert Italien dem Feind bedingungslos aus – Gegenmaßnahmen getroffen

Seit Wochen vorbereitet

dnb. Berlin, 8. September –
Der amtliche britische Nachrichtendienst hat heute abend aus dem Hauptquartier des Generals Eisenhower bekanntgegeben, daß die italienische Regierung die bedingungslose Kapitulation der italienischen Streitkräfte angeboten habe. Eisenhower habe die Kapitulation angenommen und Italien einen militärischen Waffenstillstand gewährt, der von seinem Vertreter und einem Beauftragten Marschall Badoglios unterzeichnet wurde. Der Waffenstillstand sei mit der Unterzeichnung sofort in Kraft getreten.

Inzwischen hat auch Badoglio, nachdem der König und er selbst noch am 8. September jeden solchen Gedanken als Verleumdung zurückgewiesen hatten, in einer Bekanntgabe im römischen Rundfunk die Kapitulation bestätigt. Er gab zu, Eisenhower um Waffenstillstand ersucht zu haben. Tatsächlich fand die Unterzeichnung schon am 3. September statt. Die italienischen Streitkräfte mußten demgemäß – so erklärte er – jede feindselige Handlung gegen die englisch-amerikanischen Streitkräfte einstellen.

Seit dem verbrecherischen Anschlag auf den Duce am 25. Juli und dem mit den Engländern und Amerikanern vorbereiteten Putsch zur Beseitigung der bündnistreuen faschistischen Regierung war die deutsche Führung auf diesen offenen Verrat der derzeitigen italienischen Regierung vorbereitet, und sie hat daher alle erforderlichen militärischen Maßnahmen getroffen. Der verräterische Anschlag gegen die Verteidiger Europas wird am Ende genau so scheitern wie alle ähnlichen Unternehmungen.

Am 3. September bereits unterzeichnet

dnb. Stockholm, 8. September –
In einer Sondermeldung der Reuter-Agentur nach Abgabe der Erklärung General Eisenhowers wird gesagt, daß der Waffenstillstand am 3. September bereits unterzeichnet wurde, doch wurde vereinbart, daß er erst in einem Augenblick in Kraft treten würde, der für die Alliierten am günstigsten sei. Dieser Augenblick sei jetzt gekommen.

In einem Bericht über die Verhandlungen, die zum Waffenstillstand führten, erklärt Reuter weiter:

Vor einigen Wochen trat die italienische Regierung an die britische und die amerikanische Regierung mit der Absicht heran, einen Waffenstillstand abzuschließen. Ein Zusammentreffen wurde arrangiert und hat auf neutralem Gebiet stattgefunden.

Es wurde dem Vertreter der italienischen Regierung sofort verständlich gemacht, daß sie bedingungslos zu kapitulieren hätte. Mit diesem Einverständnis wurden die Vertreter des alliierten Oberkommandierenden bevollmächtigt, den Italienern die militärischen Bedingungen des Waffenstillstandes mitzuteilen.

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Der Anschlag auf Europa

Wien, 8. September –
Die Regierung Badoglio und auch der italienische König haben mit ihrem Verrat an dem bisherigen deutschen Bundesgenossen das Schimpflichste getan, was man überhaupt im menschlichen Leben kennt: Sie haben versucht, sich bei den Feinden Italiens dadurch beliebt zu machen, daß sie einen feigen und hinterhältigen Anschlag auf den Bestand Europas ausführten. Indem sie den Waffenstillstand am 3. September Unterzeichneten und versuchten, die deutsche Führung glauben zu machen, daß sie an der Seite Deutschlands weiterkämpfen würden, verfolgten sie die Absicht, den Engländern und Amerikanern eine Hintertür in die Festung Europa zu öffnen.

Damit hat eben dieser italienische König zum zweitenmal Verrat an Deutschland geübt. Allerdings hat er vielleicht nicht damit gerechnet, daß wir aus den Erfahrungen des ersten Weltkrieges gelernt haben würden und infolgedessen rechtzeitig Maßnahmen ergriffen haben, die sich in allerkürzester Zeit in einer Weise auswirken werden, wie sie vielleicht von den italienischen Verrätern nicht vorhergesehen worden sind.

Die ganzen letzten Monate über, nämlich seit dem 25. Juli, da der Mann gestürzt wurde, dem Italien seinen glänzenden Platz in Europa und in der Welt zu verdanken hat, nämlich der Duce Benito Mussolini, war es nicht immer möglich, die Zusammenhänge eines Dramas aufzuzeigen, das sich in Italien abgespielt hat und das mehr und mehr dem jetzigen Ende entgegenging. Damals hatte eine verräterische Clique italienischer Militärs, die den Krieg in der Heimat gegen die Männer der Bündnistreue dem Krieg an der Front vorgezogen hatten, den italienischen Regierungschef in eine Falle gelockt und ihn einfach verhaften und abführen lassen. Dabei hatten sie sich einen Augenblick im Leben dieses großen Mannes ausgesucht, da seine Widerstandskraft durch eine schwere innere Erkrankung gelähmt war.

Nachdem Mussolini gestürzt war, ging es mit Italien im Sturmschritt bergab. Nicht nur, daß die italienischen Truppen es teilweise ganz offen ablehnten, am Kampf gegen die englischen und amerikanischen Invasoren teilzunehmen, nicht nur, daß hiedurch zeitweise auch gewisse Rückwirkungen auf die in Italien befindlichen deutschen Truppen spürbar wurden, versuchten sie auch, mehr oder minder versteckt hinter dem Rücken des deutschen Bundesgenossen den Feinden direkten Vorschub zu leisten. Es war klar, daß solche Machenschaften nicht verborgen bleiben konnten, nachdem wir hatten beobachten müssen, daß sich im Schutze des faschistischen Aufbaues eine verhältnismäßig kleine Clique gewisser italienischer Persönlichkeiten augenscheinlich schon seit längerer Zeit mit den Feinden Europas in Verbindung gesetzt hatte.

Hieraus ergab sich für uns die selbstverständliche Verpflichtung, nunmehr den Schutz der Festung Europa in einer ganz anderen Weise zu organisieren und neu aufzubauen. Daß uns hierbei gewisse faschistische Kreise immer behilflich sein würden, weil sie am Glauben an die Festigkeit der Freundschaft zwischen Nationalsozialismus und Faschismus festhielten, ist zu erwarten gewesen. So gelang in der Zeit, da die Verräterclique ihr unsauberes Geschäft mit Engländern und Amerikanern betrieb, der Aufbau der neuen Verteidigungsfront im Süden der Festung Europa.

Selbstverständlich kann diese Verteidigung nicht etwa an den deutschen Grenzen erfolgen, sondern Europa wird weit vor den Grenzen Deutschlands verteidigt werden. Ebenso selbstverständlich ist, daß von den Gefolgsmännern Mussolinis gewisse faschistische Gruppen Seite an Seite mit den deutschen Soldaten gegen die Feinde Europas kämpfen werden, zu denen nunmehr der italienische König und die Regierung Badoglio hinübergewechselt sind.

Insofern haben die heute bekanntgegebenen Ereignisse auch etwas Positives, weil sie nunmehr ganz klare und eindeutige Verhältnisse schufen. Wir wußten seit dem Putsch gegen Mussolini, daß das Italien Badoglios und des Königs nicht mehr unseres Vertrauens würdig ist. Von da ab hat sich Deutschland in Europa auf sich selbst gestellt und alle Sicherungen getroffen, die notwendig waren, um die Festung Europa zu schützen.

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Well… the weakest “link” in the axis power quits. With the chain broken, the downfall of the axis is guaranteed.

In hindsight, If the chain was intact maybe, it would take the allies a bit longer but the downfall would come regardless.

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actually why did they take almost an entire week to announce the surrender?

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The “Italian treason” myth went on for a long time in Germany and still comes up now and then. There was an alternative to the not think but follow mindset.

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don’t worry, Steiner counteroffensive will bring italy back into Axis.

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Five points for style there.

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A very interesting choice. I wonder if uncle Adolf was involved with choosing that title.

Although really, it ought to be replaced with ‘lets keep deluding ourselves we can still win this’.

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