Evening star., 1943-09-10
Rome
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fire had been heard south of the
city at am. (midnight, Eastern
Wartime).
An air-raid alarm was sounded in
the city at midday, following an at
tack on the capital last night by un-
identified planes
The radio report also said the sur
render of italian arms and equip
ment to the Germans took place
without incident and that Genoa
and the Italian Riviera had been
taken over for protection"
Spezia also was reported to be in
German hands.
Marshal Rommel's northern divi-
sions forced a group of Italian de-
tachments to capitulate after short
battle most bitterly waged by our
troops" the German statement said.
The text of the German an
nouncement follows:
The treacherous government OF
Badoglio had concentrated strong
forces around Rome during the past
few weeks in preparation OF their
apostacy and had placed the town
itself in a state Of defense against
German troops outside Rome.
The reason for this action, it was
stated, was the danger of an enemy
landing west of Rome.
After the capitulation of Italy on
September 8, fighting between Ger
man and Italian troops developed
around Rome in the evening.
Reinforcements Brought Up.
THE German commander in chief
of the SOUTH Field Marshal Kessel-
ring, brought up reinforcements and
started an attack on Rome and pre-
sented an ultimatum to the COM
mander.
In Northern Italy, Field Mar
shall Rommel with divisions of his
army forced group of Italian de-
tachments to capitulate after a
short fight most bitterly waged by
our troops.
"Communicat ton has been effected
with the German army in the areas
of Naples and Salerno. German
armed forces will assume the pro-
lection of Vatican City.
Under this pressure the Italian
commander in Rome capitulated for
the territory in 3l-mile radius of
the city. The disarmament of Ital-
ian troops is in progress.
Railways and roads leading from
Carinthia and Tyrol to Northern
Italy are intact and in our hands.
The Ligurian coast with Genoa and
Spezia have been occupied. The
Etsch Valley and town in the area
of Bologna, Verona and Cremona
were mopped up. Triest was taken
after short fight.
More than 10000 Italians have
been disarmed in this area alone.
In Southern France the Italian
4th Army has surrendered their
weapons without interference to the
troops of Field Marshal Gen. von
Rundstedt.
The coast has been occupied by
us from Toulon to Mentone
Report Warships Taken Over.
I'm the Balkans the mass of the
Italian command authorities has
understandingly yielded to the de-
mands of the German commander
in chief, Field Marshal Won Weichs
Divisions of Italian troops east
in Tirana and of the 11th Italian
Army in Athens have already laid
down their arms for the most part.
italian warships and merchant
men in the Aegean Sea have been
taken over by the German Navy.
italian airfields and the most i'm
portant harbors of the Adriatic coast
have been occupied. Only very iso-
lated fighting is still in progress.
There are more and more cases
of Italian detachments joining the
German Army everywhere in order
to continue the fighting.
Thus a treason greater and more
cunning than any which can be
found cnly with difficulty in history
has reflected on the traitors them
selves.
The Italian armed forces exist no
longer. But what will continue to
exist for eternity will be the disdain
Of the world towards the traitors"