On the Greek island of Cephallonia, General Antonio Gandin, commander of the 12,000-strong Italian "Acqui" Division, decided to resist the German attempt to forcibly disarm his force. The battle raged from 13 to 22 September, when the Italians were forced to surrender after suffering some 1,300 casualties. The ensuing massacre of several thousand Italian prisoners of war by the Germans stands as one of the worst single war crimes committed by the "Wehrmacht".