Figure 1.--This wire service photograph, shows Neopolitan youth that fought the Germans in Naples before the arrival of the Allies. Naples was the largest port in southern Europe and the first objective of the Allies when they invaded Italy (September 3-9). This photograph was taken November 2, after the liberation of the port. The photograph was titled, "They fought Germans in Naples". The caption read, "These youngsters whose ages range from 14 to 19 are seasoned warriors. They are Neopolitan lads who took up arms against the enemy, the Germans, when the latter, upon hearing of the Italian Armistice , stated to inflict punishment upon the Naples populace, such as the looting of shops and homes; the killing of civilians simply because they were Italians, and other similar NAZI attricities. The youngsters, anr=ti-Fascists, led by Antonio Tarsia, fought an effective guerilla warfare until the entry of the Allies." A pitched battle was sett of by German forced labor round ups.

The port of Naples was the largest in souhern Europe and a prize of incalcuable value. As soon as Salerno was secured, the Allies drove out of the bridgehead for Naples. By this time,the Italians had turned on their former allies. German brutality discouraged civilian actions aginst the Germans. Thus while there were strikes and spontaneous small-scale demonsdtrations, no major cities rose against the Germans. The first such rising took place in Naples and the Germans set it off. The Germans had intened the Italian Army and shipped the men to primitive work camps in the Reich. They also began rounding up young men for labor service in the Reich. Field Marshal Kesselring executing orders from Berlin began rounding up a quota of 20,000 men in Naples. German soldiers and a large convoy of army trucks pulled into the Piazza Dante in the Naples city center. The soldiers forced about 6,000 young men on to the trucks. Local women attempted unsucessfully to impede the trucks departing. Mostly young men attempted to secure weapons and began patroling the streets. Shoots out with the Germans a Fascist militia began. The next day when news spread of what the Germans were doing, Naples rose against the Germans and local Fascists--the famous Quattro giornate (Four Days) (September 27). This was not a planned action by the Italian Resistance. It was a spontaneous action of the people of Naples, especially the young men of Naples against te Wehrmacht. Busses were turned over and barricades set up. The resisters obtained some machine guns, but had no heavy weapons. Street fighting developed. The scugnizzi (Naples street children) participated in the struggle. Some even obtained weapons. Those who have visited Naples know the almost labyrinthine streets in the city center which made it difficult for the Germans to deploy tanks and other heavy weapons. The Vomero section became a Resisance stringhold. The Neopolitans managed to capture some Germans, including the German military commander. There were negotiations between the Neopolitan\ns and the Germans. The Resiisters lynched Fascists. The Germans executed the Resisters. The key to te success of the Neopolitans was the fact that the Allies had reached the outskirts of the city. The Germans could not devote their full force against the uprising as they were being hard-pressed by the advancing Allies. The Germans realized that they did not have the capability of retaking the city and began withdrawing. The center of the city was in ruins and 663 Italians were dead. [Mazower, pp. 507-08.] The death toll would have been much higher if the Germans had regained control of the city. The Allies entered the city (October 1).

Naples

Ports took on enormous importance in World War II. Modern armies required huge quantities of supplies. And this was particularly the case of armies conducting amphibious landings. All supplies had to come by sea and established ports were needed to efficently land supplies and heavy equipment. The Germans knew this and thus defended major ports. And Naples was the most important port in southern Italy. It was needed for any Allied campsaign in Italy. Even before the invasion, the Allies began bombing Italian targets. Naples as an important port was a priority target. The bombig began n 1940, but escalted signicabtly in 1943 after the Axis forces in Tunisia surrenfered. At first it was to reduce supply deliveries to the Aftika Corps in North Africa. But after Siily fell (July 1943), it was to prepare for the invasion of Italy itself. And new bases in North Africa and Sicily greatly increased the Allied air capability. Naples became the most bombed Italian city in the War. The Allies conducted an estimated 180 raids in 1943. The largest raid was 400 planes of the U.S. Mediterranean Bomber Command (August 4, 1943). Civilans suffered terribly, because Mussolini Government, not expecting the British to put up a fight made no prepartins for civilian bomb shelters. Some 20,000 Icivilians may have been killed, although there are no precise figueres. There was also heavy damnage ti the city infrastructure and artistic and cultural treasures. The bombers heavily damaged the Basilica di Santa Chiara (December 4, 1942). Bombers hit the ship Caterina Costa while in port (March 28). Some 600 people were killed and 3,000 injured when the ship blew up (March 28). Some 3,000 people wee killed in a heavy raid (August 4, 1943).

Armitice (September 3-8)

The Italian Government secretly signed the Cassibile armistice with the Allies (September 3). Marshal Pietro Badoglio, head of government since the arrest of Mussolini, read a proclamation to the Italian people announcing that the previously unannounced armistice had come into effect (September 8). Badoglio read the proclamation on Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche (EIAR) at 7:42 pm. It followed an announcemnt on Radio Algiers by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower (5:30 Algerian time]) also announcing the armistice. Badoglio told the Italian people, “The Italian government, recognising the impossibility of continuing the unequal struggle against an overwhelming enemy force, in order to avoid further and graver disasters for the Nation, sought an armistice from General Eisenhower, commander-in-chief of the Anglo-American Allied forces. The request was granted. Consequently, all acts of hostility against the Anglo-American force by Italian forces must cease everywhere. But they may react to eventual attacks from any other source." The announcement came as no surprse to the Germans. Hitler had ordered a military build up to prepare to seize the country and resist the Allied invasion.

Salerno Landings (September 9)

The U.S. 5th Army commanded by Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark landed at the Gulf of Salerno in force--Operation Avalanche (September 9). Salerno was chosen because it was a wide beach just south of Naples, the main target of the invasion. The Germans made no real effort to oppose the British landings in the south, but reacted in strength to the American landings. The Germans fought delaying actions in the south against the British and concentrated their forces on the Americans at Salerno. The prize was Naples--the most important port in southern Italy. For four days vigorous attacks by German armor threatened the beaches. German Panzers for a time put the landings in danger. The beachead was finally secure untill the British hooked up with the Americans south of Salerno (September 16).

German Actions

The Germans had interned the Italian Army and shipped the men to primitive work camps in the Reich. They also began rounding up young men for labor service in the Reich. Field Marshal Kesselring executing orders from Berlin began rounding up a quota of 20,000 men in Naples. German soldiers and a large convoy of army trucks pulled into the Piazza Dante in the Naples city center. The soldiers forced about 6,000 young men on to the trucks. Local women attempted unsucessfully to impede the trucks departing. Mostly young men attempted to secure weapons and began patroling the streets. Shoots out with the Germans and Fascist militia began.

Italian Public

After the Allies landed to the south of the city, anti-Fascists in the Naples area (Fausto Nicolini, Claudio Ferri and Adolfo Omodeo) establish contact with the Allied commanders and requested help in liberating Naples. At first the Americans at Alerno south of the city were hard pressed just to hand on to the landing zones. Germany and Italy were Axis allies. Depite this thgere was no emotional connection between the Italian and German people. The Italians saw the German as brutal and uncivilized. The Germans saw the Italians as racially inferior and unworthy allies. The Germans as they seized control over Italy felt betrayed by an unfaithfull ally and many acts of brutality occured. German brutality discouraged civilian actions. Thus while there were strikes and spontaneous small-scale demonstrations, no major cities rose against the Germans. The first such rising took place in Naples and the Germans set it off.

Situation in Naples

Resistance to the Germans began with a student demonstration in Piazza del Plebiscito and the first meeting of the Liceo Sannazaro at Vomero (Septembr 1). With Marshal Badoglio's announcement (September 8) and the American invasion (September 9), the Italian military was left without orders. Men in the southwest, began moving toward Naples, believing that the Allies would soon arrive and the German build-up in Campania, the obvious Allied landing target. Naples as a result of the Allied nombing was increasingly chaotic. The German forces outnimbered the Italians and were much better armed. The situation only worsened. City officials were unale to mintain control or even collborate witnhe Grmans. Many thus left the city. The Italian troops seeing that theywereunable to defend thecivilians from the Germans also left the city. Among thsefleeing the city wer Gen. Riccardo Pentimalli and Gen. Ettore Del Tetto responsible for the city. They fled in civilian clothes as the Germans had begun arresting soldies. Del Tetto before departing handed the city over to the German army and issued a decree banning assemblies. He authorized the military to fire on violaters. Despite this, people in the city begn to resist the Germans. Sporadic resistance actions occurred throughout Caserma Zanzur, a major Naples street in the port regio. This continued to the Carabinieri barracks at Pastrengo and at the 21st "centro di avvistamento" of Castel dell'Ovo. After the armistice and American landing resistance actions only increased, mostly unorgazized. Civilians confronted German troops at th Palazzo dei Telefoni (September 9). A Carabiniere on the same day fired on Germans soldiers attempting to loot a shop. The first casualtie were reported between the Piazza del Plebiscito and the gardens below (September 10). Civilins blocked German motor vehicles. In the conflict tht followed, three German sailGermans ors and three German soldiers died. The Germn managed to free some of their comrads captured by the rioters. A city managed o convinc the civilians to release their remaining hostages and turn ovr their weapons. The Germans once the histages were free, decided to punish the Neopoltans by burning the National Library. They then opened fire on the civilans gatering around the burning building. The Germans killed severl soldiers on the Naples streets (September 12). They were reisting the German rounups and deportatons for 'obligatory work' in the Reich. Some 4,000 Neopolian were seized.

Martial Law (Septembr 12)

The same day the Compulsory Labor Decree was issued, Colonel Hans Scholl, assumed command of the Naples occupation force. He declared a curfew and a state of siege. He threatened to execute those responsible for hostile acts against German soldiers. He threatened to begin shooting 100 Neopolitans for every German killed. The Neopolitans the following morning found this proclmation posted on the city walls (eptember 13). "With immediate action from today, I assume the absolute control with full powers of the city of Naples and the surrounding areas. 1) Every single citizen who behaves calmly will enjoy my protection. On the other hand, anyone who openly or surreptitiously acts against the German armed forces will be executed. Moreover, the home of the miscreant and its immediate surroundings will be destroyed and reduced to ruins. Every German soldier wounded or murdered will be avenged a hundred times. 2) I order a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am. Only in case of alarm will it be allowed to use the road in order to reach the nearest shelter. 3) A state of siege is proclaimed. 4) Within 24 hours all weapons and ammunition of any kind, including shotguns, hand grenades, etc., must be surrendered. Anyone who, after that period, is found in possession of a weapon will be immediately executed. The delivery of weapons and ammunition shall be made to the German military patrols. 5) People must keep calm and act reasonably. The Germans made it clear that they were very serious. The Germans shot eight prisoners of war on the via Cesario Console. german tank open fire on students gathering at a nearby University as well as Italian sailors in front of the palace of the stock market. Especiall shocking was a action the Germans forced thousands of people to watch the execution of a youthful sailor on the stairs of the occupation headquaters. German soldiers forced civilian on to Rettifilo to view the execution. The Germans forced another 500 civilians on to the Teverola in Casertano where they watched 14 policemen who had tried to stop German looting executed by a firing squad.

Compulsory Labor Decree (September 22)

With the Allies pressing in on the Reich, more and more Germans of all ages were conscripted to fight at the shrinking fronts. This meant industrial workers who had been exempted were now depearately needed at the front. The lossses in the East in particlar were increasing. As a result, the Germans began to draft worker in the occupied countres to support the German war economy. Italy as an ally had been spard these drafts. Now after occupying Italy, the Germans began round-ups as there were few volunteers. German authorities decreed compulsory labor for all males from 18 to 33 years of age and began round-ups (September 22). The Neopolitans were incensed and began to resist the Germans on a wider scale.

Weapons

It was not possible to resist the Germans without weapons. The Germans has stirred up a hornets nest in Naples with the brutal occupation including executions meant to intimidate, the widespread looting, the roundups of civilians for slave labor in the Reich added on to the growing poverty, shortages, and destruction of the war that Mussolini and Hitler brought to Italy. Resustance grew daily without any real planning. It occurred spontaneously. And givn the lay out of Naples with amny narrow streets, it proved difficult for the Germans to contro, especially because their military forces were fully employed to contain the Allied landings. Neopolitans needed weapons to finally drive out the Germans. And there were weapons available in Naples--at least small arms. People in Vomero seized eapns held by the managed to capture weapons that belonged to the Second Battery 107 (September 22). More weapons were seized (September 25). Other weapons and amunition were seized from various depots (September 27). nd these weapons began to find their way into the hands of insurgents.

Coastal Evacuation and Labor Call-ups (September 23)

Col. Scholl continued to pursue actions which could only incite the civilian population. His policies might have worked as thaey had in other German occupied cities had there not been an American army only kilomdters away and now breaking out from the Salerno bridgehead. Col Scholl ordered all civilans to evacuate their homes and shops along the coast (300 meters) within only 20 hours (September 23). Some 240,000 Neopolitans were driven from their homes to create a 'military security zone'. No provision was made for them, they just had to leav. This was common practice for the Germans in the East, but not the West. The German objective was apparently to totally destroy he port and all its vial infrastructure. Here they suceeded admirablly. At the same time, the Germans issued orders for all males between the ages of 18-30 years to report for compulsory war work, meaning deportatin to slave labor camps in the Reich. Here they had much less success. The German goal was to obtain 30,000 slave workers while they still help Naples. Neopolitans defied the Germans. Only 150 men reported. Col. School ordered his men to begin roundups to fill the planned quota and to shoot anyone who dared resist. For 4 years, this is how the Germans ruled occpied Europe. And Italy ws now one of the occupied countries. The German Occupation command put up posters informing civilians, "In order for the service required of respondents work in four sections of the city of about 150 people, while according to marital status were to raise over 30,000 people. This results in the sabotage that is practiced against the orders of the German Armed Forces and the Italian Ministry of Interior. Starting from tomorrow, through military patrols, I will stop the violation . Those who do not presenting themselves and contravene the orders published will be immediately shot by the patrols. -- Captain of Naples, Scholl" This virtually ensured a popular rising. It was a matter of survival in the minds of Neopolitans. Many assumed that deportation to the Reich meant death. Spontaneously throughout the city, Neopolitans of all ages and genders poured into the streets to protest the German actions. And an increasing number had weapons. They were joined by Italian soldies that had been hiding in the city, some of who had weapons. And in few days the civilians were organizing and confronting the Germans. They managed to freee some if the young people rounded up by the Germans for deportation (Septmber 26).

Quattro Giornate (September 27-30)

The next day when news spread of what the Germans were doing and initial civilian resistance, Naples rose in a full-scale opposition to the Germans and theirlocal Fascists collaborators--the famous Quattro giornate (Four Days) (September 27). This was not a planned action by the Italian Resistance. It was a spontaneous action of the people of Naples, especially the young men of Naples against the hated Wehrmacht. Busses were turned over and barricades set up. The resisters obtained some machine guns, but had no heavy weapons. Street fighting developed. The scugnizzi (Naples street children) participated in the struggle. Some even obtsained weapons. Those who have visited Naples know the almost labyrinthine streets in the city center which made it difficult for the Germans to deploy tanks and other heavy weapons. The Vomero section became a Resisance stronghold. The Neopolitans managed to capture some Germans, including the German military commander. There were negotiations between the Neopolitan\ns and the Germans. The Resiisters lynched Fascists. The Germans executed the Resisters. Other risings against the Germans dis not go well. In this case the Neopolitans suceeded. The key to the success of the Neopolitans was the lay out of the city and the fact that the Allies had reached the outskirts of the city. The Germans could not devote their full foirce against the uprising as they were being hard-pressed by the advancing Allies with the American break out from Salerno.

German Withdrawl

The Germans realized that they did not have the capability of retaking the city and began withdrawing. The center of the city was in ruins and 663 Italiand were dead. [Mazower, pp. 507-08.] The death toll would have been much higher if the Germans had regained control of the city. The Allies entered the city (October 1).

Created: 2:56 AM 7/9/2009
Last updated: 2:17 AM 4/13/2014