German occupation of Rome

German occupation of Rome
Part of the Italian campaign (World War II)
10 September 1943: Italian soldiers prepare to clash with Germans near Porta San Paolo.
Date 8–10 September 1943 Location Rome Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany	Italy
Commanders and leaders
Albert Kesselring Kurt Student	Mario Roatta Giacomo Carboni
Strength
25,000 soldiers and 135 armored vehicles[1]	88,000 soldiers and 381 armored vehicles[1]
Casualties and losses
109 dead and 510 wounded[2]	More than 1,000 dead, including 659 military personnel, 121 civilians (51 women) and about 250 unidentified people[3]

The expression Failed defense of Rome (also conceptually referred to as the German occupation of Rome) refers to the events that took place in the Italian capital and the surrounding area, beginning on 8 September 1943, and in the days immediately following the Armistice of Cassibile and the immediate military reaction of the German Wehrmacht forces deployed to the south and north of the city, in accordance with the operational directives established by Adolf Hitler in the event of Italian defection (Operation Achse).^[4][5]

Due to the absence of an organic plan for the defense of the city and a coordinated conduct of military resistance to the German occupation, as well as the simultaneous flight of Victor Emmanuel III along with the court, the head of the government and the military leadership, the city was quickly conquered by Nazi Germany's troops, which were vainly and disorganizedly opposed by the troops of the Royal Army and civilians, lacking any coherent orders, leaving about 1,000 dead on the battlefield.

From many quarters the rapid collapse of the Italian forces was blamed on the military and political leadership, who were accused of willfully failing to arrange what was necessary for the city to be adequately defended.^[6]