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Rome - City in Terror: The Nazi Occupation 1943–44
From the street fighting that heralded the German occupation to the Gestapo repression that followed, this is the gripping story of the German occupation of Rome from the Italian armistice in September 1943 until the Allied liberation of the city on June 5, 1944.
In September 1943, following wave upon wave of Allied bombing, Italy announced an armistice with the Allies. Shortly afterwards, the German army disarmed Italian forces and, despite military and partisan resistance, quickly overran Rome. City in Terror is a comprehensive history of the nine-month-long German occupation of the city that followed.
The Gestapo wasted no time enforcing an iron grip on the city once the occupation was in place. They swiftly eliminated the Carabinieri, the Italian paramilitary force, rounded up thousands of Italians to build extensive defensive lines across Italy, and, at 5am one morning, arrested more than 1,000 Roman Jews and sent them to Auschwitz. Resistance, however, remained strong. To aid the thousands of Allied POWs who escaped after the dissolution of the Italian army, priests, diplomats, and escaped ex-POWs operating out of the Vatican formed a nationwide organization called the “Escape Line.” More than 4,000 Allied POWs scattered all over Italy were sheltered, clothed, and fed by these courageous Italians, whose lives were forfeit if their activities were discovered. Meanwhile, as food became scarce and the Gestapo began to raid on homes and institutions, Italian partisan fighters launched attack after attack on German military units in the city, with the threat of execution never far away.
This is the compelling story of an Eternal City brought low, of the terror and hardship of occupation, and of the disparate army of partisan fighters, displaced aristocrats, Vatican priests, Allied POWs, and ordinary citizens who battled for the liberation of Rome.
In September 1943, following wave upon wave of Allied bombing, Italy announced an armistice with the Allies. Shortly afterwards, the German army disarmed Italian forces and, despite military and partisan resistance, quickly overran Rome. City in Terror is a comprehensive history of the nine-month-long German occupation of the city that followed.
The Gestapo wasted no time enforcing an iron grip on the city once the occupation was in place. They swiftly eliminated the Carabinieri, the Italian paramilitary force, rounded up thousands of Italians to build extensive defensive lines across Italy, and, at 5am one morning, arrested more than 1,000 Roman Jews and sent them to Auschwitz. Resistance, however, remained strong. To aid the thousands of Allied POWs who escaped after the dissolution of the Italian army, priests, diplomats, and escaped ex-POWs operating out of the Vatican formed a nationwide organization called the “Escape Line.” More than 4,000 Allied POWs scattered all over Italy were sheltered, clothed, and fed by these courageous Italians, whose lives were forfeit if their activities were discovered. Meanwhile, as food became scarce and the Gestapo began to raid on homes and institutions, Italian partisan fighters launched attack after attack on German military units in the city, with the threat of execution never far away.
This is the compelling story of an Eternal City brought low, of the terror and hardship of occupation, and of the disparate army of partisan fighters, displaced aristocrats, Vatican priests, Allied POWs, and ordinary citizens who battled for the liberation of Rome.
496 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 19, 2020
Rome City In terror by Victor Failmezger is a wonderfully detailed book about the occupation of Rome by the Nazi's during World War Two. It was a incredible heartfelt story of perseverance from Italians, the Escaped Pow's; and the Vatican Church against insurmountable odds of survival. Failmezger did not just write a book about facts; he wrote a book about the story behind those facts as well. It read like a Historical Fiction Novel which made the book very easy to follow. I also really liked that the author had a section that explained what happened to all of the people after the occupation and the war was over. I would give this book a five out of five stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about History. Especially the World War Two Buffs!
October 26, 2020
This book caught my attention because in the early 1950's Brother Robert Pace, frequently mentioned in this narrative, addressed my high school's student body about this period in Rome, the nine months of Nazi occupation. A biographical article is linked HERE. When Brother Robert spoke to us, I believe he was organizing help for Italian youths maimed by armaments buried in their playgrounds.
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The book is gripping, detailed, and well-constructed. The author helps the reader by referring backwards to where we met the person before. Heroes are many, as all sorts of people helped the heroic escaped prisoners-of-war. The appendix is particularly useful, as it recapitulates what we have already read for each person and then explains what happened to them after the Allies arrived in 1944.
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The book is gripping, detailed, and well-constructed. The author helps the reader by referring backwards to where we met the person before. Heroes are many, as all sorts of people helped the heroic escaped prisoners-of-war. The appendix is particularly useful, as it recapitulates what we have already read for each person and then explains what happened to them after the Allies arrived in 1944.
September 12, 2020
Thank you netgalley and publishers for the book
"From the street fighting that heralded the German occupation to the Gestapo repression that followed, this is the gripping story of the German occupation of Rome from the Italian armistice in September 1943 until the Allied liberation of the city on June 5, 1944"
Author has done a lot of research to give detailed view of Rome in World war 2. This is a book better suited for history buff
"From the street fighting that heralded the German occupation to the Gestapo repression that followed, this is the gripping story of the German occupation of Rome from the Italian armistice in September 1943 until the Allied liberation of the city on June 5, 1944"
Author has done a lot of research to give detailed view of Rome in World war 2. This is a book better suited for history buff
September 25, 2020
Reading this I could tell the author has a passion for the topic and has done extensive research. I didn't know much about what it was like in Rome during the war, but the author provided me with a comprehensive understanding. I thought the material, though extensive, was brought to the reader in an easy to read manner.
October 8, 2020
Rome - City in Terror: The Nazi Occupation 1943–44 tells something I do not hear often about
World War II. It was quite interesting. I am giving it four stars.
World War II. It was quite interesting. I am giving it four stars.
August 16, 2021
Good history of the period. There were a massive number of name to keep track of.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews