William Collins Naples 1944 War, Liberation and Chaos.

by Keith Lowe

Award-winning author Keith Lowe's newest critical deep-dive into the history of Naples during WWII.

Keith Lowe has chronicled the end of WWII in Europe in his award-winning book Savage Continent and the war’s aftermath in the sequel, The Fear and the Freedom. In Naples 1944, he brings readers another masterful chronicle of the terrible and often unexpected consequences of war. Even before the fall of Mussolini, Naples was a place of great contrasts filled with palaces and slums, beloved cuisine and widespread hunger. After the Allied liberation, these contrasts made the city instantly notorious. Compared to the starving population, Allied soldiers were staggeringly wealthy. For a packet of cigarettes, even the lowest ranks could buy themselves a watch, a new suit or a woman for the night. As the biggest port in Allied hands, Naples quickly became the center of Italy’s black market and has remained so ever since. Within just a few months the Camorra began to re-establish itself. Behind the chaos and the corruption, there was always the threat of violence. Army guns were looted and traded. Gangs of street kids fought running battles with the military police. Public buildings, booby-trapped by departing Germans, began to explode, seemingly spontaneously.

Then in March 1944 - like an omen - Vesuvius erupted. Naples was the first major European city to be liberated by the Allies. What they found there would set a template for the whole of the rest of Europe in the years to come. Keith Lowe’s Naples 1944 is a page-turning book about a city on the brink of chaos and glimpse into the dark heart of postwar Italy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, World War II, Military History, War

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Keith Lowe is the author of numerous books, including two novels and the critically acclaimed history Inferno: The Fiery Devastation of Hamburg, 1943. He is widely recognized as an authority on the Second World War, and has often spoken on TV and radio, both in Britain and the United States. Most recently he was an historical consultant and one of the main speakers in the PBS documentary The Bombing of Germany which was also broadcast in Germany. His books have been translated into several languages, and he has also lectured in Britain, Canada and Germany. He lives in North London with his wife and two kids.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/keithlowe

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this newly published book whilst browsing in a bookshop, and both the subject matter and the author caught my attention. Some years ago I read Norman Lewis’ similarly titled book Naples ’44, a first-hand account of the chaos in Naples after the Allies had taken the city. I had also previously read two books by Keith Lowe, both of which were about the aftermath of WW2. This book is on a similar theme, since it examines the aftermath of the Allied capture of Naples in October 1943.

Naples was the first large European city to be captured by the western Allies as they moved onto the offensive in 1943-44. The slow Allied advance from the beachhead at Salerno had been disastrous for the city, since the retreating German Army had destroyed the water, sewage, gas, electricity and transport infrastructure, wrecked the port facilities, comprehensively looted the city’s food and fuel supplies and for good measure demolished all manufacturing facilities. During the next year or so the city’s inhabitants faced widespread hunger and a typhus epidemic, and there was even a major eruption of Vesuvius in 1944.

The author praises the Allies for dealing quickly with the most urgent issues, but criticises them for not dealing with longer-term problems. Put simply, the priority for the Allies was getting supplies to their own troops to allow them to advance further along the Peninsula. The civilian population were a secondary consideration. Such was the desperation of the local population that they had little choice but to resort to theft, prostitution and black market trading to survive. The mass theft of Allied supplies that followed was aided and abetted by many of the troops, who saw money-making opportunities in selling on stolen goods.

The author does argue that the experience of the calamitous administration of Naples did teach the Allies important lessons that were later applied in northern Europe. One example is how food was stockpiled in Britain and rapidly transported to the Netherlands in 1945 to counteract the widespread starvation that country had faced in the winter of 1944-45. Also in the northern European campaigns, medical staff were well-supplied with DDT powder. This may well have prevented a major typhus epidemic, something widely feared at the time.

Having read Norman Lewis’ book, there wasn’t too much in this that I found revelatory. It’s just an excellent narrative history, one in which the author’s sympathies lay completely with the local population of Naples.

[Jodi C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book, Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War, because I found the concept of concentrating on the toll WWII took on one specific city intriguing, and even more so because that city is in Italy. Of the participants in WWII, Italy is the one I know the least about beyond just knowing that Benito Mussolini was greedy, incompetent, and murderous.

Mussolini was Prime Minister during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the late 1930s, where they unleashed fire and brimstone (and mustard gas) upon the Ethiopian people for the audacity of not wanting to be colonized by Italy. This campaign ate through a huge investment of Italian resources that left the country in a precarious economic position as Hitler was saber-rattling in Germany.

Initially declaring that Italy would not participate in the war, Mussolini later threw his lot in with Hitler when it appeared that Germany was headed for a decisive victory. Mussolini could not resist the riches he thought he would gain by joining the winning team. As the father of fascism in Italy, he didn’t bother to ask the Italian people what they thought about that.

Mussolini made one bad decision after another in rapid succession. One of those was the attack upon Greece through Albania. The Italian troops were defeated, and Germany was left to save their Axis mate from total disaster. Hitler knew that Italy was financially and domestically on the edge of collapse, and sure enough, Mussolini was ousted. Germany was already prepared to occupy Italy as they had foreseen this probability.

So, now Italy is persona non grata with Hitler, and the German troops go completely scorched earth in southern Italy as they retreated north. At the same time, the Allies were chasing them and pounding away. Things got so dire for Naples, Italy, during WWII that even Vesuvius erupted in 1944 and rained down on them.

This book does focus on Naples, but also includes just enough of the broader history and timeline of the war itself to flesh out those pages. That is not to say the pages needed much fleshing because what the people of Naples went through really is a book on its own, I promise. Nazi occupation, the Neapolitan uprising against said Nazis, Nazi scorched earth, no food, no water, no electricity, Allied occupation, volcanic eruption.

This is my first book by Keith Lowe, but it won’t be the last. I say that because sometimes books tend to stick too closely to the facts without giving me enough of the human element. I am the type of person who can’t stay focused if someone is just regurgitating dates at me. My mind will wander to whether or not I started the dryer or if it’s too late for a glass of wine.

This book had just the right balance of facts and human elements, and I am a sucker for a lot of citations. I got a little lost a couple of times as to where we were on the timeline of events in the broader scope of WWII, but that is a small gripe.

My many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read this early copy. This book will be released in March of 2025.

Side Note: I was today years old when I found out that Neapolitan ice cream originated in Naples. I had never put any thought into it before. lol

[ancientreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the one hand: Deeply researched in primary sources, thoughtful, and compassionate; the fullest explanation of this catastrophe we're ever likely to get. In particular, the discussion of sex work and sexual assault and the porous border between them when the setting involves near starvation on one side, and misogyny and racism on the other, is superb. (And serves as a reminder of how even a lucid thinker about such issues may slip up, as Lowe does when he refers to soldiers "having sex with" prostituted children. That is, of course, not sex but rape.)

On the other hand: Detailed analysis generally prevails over narrative and character, so that "Naples 1944" is bound to be indispensable for serious students but becomes exhausting for the general reader, or at least for this general reader. Lowe reiterates much more often than necessary the point that the Allies' overarching goal, that of defeating the Nazis, led them to misunderstand, set aside, or ignore the Neapolitans' needs (to the extent that sufficient resources could even have been spared). It's Lowe's crucial, clarifying argument and he supports it thoroughly, but its explanatory power is precisely why it doesn't need so much repetition.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this valuable account.

[Liam Ostermann]

review on the way

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millions of lives were changed, destroyed and taken during World War II. Naples was the hardest hit in Italy and suffered dire consequences. But the aftermath...which is a major focus here...is incomprehensible. First came Mussolini and fascism, then the Germans who occupied their once-exotic and beautiful city who humiliated, tortured, tormented and murdered citizens indiscriminately. When they left, they deliberately and revengefully practiced scorched earth, only worse, when they destroyed aqueducts, sewer systems, emergency services, places for bodies, postal service, telephone service and transportation hubs. No schools or courthouse were open. Black market and mafia ruled.

It is inconceivable to survive these atrocities but it got worse. Typhus killed and Vesuvius erupted in 1944. The Allied soldiers were first seen as saviors and were revered. But the soldiers eventually lost track of their governing purpose and often became drunk, assaulted women and children, played tricks to humiliate and overlooked lawlessness. They abused currency. Layer upon layer of fear and despair caused boys to sell their sisters and mothers. People had nothing and walked shoeless through dirt. There was no food.

The author describes the horrors in detail but in an empathetic way. This felt personal. I love Naples in many ways and am astounded at the underground city, including caves and shelters used by 100,000 during WWII. I learned more about the "Four Days of Naples" revolt, politics, how Allied soldiers and war were viewed but most of all, the people who suffered impossibly. This book brought it together for me and detailed the emotional toll which is difficult to read but crucial.

This is an epic book, an absolute must for those who are keen to learn more about WWII in Naples, (in)humanity, aftermath and lessons (not) learned. Astonishing information, thoroughly researched.

[Marcus Crompton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new popular history of this important chapter in the history of Napoli in particular ,with a strong focus on the first part at least on the effect of the so-called "liberation" on the population .

I found the second part of the book ,where elements of the legacy of the allies' handling of the invasion of southern Italy , slightly perfunctory , and I think I'd have preferred either a longer look or , possibly separate work covering the complex issues raised.

However , it's a worthwhile publication and a strong canvas against the books of Norman Lewis and Curzo Malaparte can be ready with greater understanding

[Nigel Caiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and balanced history of the period. Makes clear the successes and bungles of the Allies coming through Naples and lays out a good foundation for the city and regions successive history.

[Pirate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent and enthralling account of the hell that Neapolitans and those in surrounding areas experienced under the Mussolini Fascist regime, the Nazis and then just when they thought their troubles were at an end under the Allies.
Learned a lot in this superbly written -- the author's love for the city and the people despite its chaos is clear and having visited it a couple of years ago I can see why he does -- account where he lays many myths, a lot of them propagated by Norman Lewis who served there as an Intelligence officer, to bed.
For instance I never knew till I was enlightened in this book that it was the Neapolitans who liberated their city from the Nazis in the 'Four Days' at the end of September 1943. Names such as Giovanni Abbate, Federico Zvab, Madalena Cerasuolo and former criminal Vincenzo Stimolo, who more than redeemed himself, were heroic.
As were the scugnizzi -- 'street urchins' -- though as Lowe points out it is a shame they have largely stolen the narrative of the heroism of the uprising.
It was the scugnizzi often too who acted as pimps in the selling of their sisters and even mothers bodies just so that the family could survive such was the shortage of food and money. This is not a chapter in which the Allies shine as they take advantage of the Neapolitans predicament and even paid for sex with 12-year-olds.
The Moroccans serving under their colonial masters the French, though, eschewed paying and went on a rape rampage, including boys and men. The French officers turned a blind eye to it which is hardly surprising when their commander General Alphonse Juin, who had lost the use of his right arm when wounded in the Great War, told his men to act as "conquerors".
Lowe credits the Allies for reacting swiftly to the typhus outbreak and sorting out the crucial water supply but rues so many missed opportunities that would have left Naples in a better state to confront the future and not be constantly the subject of barbed remarks from their northern confreres, who benefitted much more from the largesse of the Allies after the whole of Italy was liberated.
Once again it left the Neapolitans feeling bitter about being short-changed. It did not help that the Allies resisted a total clear out of Naples's former Fascist masters -- nor indeed right at the top leaving the discredited and largely unloved King Victor Emmanuel III and Marshal Badoglio, who had committed war crimes against the Ethiopians and Somalians, as Prime Minister -- taking the opposite tack to the catastrophic path chosen decades later by Paul Bremer in Iraq to sack anyone who had belonged to the ruling Baath party under Saddam. Not for the Allies a case of 'out with the Baath water'.
Of course the Allies -- who were not blessed with General Mark Clark a distinctly third rate military leader who unfortunately was so sure of himself he thought he knew the name of the unknown soldier -- did have a war to win and rebuilding Naples was not their priority.
With so many shortages the black market became the only real source of filling the vacuum though there was also widespread theft not just by Neapolitans but also Allied soldiers. Not even telegraph poles or wires or manholes were sacrosanct. Some imaginative and daring thieves stole over the wall of the allied Field Security Headquarters and took all the tyres off their jeeps. Even more hilarious was how items worth 20 million lire that had been stolen and recovered were stolen again from the ......main Naples courthouse.
This is truly a fabulous read speaks volumes about the qualities of the Neapolitans and their faults of course but it gives one a much more rounded image of the city that Mussolini remarked at one point would be 'the Queen of the Mediterranean' though as ever he failed to honour his grandiose words.
Rather leave it to the author -- whose dedication to the project is to be admired having bene hindered by the Covid outbreak and the lockdowns and then the emotional torment of his mother dying -- than the dictator who destroyed the country with the last words.
'The days of cholera are long gone. Crime has been decreasing since the start of the twenty-first century: there is now far less crime than in Florence, Rome, Turin and Milan.
Prosperity is, slowly, returning.
Naples is no longer a paradise inhabited by devils.'
Chapeau to you sir as well.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars

The first half of the 1940s provided many challenges for the people of Naples, Italy: bombings, fascist leaders, a water crisis, disease, inflation, a volcanic eruption, and occupation by outside forces. All these issues cumulated and brought problems that plagued Naples for the second half of the twentieth century.

Keith Lowe takes the reader through a rough two years for the Italian city of Naples in Naples 1944: The Devil’s Paradise. By focusing on just two years, Lowe is able to go into great detail, which paints a clear picture of the situation in Naples and explains how the city fell into unfortunate circumstances. However, at 464 pages, this book is long and, at times, those details feel like they drag on. A lot happened between 1943 and 1944 and the abundant details proved necessary, even if they made the book a little dry. One positive is that the book did not contain much repetition. Each chapter had a specific topic and Lowe managed to stick to that topic, and he did an excellent job of connecting everything together.

One of the most interesting parts of this book is the non-linear structure. It begins with the Allied Powers occupation of Naples, then explores the time before the occupation, and ends back with the occupation and what came after. This structure did not take away from the book and even with the jumps through time, the narrative flowed well. Lowe did a good job of showing all the groups who contributed to the situation in Naples. The Allies, specifically the Americans and the British, the Germans, the fascist leaders, and the Napoleons themselves. He clearly explained how no one party was wholly responsible for the problems that arose. Each group, through action and inaction, caused the issues that persisted for decades after the end of the war.

Keith Lowe provides a different perspective of World War II through his examination of Naples, Italy. This is a great book to go to if you are interested in a deep-dive into Naples. He covers the political, social, and environmental issues that impacted the city and how it led to where Naples is today. The book is well-written and seamlessly brings a lot of topics together in a concise argument. It is a good read if you are interested in World War II or the city of Naples.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

History Happy Hour 081025 — A detailed look at the city of Naples during and after its liberation by the Allies in World War II.  Keith Lowe is our guest this week and has written about this in his new book. His book explores the corruption, and social breakdown that followed the liberation, highlighting the stark contrasts between the wealthy Allied soldiers and the starving, impoverished population. For a packet of cigarettes, even the lowest ranks could buy themselves a watch, a new suit or a woman for the night. It's a story of a city on the brink, revealing the darker aspects of postwar Italy and the unexpected consequences of war. Keith Lowe is an award-winning author of many books including of Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II, and the critically acclaimed history Inferno: The Fiery Devastation of Hamburg, 1943. His 2017 book about the long-term, global, psychological effects of the Second World War, The Fear and the Freedom, was described by the Wall Street Journal as “one of the best, most useful books on World War II to have emerged in the past decade.”  He came on History Happy Hour in 2021to discuss his book Prisoners of War: What Monuments to the Second World War Tell Us About Our History and Ourselves, and returned in 2022 to take part in a panel discussion on the war in Ukraine. Widely recognized as an authority on the Second World War, he regularly speaks on TV and radio, and has lectured at universities, conferences and literary festivals all over the world. He lives in North London with his wife and two kids."

[Jesica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.

Naples 1944 is a look at the factors that accumulated during WWII that shaped the post war identity of this southern city of Italy. From internal forces such as the rise of fascism, the takeover of the Nazi regime, the liberation by the Allies, and natural disasters; Naples was a city at the heart of the Southern European experience during WWII that doesn’t get a lot of light shed on it within this genre of books.

Keith Lowe does a wonderful job of breaking out the different factors stated above and how they all worked together by different chapter and headers within each chapter. The reader can tell he is very passionate about the people of Naples and getting their story out regarding one of the most devastating times in history. The book credits many sources for further reading and reader review throughout its pages without feeling bogged down. Which I find can be an issue with many history books.

His narrative is gripping and a different aspect from the “allies as saviors” that a lot of the Western society is fed through media. The book doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to citing all the failures of the liberating armies and the consequences of those failures, be they short term or long term.

The only winge I had with this book is the layout of the different parts. I felt that with how long and comprehensive Part 1 was with discussing all the different difficulties that came after liberation, the next parts were just a reiteration with a bit more substance. Therefore, it felt less like a thesis and more like a comprehensive overview.

Overall, a solid 4.5. I would recommend this to anyone interested in War time History regarding WWII and wants a different perspective than just Northern Europe’s experience during WWII and of the cost of victory and liberation.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War by Keith Lowe and here are my thoughts.

Been on a bit of a war kick lately. It wasn’t planned but it just kinda happened that way and I am not sorry.

I haven’t read a lot of World War II historical narratives but I was totally intrigued with the concept of this book.

It was really well researched. It didn’t feel like the author was padding it out with drivel so that was a huge plus for me but it did drag a bit in spots. Nothing overly concerning but I had to say something negative or you won’t believe what I have to say.

It’s bloody heartbreaking. The violence. The endless hunger. Ugh it ripped me apart inside. The book is loaded with information on what happened during threat time. So much chao. The allied soldiers were monsters. They took advantage of the situation, it's black market contraband and it was a real contrast to what they had versus what everyone else had. You always hear about the same countries and what happened to them so this was something different and if you love a good WWII read, you should grab this one.

4.5 stars

Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy.

#naples1944 #nonfiction #worldwar2 #historybook #bookreview #bookishreview #bookloversunite #bookloversofinstagram #bookloverproblems #fictionreader #readerslovebook #readersoninstagram #readingislife #readingtime📖 #bookworm #bookslover

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naples 1944 by Keith Lowe is a detailed look at Naples, centered on the year 1944 but not limited to it.

I found the background, both more distant and closer to 1944, beneficial in understanding how things evolved there. While there could have been a little more focus on individual stories there were enough included to both present the human impact while also help to present the bigger picture. While not every other attempt Allied forces made to help cities and populations recover were this unsuccessful many did follow a similar trajectory.

I know some will balk at the idea that Allied forces, the US in particular, should shoulder much of the blame for how things turned out, I think it is a valid argument. Dismissing errors because we also helped defeat the Axis powers is absurd. If I save someone from a bear but push them off a cliff, accidentally, in doing so, I am still to blame for pushing them off the cliff. I didn't read Lowe as making those responsible into monsters, though some were certainly indifferent to the pain the population was experiencing. Encouraging behavior from troops that one would have reprimanded at home is hypocritical to put it mildly.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy detailed history that keeps a narrow focus without disregarding the larger picture within which it is but a part.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I enjoy reading history because I love to learn things. In Keith Lowe's Naples 1944: The Paradise at War, Lowe takes us on a journey of Naples during WWII when the Allies first land there. His book covers the years 1943-1946.

I have a problem when I read history books. I always end up going down the rabbit hole. This time was no different. I was never taught in school about the Allies landing there, or I don't remember it. I remember learning about Normandy and the rest of France, the Netherlands, and of course, when they made it to Germany. I like it when a writer of history writes in a way that you feel what the people went through, and Lowe does this well. If you like history or WWII history, specifically, I think you would enjoy this book. The main reason is because Lowe tells about a little known town affected by the war and the Allies. Not that Naples is little. It's just not talked about much what the town and people went through during this time.

Published: March 11, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martins Press, and Keith Lowe for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #KeithLowe #Naples1944 #ARC #History #Nonfiction #Read2025

[Elgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was amazed at the amount od damage done to Naples by the allied bombing and the fleeing Germans. The city was certainly a mess when the Allies "liberated" Naples. It seems to me that the Allies did a remarkable job of getting water, electricity, the port area, and sewage up and running again, all while fighting incredibly hard to push the Germans North and out of Italy. However it seems to me that the author is placing too much blame on the Allies for the problems that they could not and were not prepared to address (hunger, prostitution, the black market, etc.) This was a learning experience for the Allies...some city had to be first. With hindsight, could some things have been done better, of course! But the Italians (at least those who jumped on or cheered for the Facist government) must carry a lot of the blame. In addition, the Italian military did terrible things in North Africa. All of this does not mean that the Italian people needed to suffer in return, but actions do have consequences, however distantly related.

Overall a very interested and informative book. I have traveled a bit in Northers Italy and Sicily...this book has sparked my interest in visiting Naples and other cities in Southern Italy.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a vivid and unflinching portrayal of a city teetering on the edge of chaos after World War II. As someone who appreciates historical narratives, I found the descriptions of Naples' contrasts—opulent palaces amidst dire poverty, and beloved cuisine against widespread hunger—particularly compelling. Lowe’s detailed recounting of the Allied soldiers' impact on the city, from their relative wealth to their role in fueling the black market, paints a stark picture of post-war realities.

However, while the book is undeniably informative and the historical context is rich, I felt that the narrative occasionally dragged, making it a bit challenging to stay fully engaged throughout. The chaotic and corrupt atmosphere of Naples is well-documented, but the repetitive emphasis on violence and disorder sometimes overshadowed the human stories at the heart of the city’s transformation.

[Deb Hudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War* is a raw, unflinching portrayal of a city devastated by World War II. The book paints a bleak yet deeply human picture of Naples in the aftermath of Nazi occupation and Allied liberation. The people suffer—starvation, corruption, and desperation defining their daily lives. Prostitution flourishes, children steal to survive, and black markets thrive amid the ruins.

The writing is gritty, almost painful to read, as it immerses the reader in the filth, hunger, and despair of war-torn Naples. Yet, despite the horror, there’s resilience. The Neapolitans, battered but unbroken, cling to life with a mix of cunning and fatalism. The book doesn’t shy away from brutality—executions, violence, and moral decay are starkly depicted.

This isn’t just a war memoir; it’s a haunting look at survival in the ruins. The Devil’s Paradise, indeed—a place of suffering, but also of unyielding life.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keith Lowe’s Naples 1944 offers a clear and deeply researched look at the city of Naples during World War II, focusing on its role as the first European city to be liberated from Nazi control. The book highlights not just the military victory, but the human cost of survival and the moral challenges faced by both soldiers and civilians. Lowe also explores the lasting lessons the world learned from this liberation.

I found the book to be highly informative, and it gave me new insight into parts of World War II history I hadn’t encountered before—especially the role of the resistance and the complex aftermath of freeing a city from occupation. While the level of detail added depth, it also made the book read slowly at times, and I felt the same impact could have been achieved with fewer pages. Still, it was a fascinating and worthwhile read that made me think more critically about the realities of war beyond the battlefield.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keith Lowe has chronicled, a subject we don’t always talk about, the terrible and often unexpected consequences of war. Both are magnified in Naples, Italy. Even before the fall of Mussolini, Naples was a city of contrast and the allied occupation of it intensified it. While the allied forced sis repair a lot of the infrastructure that was destroyed by the Germans, they also did a lot of damage to the women and men of Naples, and the economy.

I appreciated Lowe for acknowlg=dgin the fact few if any primary sources exist when it comes to some of the subject he wrote about in the book, because of shame. He also acknowledges as an outsider, he is not the one to do those interviews. We often gloss over the damage both sides do during war. I enjoyed this read. If you are a WWII history nerd, please read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a nonfiction book reader, usually. But this book called to me. I am a huge WWII reader and I love when I find a book that tells the story of something I do not know a lot about. Naples is a part of WWII that I did not know much about, other than it is in Italy.

Naples 1944 is a true nonfiction book. There are parts of stories within each chapter but it reads as nonfiction. I found it be a slow read with many facts and attention to details. I was able to picture Naples as the Allies found it destroyed from the Nazi’s leaving. The devastation was complete and the paradise they were promised did not exist.

The book is full of facts, at time the facts seemed overwhelming and I would have liked more narrative. It is a book that I read over a long period of time and while reading a fiction book to give my brain a break from all the facts.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this audiobook just prior to a trip to Italy last month and thought I might listen to it as I would be spending a few days in Naples. I have to say, based on this book I am surprised Naples allows US citizens entrance to the city based on the way the allies treated Naples in the closing years of the war. I am woefully ignorant of European and World War history, something I am trying to remedy, and this book made life in Naples come to life in all its gritty and complicated detail. Lowe actually goes overboard in disturbing detail, but he tells it like it was and I was fine with that. He delves into the long past history of the city, conqueror after conqueror, but does mostly concentrate on Naples after the arrival of the allies. History is just not pretty, by and large. But, on the upside, my few days in Naples were a lovely experience.

[Gary Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written book detailing the hardships that the people of Naples has to suffer through during WWII. It also covered other periods of history for the city at a high level. I learnt so much about the Fascist regime and different the south of Italy was treated by the north. It was also interesting to learn how the allied occupation influenced the shape of things to come after the war in terms of development but also government. It is easier to understand now why Italy for so long has struggled to have a government that is not a coalition. It is always so nice to read books like this that go into so much depth but on a subject that is not too broad i.e. just the focus on Naples predominantly between 1943-1945!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aftermath of war can be as deadly as war itself. That was nowhere as true as in Naples, after the German retreat in 1944. Keith Lowe brings alive the terrible conditions faced by the shell-shocked citizens of Naples and the uneven response of Allied occupation forces. Disease and starvation took many lives, but Lowe also delves into the misery Naples endured as Allied soldiers took advantage of women (and very young girls) desperate for food. Deeply researched and affecting, this is a recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.

[Neal Fandek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first third of the book, about the Allied occupation, is informative, enlightening, sometimes shocking, and… Ultimately rather boring. I think it’s the writing at fault here: The author has a ton of statistics and first hand accounts to back this up, but the narrative itself is rather anemic. The second third, regarding the Neapolitans resistance to and kicking out of the Germans in those 4 days, is riveting; and the last third, the consequences post war to decades later, fascinating. Essentially, we could have remade Italy as we did Japan and Germany, but didn’t. There was no real plan, and the post war chaos can be directly tied to Allied inaction.

[Regős Pál · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, I have never been especially interested in the Italian side of WW2. I read lots of books about events in the East and West, but not Italy. I picked this volume for the sole reason of its writer, Keith Lowe, whose previous books I devoured with huge pleasure. In this one, Mr Lowe told the story of wartime Naples with such vividity and compassion that I find myself once more marvelling at how it can be done in a history book. I'm impressed again.
Somehow, I have never been especially interested in the Italian side of WW2. Now I am.

[Ryan Fredrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Naples 1944 starts strongly. It provides a coherent and well structured account of the war in the south of Italy and Naples. Unfortunately the wheels fall off from about the half way point. The book frequently repeats itself and the level of research seems to tail off dramatically. The time line of events also becomes scattered. Another oddity is the amount of grammatical errors present. It gives the whole work a lazy feel.
The essence of the book could of realistically been achieved in a book half the size.

[Stephen King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read Keith Lowe’s other book about the aftermath of the Second World War which was magisterial. This more laser focused account of the events surrounding the capture of Naples and its succeeding months is no less impressive. Lowe points out the multiple planning and logistical failures of the allies and the consequences they set in motion for postwar Italy in terms of economic attention to the North, compromises over the rehabilitation of facists and much more. Highly recommended.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happened to Naples during and after the War?
Not something I had any knowledge of. With reading Naples 1944, you get so much history of what the Naples citizens had to endure.
The story is brim full of facts….so many that at times I felt a bit flooded with information.
Definitely the perfect book to read for WWII history fans.
Highly recommended for readers of historical moments in history.

[Marcos Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eight Circle of Hell

While there are some inaccuracies, the author makes a great job of describing Naples and its surrounding areas after the allied landings; some parts make for difficult reading, but overall it shows the hellish condition of the city during the Second World War. Great read.

[Visubooks (Sofia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read! This felt very comprehensive with a lot of information that felt easy to digest and follow along too! I learn quite a bit from this recount and felt like it went over everything even the nitty gritty details of what happened during these events! This book created a vivid picture of the events in 1944 Naples that immersed me in the story while still giving an excellent analysis of events! Definitely recommend giving this one a read!