Figure 1.--The Anericans landed at in the Nayn of Salerno just south of Napeis, the largest poty in Italy (September 3, 1943). The Germans opposed the landings and almost previlaed, but could not match Allied air power and naval artillery support. The fight for the Salerno beachhead went on for 2 weeks. Here we see a scene at Altavilla, just inland from the landings. The press caption read, "Pigs In The Streets: Walking through the streets of liberated Altavilla, Fifth Army warriors have to be careful not to trip over porkers that wander about. Coming out of hiding after allied troops took the town, liberated Italians gather in background to read posters put up by the Allied military government." The photograph was taken October 14, 1943. By thus time the Americans had nmoved on to Naples.

Italy was one of the three major Axis countries, but was treated differently by the Allies than Germany and Japan. It was so different in fact that it is difficult to say if Italy was liberated or occupied. Before the War, Mussolini's Fascist seems to have had a firm grip on the population. This seems to have disappeared by the time the Allies arrived. As a result there would be no major Allied effort to root out Fascism. The Italians did this on their own. This was possible because Mussolini and the Fascists nevervhad the same hold on Tkay that Hutker and the Jaonese militarists had on Germany and Japan. Most Italians seem to have seen the Allies as liberators, in part because the Germans had occupied the country (September 1943) and had behaved as usual behaved ruthlessly. Many Itlalians were also glad to see the Allies arrive because as the front moved north it meant essentilly that the war was over for them. And many Italians had very positive attitudes toward Americans. This was especially true of the peasantry and working class. In the most remote villages it was rare to find Itaians who did not have families or friends with American connections. . The ACC was given five tasks by the Allies military authorities: 1) to organize a military government, 2) to aid the civilan population so as to prevent diseae and unrest, 3) to prepare for a return to civilian rule, 4) to suiprvise Italian compiance with the Armistice and surrender, 5) to serve as the spolesman to the United Nations (meaning at this stage America and Britain) to the Italian Government. [Fisher, p. 114.] The Allies dud not plan war crimes trials and the Italian Government after the Allied invasion of Italy declared War on Germany and joined the Allies. Thus one of the major tasks was coming to the aid of the civilan population, especially to restore the urban water supply and provide ememergency food supplies.

Created: 8:17 AM 2/20/2005
Last updated: 6:53 AM 5/9/2016