The Armistice of Cassibile and Rome’s fight for freedom in WWII

If you’re visiting Rome in early September, you might not realize that some of its most dramatic and defining hours took place during these exact days, in 1943.

8 September 1943 marks a crucial day in Italy’s history and one of the most complex chapters of the country’s experience during World War II.In June 1940, Italy entered the war alongside Nazi Germany. After hundreds of thousands of casualties, heavy losses on multiple war fronts, and widespread destruction, on 8 September 1943, following the Armistice of Cassibile, Italy officially broke off its alliance with Nazi Germany. That day marked the beginning of the country’s long and painful path to liberation.

The Armistice of Cassibile, named after a small village in Sicily, was signed in secret on 3 September 1943 between Italy and the Allies, but its terms were made public on 8 September. That evening, Italians heard the voice of Marshal Pietro Badoglio on the radio, announcing the Kingdom of Italy's unconditional surrender and its exit from the Axis powers in World War II.

The news was shocking: suddenly, Italy had switched sides.

The consequences of the announcement were immediate and brutal. The German army, having anticipated the armistice, launched sudden attacks on Italian forces, aiming to disarm the Italian army and take full control of the country, starting with Rome. The plan was called Operation Achse.

The German occupation of Rome and the start of the Italian Resistance

When the armistice was announced, Italian soldiers were left in total confusion. Most were unaware of the negotiations and received no clear orders on how to respond to the German armed forces.

In the early hours of 9 September, the King, along with the royal family and Marshal Badoglio, fled Rome and took refuge in Brindisi, in southern Italy. Meanwhile, Nazi troops moved quickly to disarm Italian soldiers, and the German occupation of Rome began.

An Italian Resistance movement began to form: soldiers and ordinary citizens fought side by side in a desperate attempt to defend the city. A violent battle broke out in Rome between Italian troops, armed civilians and the advancing German forces. The fighting was intense, but German forces prevailed. They entered Rome and began the occupation of the city, leaving over 1,000 dead on the battlefield.This brief but courageous defense marked the beginning of the Italian Resistance. The spontaneous and uncoordinated reaction of individual military divisions and civilians, who, together, resisted the organized and coordinated assault of the German troops, became a symbol of Italians fighting for freedom.  

Museum of the Liberation of Rome

Located in a building at Via Tasso 145, Rome, which was used by the SS to torture members of the Italian Resistance during World War II, the museum offers an emotional look at the period of Nazi occupation of Rome (September 1943 - June 1944) and its subsequent liberation.

Casa della Memoria e della Storia (House of Memory and History)

An institution run by the City of Rome, this center collects testimonies, documents, and objects related to the Resistance, the bombings, and daily life in occupied Rome. Its mission is to preserve, share, and pass on the memory and history of 20th-century Rome.

Mausoleum of the Fosse Ardeatine

A symbolic site commemorating the Fosse Ardeatine massacre, a tragedy that occurred on 24 March 1944, when Nazi troops executed 335 Italian civilians and military prisoners in Rome. The mausoleum honors the victims of this massacre and, more broadly, those who died during Italy’s war of liberation.

Want to explore Rome’s modern history with a local expert? Email us at info@citylightstours.com, and we’ll help you plan a visit that goes beyond the usual sights, including stops at key WWII sites in Rome.