Gen. Mola dies in a plane crash as Spain's civil war continues, with more than 10,000 Germans and from 50,000 to 75,000 Italians supporting Gen. Franco. He commands several hundred thousand insurgents against the Republican Army, which is supported by an International Brigade of Russians, Britons, other Europeans, and Americans. 1938 Italy enacts anti-Jewish legislation. Italy has withdrawn some troops following an Anglo-Italian pact signed April 16, but a force of 40,000 remains to support Generalissimo Francisco Franco. The Spanish Civil War has ended March 28 with the fall of Madrid to Francisco Franco.
British troops help oust Italian occupation forces.
More than 500 U.S. bombers raid Rome July 19. A German paratrooper rescues Mussolini from prison. The Americans take Naples October 1 as German forces seize Rome and other major Italian cities. The Germans have just withdrawn their patrols in the Anzio area to reinforce the Gustav Line, but Gen. J. P. Lucas, commanding the U.S. VI Corps, misses his chance to advance on Rome. He has his men dig foxholes for 2 days to consolidate their beachhead and the Germans rush in reinforcements, firing from the Alban Hills to pin down Allied troops.