Ronconi, Guido Hitler's Fallschirmjäger's daring Attack on the Italian Army Headquarters in 1943

One of the last Airborne Operations by German Paratroopers in WW2

On 3 September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies. This posed an immediate threat to Germany's southern flank, and Hitler acted quickly. As part of Operation Achse, the 2nd Parachute Division was ordered to Rome on 8 September 1943 to control the city, disarm the Italian units stationed there and crush any resistance. However, the Italian Army headquarters in the nearby town of Monterotondo refused to surrender. The task of taking over this outpost and capturing the Italian Army Chief of Staff, General Mario Roatta, was assigned to a battalion of German paratroopers, II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, under the command of Major Walter Gericke. Gericke's men were dropped over Monterotondo on 9 September. The paratroopers soon encountered fierce resistance from the Italian defenders. They held out stubbornly throughout the day until the headquarters was finally taken. Three war correspondents had parachuted in with the paratroopers. Together, they took hundreds of photographs, most of which had never been printed before. Their reports and eyewitness accounts from those involved in the fighting were used to create a vivid and comprehensive picture of the battle. Each of the most important actions in the battle for the city is described. These included the fighting for the Monterotondo railway station, the Santa Maria stadium and the Osteria del Grillo, the Capuchin monastery and, finally, the desperate battle and capture of the Italian headquarters in the Orsini Palace. The book also includes an analysis of the losses on both sides, biographies of the key commanders, and the original plan for what was considered a perfect drop. Despite the success of Major Gericke's battalion, this would be one of the last airborne operations carried out by Hitler's paratroopers in World War II.