One such instance was when 16 Italians were killed in the village of Rionero Sannitico, because an old Italian farmer wounded a German soldier trying to steal a chicken.

On October 13, the new Italian government declared war on Germany. Italy, at this point, had little to offer militarily, but what Italy lacked in military armament, she made up with in hatred for the Germans and the Fascist/Nazi ideology. It would still be a difficult battle, Germany had 22 divisions and Mussolini had 6 RSI divisions that liberated Italy and the partisans would be up against.

Committees for national liberation sprang up in the North to fight both the Germans and the new Salo Republic. In Southern Italy, it was less organized but just as effective. Bands of Partisans sprang up and commenced attacking German units. Naples was especially active in Partisan uprisings. Within a few days of forming, thousands of insurgents volunteered. Together with civil rioting, and the approaching Allies, the Germans were forced to abandon Naples on October 1, 1943. There was a heavy price to pay for this victory. The Germans systematically looted the city and placed timed bombs throughout public areas.

Partisans raiding a Fascist's home

In December of 1943, the liberated Italian army was fighting alongside their new allies against the Germans. Monte Lungo, Monte Cassino and the liberation of Rome was some of the many battles in which the Italians participated. Italian partisans also managed to sidetrack over 200,000 Germans due to their resistance. December 20, 1943, a partisan exploit dismembered a train carrying ammunition to Monte Cassino, killing 500 German troops. Up to 2,200 partisan actions were reported by the end of 1943. In the beginning of 1944, the 185th Nembo Autonomous Parachute Unit was employed on the Gustav line front with heavy fighting against seasoned German Units. Some of the heavier engagements were Mainarde, Monte Marrone and Monte San Michele. The Germans gradually withdrew from the front, moving first on the Frieda Line and then the Mathild Line at Filottrano, in the Marches. On 7 July 44, the Nembo attack was concentrated with the 183rd and 184th Guastatori Battalion. Filonttrano was conquered with heavy losses (300 Italian paratroopers killed or wounded).

Italian soldiers near Monte Lungo

On March 23, 1944, partisans in Rome attack an SS police detachment, killing 32 Germans. Hitler was infuriated and ordered 10 Romans dead for every German killed. In response, 335 Jews, captured partisans and other citizens were killed. This action only caused the partisans to grow more organized. Six major parties were formed to fight the Germans and the Salo Republic: Communists, Socialists, Labor Democrats, Christian Democrats, Liberals and the Action Party. Since Italy was not able to offer any kind of elections, Badoglio's new government gave each party an equal voice.

By May of 1944, a retrained and reequipped Italian army consisting of 100,000 men were fighting the Germans with the Allies. On June 4, 1944, The Allies, along with 5,000 Italian troops, were able to take Rome. The Partisans then fired Badoglio's government and forced King Emmanuelle out of the throne. The new Primie Minister elect was Ivanoe Bonomi and the crown went to King Emmanuelle's son. On June 22, 1944 the Italian destroyer Greciale carried British Frogmen, along with Italy's Commander Luigi Durand de la Penne (the Italian frogman who severely disabled the HMS Valiant) to La Spezia, where the Germans manned the naval installation. They entered the harbor and sank the unservicable cruisers Gorizia and Bolzano . The Germans had planned to use these ships as blockades of the harbor entrance

Commander Luigi Durand de la Penne

Mixed results  were achieved with the Allied Italian Air Force. In some instances they would not intercept RSI aircraft during Allied bombing sorties. The main reason was that the RSI Air Force was attempting to prevent the bombing of Italian cities and, although unspoken, most Allied Italian fighter pilots wanted these cities protected as well.

The Folgore Combat Group were deployed at the beginning of 1945 at the front between Senio and Santerno valleys. The Germans prepared a strong defense to bar the entrance and employed their Fallschirmjager of General Ramcke.

This battle was fought at Grizzano on 19 Apr 45 and after a day of heavy fighting, the Germans were forced the leave their positions and withdrew. The day after, 255 Italian paratroopers of F Squadron and Nembo Regt flew on a American Douglas C-47 to take part in the "Herring 1" Operation to bring confusion to the German rear area. They were very successful in assault fighting, sabotages, destruction of vehicles, depots and military installations.

Partisan actions in the North was more Radical than any other place in Italy. The Communists, who were very organized, formed Garibaldi Units. These units, which included special teams such as the Gruppo d'Azione Popolare (gappisti) carried out direct attacks against the Germans and Fascists. One of their favorite tactics was to wire explosives on a road used by Axis trucks. The Communists also formed antiscorch squads preventing Germans from sabotaging power plants, factories, bridges and dams.

Guerrilla bands raided depots for weapons and used air dropped Allied ammunitions to blow up trains, mine roads and ambush German and RSI (Republica Sociale Italiana) troops. In other areas, partisans split up into bands and adopted hit and run tactics, blocking mountain passes and ambushing patrols.

In Bologna, Turin, Venice, Geno and Milan, underground leaders commenced full scale insurrections expelling the Germans hours and even days before Allies were able to arrive.

In Turin, citizens drove a truck into a prison and liberated many political and other prisoners. Communists barricaded themselves in factories, throwing Molotov cocktails at passing German convoys. Antiscorch squads prevented Germans from sabotaging their factories. In Florence, street fighting lasted a week, until the British 8th Army arrived. Partisan casualties amounted to 300 killed. In Genoa, 3,100 poorly armed partisans accepted the surrender of 6,000 Germans.

Italian Partisans

In Venice, partisans rounded up 140, 293 prisoners for the Allies.

Partisan membership grew from some 20,000 in May of 1944 to 200,000 by April of 1945. By April 21, 1945, the partisans attacked in an organized sweep, and took control of all towns and cities not yet reached by the Allies. Over 35,000 Partisans died by the time Italy was liberated in the spring of 1945. The war ends in Italy on May 2, 1945.

Italian Partisans receiving OSS briefing

Source: Italy at War, World War II; Time Life books.1982, I Paracadutisti Italiani 1937/45; Giuseppe Lundari, Pietro Compagni. Editrice Militare Italiano-Serie "De Bello"