WWII Timeline Project from the Italians Perspective

War Declared on Italy

Jun 10, 1940

Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Italy within two days of each other.

Strengthening ties of Axis Power

Sep 27, 1940

Through the Tripartite Pact Japan, Germany and Italy strengthen their ties to each other by stating an enemy of an ally is an enemy to them all.

Invasion of Greece

Oct 28, 1940

Italy been planning on invading Greece for 13 days, unknown to the Germans, then they marched into Greece with 70,000 men.

Greece Surrenders

Apr 20, 1941

After months of fighting and trying to take land and the Italians retreating from the Greece resistance, Greece finally surrenders to Germany and Italy. The resistance officially ends with Italians conquering Athens.

Official War Declaration

Dec 11, 1941

Germany and Italy side with Japan and officially declare war on the United States

First Battle of El Alamein

Jul 1, 1942

Erwin Rommel-German General- hopes to put a dent in the Allied forces in El Alamein. This marked the culmination of the WWII North African campaign between the British and the German. Consisted of Africa corps and 3 Italian troop corps. The battle lasted for a month

Axis Powers pushed from Africa

Nov 4, 1942

British capture Tel el Aqqaqir, ending the battle in favor of the Allied power. Makes German retreat throughout Africa ending all Axis Power on Africa.

Mussolini is overthrown

Jul 25, 1943

Benito Mussolini is voted out of power by his Grand Council. He is also arrested and replaced by General Pietro Badoglio. The rumor was Mussolini was looking for a way out of power since he felt the war was lost so he didn't fight when he lost power, leaving the council with the question of whether to keep fighting or to surrender.

Allied Powers take Sicily

Aug 12, 1943

Long battles have been fought over cities in Sicily, but a day ahead of the Allied Powers the Axis Powers start retreating. They rescue 100,000 soldiers, but the rest are taken prisoner.

Italy's surrender announced

Sep 28, 1943

The new prime minister Pietro Badoglio signed the surrender ending all hostilities with the United Nations.

Italy switched sides

Oct 13, 1943

After the Italy surrender the Allied power's ask Italy to push Germany occupants out. Dislike of the Germans had grown with the waning of the fighting spirit, Italy obliged. Through the Italian peninsula the Allies defeated the Nazi's. With this Italy hoped to get better role in Europe in the peace settlement.

Hitler's Ultimatum to Field Marshal Kesselring

Jan 28, 1944

Hitler gives Field Marshal Kesselring- Commander and chief of Allied operation- to fight till the death and drive the invading Allied forces into the sea.

Churchill writes letter to Commander in Chief in Italy

Feb 12, 1944

In his letter Churchill critiques the progress of the Commander and Chief of the Allied operations. He says he expected "a wild cat roaring" instead he sees "a whale wallowing on the beaches."

Italian War

Feb 19, 1944

Winter arrives in Italy and postpones any further offensives of the Allied powers for the next month.

Mussolini Executed

Apr 28, 1945

Mussolini was executed along with his wife by Italian Partisans in the final days of WWII, in the town of Giulino di Mezzegra. They were shot and then their corpses were left hung upside down.