- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
In 1943, Italy’s military situation was desperate: the armed forces were reduced to the bare minimum and lacking in almost everything they needed, industries were on their knees under Allied bombing, and the country’s territory had been reduced to its European borders. With the Anglo-American landing on Italian soil (Sicily) in mid-1943, the situation worsened even further as the fighting moved into the heart of metropolitan Italy. This dire situation led the nation’s senior military and political leaders to question whether it was really worth continuing to fight, which quickly led to the removal of Benito Mussolini from his role as head of state and an armistice signed in Cassibile between the Italian and American authorities. With the signing of the Armistice, the Germans, who had been anticipating Italy’s possible defection from the war for months, launched Operation Achse, which saw German units stationed in Italy move to occupy the territory and disarm the Italian units there.
After the High Command and the Italian government fled Rome (leaving few directives for the armed forces stationed throughout the kingdom), the Germans proceeded to attempt to occupy the city and the Italian units decided, albeit not all of them, to fight to defend the city in anticipation of possible Allied help to secure the Eternal City from German troops.
Shortly after the armistice was declared, the first clashes broke out between Italian and German troops stationed in Rome and near the capital. These clashes continued and raged heavily (with little organisation on the part of the Italian troops) until 10 September, when the last Italian units (supported by the military police and civilians) surrendered.
Photos, drawings, maps and comparisons.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vsHCIgv8v0

Before and After: Battle of Rome, Porta San Paolo, 1943 (1943-Sep-09 & 2018-Aug-05)
ROME OLD PHOTO -





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Spoiler
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