Friday 3rd
The allies land on the mainland opposite Messina. In Rome, Badoglio signs a secret armistice with the allies
Saturday 4th
The allies capture Reggio di Calabria, a vital centre on the “toe” of Italy
Wednesday 8th
Italy has surrendered to the Allies unconditionally. In a broadcast this evening, General Eisenhower announced that a representative of Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Prime Minister of Italy Since the fall of Mussolini in July, had signed a military armistice with the Allies several days earlier.
Hostilities between the armed forces of the Allies and those of Italy terminated at once, Eisenhower declared. Then, in a clear invitation to Italy to turn on its former ally, he added “All Italians who now act to help eject the German aggressor from Italian soil will have the assistance and support of the Allies.” In the wake of the broadcast, which followed a secret meeting four days ago between Eisenhower and Badoglio, the Italian government halted all ships, trains and vehicles carrying German troops, and the Italian garrison on Corsica was reported to have overpowered German forces on the island.
The sudden capitulation took the Nazis by surprise. Less than an hour before the broadcast, Berlin radio was reporting “solid resistance” by Italian and German troops to the British invasion of southern Italy.
On parade in the afternoon our names were called out & we thought here at last was our posting. The C.S.M. told us we were going on a semi-permanent posting until we actually were posted & we found out we were going on permanent guard at the 100 General Hospital a little way away. I felt very dumpy & so did Syd about this not liking guards at the best of time. About twelve of us went & were to replace some fellows who had been posted. That night Syd & I found ourselves on guard. We did 2 on four off three of us & we were guarding sick P.O.W.s Gerrys & Ities.
We found this on the whole to be a good job as we had 24 hrs off. In our off time we were free to do as we please & managed to get into Philippeville quite often & also got plenty of swimming in the Med. It was lovely & clean & warm. Altogether we were much better off than at the G.R.T.D. I also had a great thrill receiving my first mail here an airgraph from Betty & a letter from Jock & Johnny. I had a few more after those too. One sticky job we had though was being bearers for any dead to be buried which was not so good but did not happen often. We were in tents again & the trouble with them was we had a lot of fleas & were bitten a lot. Eventually we were recalled as the job faded out. They removed the prisoners to another hospital.
Thursday 9th
The Allies land at Salerno, near Naples, meeting stiff German resistance.
Friday 10th
German troops occupy Rome.
Sunday 12th
The Allies take Brindisi on the “heel” of Italy.
The Germans claimed tonight to have rescued Mussolini from his prison somewhere in Italy. A special announcement from Hitler’s HQ in Berlin said: “German parachutists, and men of the security service and the armed SS, today carried out an operation for the liberation of Mussolini, who had been imprisoned by the clique of traitors. The coup succeeded. The Duce is at liberty.”
This is the first definite news of Mussolini since he resigned seven weeks ago. There are no details yet of how his rescue was carried out, but the involvement of parachutists suggests a daring behind-the-lines operation.
Friday 17th
Sunday 19th
Italian troops seize control of Sardinia.
Monday 20th
The Allies begin an attack on Naples.
Wednesday 29th
We arrived back at G.R.T.D. to find it very crowded & settled down to being messed about in general. I was not feeling too good either being under the M.O. for diarrhoea again, but this was not half as bad as it was in Sicily.
Thursday 30th
The Allies enter Naples as the Germans pull back.