Italian campaign (World War II)

The Italian campaign of World War II, also called the Liberation of Italy, was a military campaign in the Kingdom of Italy from 1943 to 1945. After achieving victory in the North African campaign, the British and American governments agreed to invade Italy before liberating France. In September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies, but the German forces in the country occupied the north of the country and set up a fascist government.

 History 
In July 1943, the Allied forces landed in Sicily. With the declining popularity of Benito Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy deposed and had him arrested. Then the Allied forces landed in mainland Italy in September and the government surrendered. The German forces occupied Italy and the Italian Social Republic was formed, starting a civil war.

In January 1944, the Battle of Monte Cassino started and it lasted a few months. The Allies won, they liberated Rome and pushed up the Italian mainland.

In April 1945, the Allied forces made the last offensive into Italy, Mussolini was executed by an Italian partisan on the 28th of April. On the 1st of May, the New Zealanders met the Yugoslavs near Monfalcone, that same day the National Republican Army (the army of the RSI) surrendered. The next day, the other Axis forces surrendered and the war in Italy ended.

 References 

Category:1943 in Italy
Category:1944 in Italy
Category:1945 in Italy
Category:World War II