We explain how the armistice was between Italy and the allies in World War II. In addition, the historical context and the role of Pietro Badoglio.
How was the armistice between Italy and the allies in 1943?
The Armistice of Italy, also called Armisticio de Cassibile, was signed between the Italian government and the Allied Armed Forces on September 3, 1943 in the village of Cassibile, in Sicily. It was made public on September 8, 1943 and It ended the participation of Italy in the axis side during World War (1939-1945).
The signature of the armistice occurred shortly after the allied landing in Sicily that precipitated the dismissal of Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister of Italy (July 25, 1943) and his replacement for Marshal Pietro Badoglio. Brigadier General Giuseppe Castellano negotiated and signed the armistice on behalf of Badoglio, while Major General Walter B. Smith signed on behalf of the commander in chief of the Allied forces, Dwight. D. Eisenhower.
After the signature of the armistice, the Italian government aligned with the allies but much of Italy was occupied by Nazi Germanywhich installed a puppet government in the north and center of Italy chaired by Mussolini (the Italian Social Republic or Republic of Saló). Anyway, the allied offensive allowed Rome in June 1944 and, At the beginning of May 1945, the allied victory in Europe was assured.
Key points
- The armistice between Italy and the allies in the context of World War II was signed on September 3, 1943 and was made public on September 8 of the same year.
- The fascist Italy had aligned with Nazi Germany and had entered war against the allies in June 1940, but after the allied landing in Sicily in July 1943 the fascist leader Benito Mussolini was dismissed by the king.
- The new Prime Minister of Italy, Pietro Badoglio, and Commander in Chief Allied, Dwight Eisenhower, negotiated the armistice by which Italy ceased hostilities against the allies and left the axis.
- After the signature of the armistice, Nazi Germany militarily occupied most of Italy and made it a puppet state chaired by Mussolini, while the allies continued to advance from the south. Badoglio declared war on Germany on October 13, 1943.
- See also: Chronology of World War II
The historical context
Since 1922, the kingdom of Italy was governed by fascist leader Benito Mussolini. In May 1939, Fascist Italy signed with Nazi Germany the steel pact And, in September, the German invasion of Poland caused the beginning of World War II.
Italy entered war against allies (Headed at that time by the United Kingdom and France) only in June 1940, when Nazi Germany had achieved important military triumphs and the conquest of France was about to conclude. As of 1941, the powers of the axis (Germany, Italy and the Empire of Japan) had to face the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States, which joined the side of the allies.
- See also: Mussolini Government
The signature of the armistice between Italy and the allies
At the end of 1942, the German and Italian troops established in Egypt were defeated by the allies in the battle of El Alamein and the arrival of more troops to North Africa forced the defeat of the axis in that region in the first months of 1943. The next step was The ally landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943, which he took To King Víctor Manuel III to dismiss and imprison Mussolini on July 25, 1943.
While the allies continued their advance in southern Italy, The new Prime Minister of Italy, Pietro Badoglio, began negotiations (Through the Brigade General Giuseppe Castellano) With the representatives of the commander in chief of the Allied forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The negotiations concluded on September 3, 1943 in the village of Cassibile, in Sicily, with The signature of the armistice Between the Italian government and the Allied Armed Forces. The armistice was made public on September 8 and On October 13, 1943, the Badoglio government declared war on Nazi Germany.
Who was Pietro Badoglio?
Pietro Badoglio (1871-1956) was a general who during World War I (1914-1918) He was in charge of the Armisticio negotiations on behalf of Italy.
After the march on Rome that led Benito Mussolini to the government of Italy, Badoglio was initially undecided and finally accepted politically with the fascist regime, in which he held important positions and missions. He was governor of Libya from 1928 to 1934 and directed the Italian troops that invaded Ethiopia in 1935, so he received the title of Duke of Addis Abeba.
In 1940 disagree with the measures taken by Mussolini for the entrance of Italy in World War II. During the defeats of the campaign against Greece, In December 1940, he resigned from the position of Commander in Chief of the Italian Army and separated any responsibility for Mussolini's decisions.
He collaborated in Mussolini's fall on July 25, 1943, He was appointed prime minister and signed the armistice with the allies on September 3, 1943. After communicating the unconditional surrender of Italy before the allies on the 8th, he dissolved the National Fascist Party and declared the war on Nazi Germany on October 13. In June 1944, after the allied shot of Rome, he resigned and retired from politics.
The armistice between Italy and the allies
The armistice between the Italian government and the Allied Armed Forces was signed on September 3, 1943 in a military camp installed in the Aldea de Cassibile, in Sicily (Italy). He was signed by Brigade General Giuseppe Castellano on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister, Pietro Badoglio, and Major General Walter B. Smith on behalf of the commander in chief of the Allied forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The armistice became public five days later, on September 8, 1943.
Armistice with Italy
September 3, 1943The following armistice conditions are presented by General DD Eisenhower, commander in chief of the Allied forces, acting by the authority of the governments of the United States and Great Britain and in the interest of the United Nations, and are accepted by Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Head of the Italian Government:
1. immediate cessation of all hostile activity by the Italian armed forces.
2. Italy will make its greatest effort to deny German facilities that can be used against the United Nations.
3. All the prisoners or internships of the United Nations will be delivered immediately to the Commander in Chief Allied and none of them may be evacuated to Germany or now or at any other time.
4. Immediate transfer of the Italian fleet and Italian aviation to the points designated by the Commander in Chief Allied, with the details of disarmament he prescribes.
5. The Italian merchant navy can be requisitioned by the commander in chief ally to meet the needs of its military-naval program.
6. Immediate delivery of Corsica and all Italian territories, both island and the mainland, to the allies, to be used as operations bases and for other purposes that the allies consider appropriate.
7. Immediate guarantee of free use by the allies of all aviation fields and naval ports in Italian territory, regardless of the rhythm of evacuation of the Italian territory by the German forces. These ports and fields will be protected by the Italian armed forces until this function is assumed by the allies.
8. Immediate withdrawal to Italy from all Italian armed forces that participate in the current war, whatever the region in which they may be currently involved.
9. GUARANTEE OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT THAT IN CASE OF NEED WILL USE ALL THE ARMED FORCES TO BE DISPOSED TO Ensure the soon and exact compliance with this Armisticio.
10. The commander in chief of the Allied forces reserves the right to take any measure that he considers necessary for the protection of the interests of the allied forces for the continuation of the war, and the Italian government undertakes to take the administrative or other measures that may be required by the commander in chief, and in particular the commander in chief will establish the allied military government in the parts of the Italian territory where it judges it necessary for the military interest of the military interest of the united nations.
11. The commander in chief of the Allied forces will have full right to impose disarmament, demobilization and demilitarization measures.
12. Other political, economic and financial conditions that Italy will be obliged to comply will be transmitted at a later date.
The conditions of this armistice will not be made public without the prior approval of the Commander in Chief Allied. The English text will be considered the official text.
Mariscal Pietro Badoglio, head of the Italian government
By: Giuseppe Castellano, Brigade General, attached to the Italian High CommandDwight D. Eisenhower, General of the United States Army, Commander in Chief of Allied Forces
By: Walter B. Smith, Mayor of the United States Army, Chief of Staff
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References
- Armistice with Italy, September 3, 1943, in: Bevan, Ci (comp.) (1969), Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America 1776-1949: Volume 3 (Multilateral Treaties, 1931-1945). Department of State Publications.
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2022). Pietro Badoglio. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Hughes, Ta & Royde-Smith, JG (2023). World War II. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Stone, N. (2013). Brief history of World War II. Ariel.
