Triumph and Tragedy (The Second World War) (101 page)

Meanwhile the March negotiations for an armistice had probably come to Himmler’s ears. Certainly he sent for General Wolff, the principal envoy and a high S.S. official in Italy, and questioned him closely. There was then a pause before the force of facts overcame German hesitancies, but on April 24 Wolff reappeared in Switzerland with full powers from Vietinghoff. I hastened to tell the Russians.

Prime

Minister

to

26 Apr. 45

Marshal Stalin

This is about “Crossword.” The German envoys, with
whom all contact was broken by us some days ago,
have now arrived again on the Lake of Lucerne. They
claim to have full powers to surrender the Army in Italy.

Triumph and Tragedy

622

Field-Marshal Alexander is therefore being told that he
is free to permit these envoys to come to A.F.H.Q. in
Italy. This they can easily do by going into France and
being picked up by our aircraft from there. Will you
please send Russian representatives forthwith to Field-Marshal Alexander’s headquarters.

Field-Marshal Alexander is free to accept the
unconditional surrender of the considerable enemy
army on his front, but all political issues are reserved to
the three Governments.

2. You will notice that the surrender in Italy was not
mentioned in the telegrams I sent you a few hours ago
about Himmler’s proposed surrender in the west and
north.
4
We have spent a lot of blood in Italy, and the
capture of the German armies south of the Alps is a
prize dear to the hearts of the British nation, with whom
in this matter the United States have shared the costs
and perils.

3. All the above is for your personal information. Our
Staff have telegraphed to the American Staff in order
that the Combined Anglo-American Staff may send
instructions in the same sense to Field-Marshal
Alexander, who will be told to keep your High
Command fully informed through the Anglo-American
Military Missions in Moscow.

Two plenipotentiaries were brought to Alexander’s headquarters, and on April 29, they signed the instrument of unconditional surrender in the presence of high British, American, and Russian officers.

I duly informed Moscow.

Prime

Minister

to

29 Apr. 45

Marshal Stalin

I have just received a telegram from Field-Marshal
Alexander that after a meeting at which your officers
were present the Germans accepted the terms of
unconditional surrender presented to them and are
sending the material clauses of the instrument of

Triumph and Tragedy

623

surrender to General von Vietinghoff, with the request
to name the date and hour at which conclusion of
hostilities can be made effective. It looks therefore as if
the entire German forces south of the Alps will almost
immediately surrender.

On May 2 nearly a million Germans surrendered as prisoners of war, and the war in Italy ended.

For Mussolini also the end had come. Like Hitler he seems to have kept his illusions until almost the last moment. Late in March he had paid a final visit to his German partner, and returned to his headquarters on Lake Garda buoyed up with the thought of the secret weapons which could still lead to victory. But the rapid Allied advance from the Apennines made these hopes vain. There was hectic talk of a last stand in the mountainous areas on the Italo-Swiss frontier.

But there was no will to fight left in the Italian Socialist Republic.

On April 25 Mussolini decided to disband the remnants of his armed forces and to ask the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan to arrange a meeting with the underground Military Committee of the Italian National Liberation Movement.

That afternoon talks took place in the Archbishop’s palace, but with a last furious gesture of independence Mussolini walked out. In the evening, followed by a convoy of thirty vehicles containing most of the surviving leaders of Italian Fascism, he drove to the prefecture at Como. He had no coherent plan, and as discussion became useless it was each man for himself. Accompanied by a handful of supporters he attached himself to a small German convoy heading towards the Swiss frontier. The commander of the column was not anxious for trouble with Italian Partisans.

Triumph and Tragedy

624

The Duce was persuaded to put on a German greatcoat and helmet. But the little party was stopped by Partisan patrols; Mussolini was recognised and taken into custody.

Other members, including his mistress Signorina Petacci, were also arrested. On Communist instructions the Duce and his mistress were taken out in a car next day and shot.

Their bodies, together with others, were sent to Milan and strung up head downward on meat-hooks in a petrol station on the Piazzale Loreto, where a group of Italian Partisans had lately been shot in public.

Such was the fate of the Italian dictator.

A photograph of the final scene was sent to me, and I was profoundly shocked.

Minister

to

Field-

10 May 45

Marshal

Alexander

(Italy)

I have seen the photograph.

The man who murdered Mussolini made a
confession, published in the Daily Express, gloating
over the treacherous and cowardly method of his
action. In particular he said he shot Mussolini’s,
mistress. Was she on the list of war criminals? Had he
any authority from anybody to shoot this woman? It
seems to me the cleansing hand of British military
power should make inquiries on these: points.

But at least the world was spared an Italian Nuremberg.

I sent my congratulations to the victorious commanders and their men.

Triumph and Tragedy

625

Prime

Minister

to

29 Apr. 45

Field-Marshal

Alexander

I rejoice in the magnificently planned and executed
operations of the Fifteenth Group of Armies, which are
resulting in the complete destruction or capture of all
the enemy forces south of the Alps. That you and
General Mark Clark should have been able to
accomplish these tremendous and decisive results
against a superior number of enemy divisions, after you
have made great sacrifices of whole armies for the
Western Front, is indeed another proof of your genius
for war and of the intimate brotherhood in arms
between the British Commonwealth and Imperial forces
and those of the United States. Never, I suppose, have
so many nations advanced and manoeuvred in one line
victoriously. The British, Americans, New Zealanders,
South Africans, British-Indians, Poles, Jews, Brazilians,
and strong forces of liberated Italians have all marched
together in that high comradeship and unity of men
fighting for freedom and for the deliverance of mankind.

This great final battle in Italy will long stand out in
history as one of the most famous episodes in this
Second World War. Pray give my heartfelt congratulations to all your commanders and principal officers of all
Services, and above all to the valiant and ardent troops
whom they have led with so much skill.

Prime

Minister

to

3 May 45

General Clark

Pray let me send you and your gallant men my most
heartfelt thanks for all you have done to make this great
victory possible.

To President Truman I telegraphed:

Prime

Minister

to

3 May 45

President Truman

Triumph and Tragedy

626

I have received the generous tribute to Field-Marshal Alexander and the Allied Forces under his
command which you, Mr. President, have sent me. I
forwarded it to him immediately, as you desired, and
have requested him to reply direct to you. I know that
he will value profoundly, as also do indeed the nations
of the British Commonwealth represented in these
campaigns, the warmth of the feelings which you
express. May I also, in my turn, express British
gratitude for the services of the highest quality, both in
counsel and on the battle-line, of General Mark Clark of
the United States Army, who commanded the fighting
front with its magnificent United States divisions, and
whose comradeship with Field-Marshal Alexander,
shared by this Army of many States and races, will long
be cherished in both our countries and commended by
history.

I also sent a message to Signor Bonomi.

Prime

Minister

to

3 May 45

Signor Bonomi

On the occasion of the surrender of the German
armed forces in Italy I send Your Excellency, on behalf
of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, a
message of warm congratulation on the final liberation
of Italian territory from our common enemy, and in
particular on the part played by the Italian regular
forces and Patriots behind the lines.

2. The knowledge that they have contributed to this
unprecedented victory and have materially accelerated
the cleansing of their country’s soil will, I trust, be a
source of strength to the Italian people in the no less
strenuous days which lie ahead….

3. I extend to Your Excellency the good wishes of
His Majesty’s Government for the great work of
reconstruction which now faces the Italian Government
and people.

4. I look forward to the time, which cannot be long
delayed, when Italy, whose forces have co-operated in
Triumph and Tragedy

627

war with those of the United Nations, will work with the
United Nations in the more fruitful labours of peace.

Thus ended our twenty months’ campaign in Italy. Our losses had been grievous, but those of the enemy, even before the final surrender, far heavier. The principal task of our armies had been to draw off and contain the greatest possible number of Germans. This had been admirably fulfilled. Except for a short period in the summer of 1944, the enemy had always outnumbered us. At the time of their crisis in August of that year no fewer than fifty-five German divisions were deployed along the Mediterranean fronts.