Watch Battle for Rome: WWII

The Allied capture of Rome during World War II occurred on June 4, 1944, when American forces entered the city, marking a symbolic victory and liberating the Italian capital from Axis occupation.

The Battle of Monte Cassino, fought from January to May 1944, was a series of four battles around the monastery between Allied and Axis forces, and its capture was crucial for the Allies in breaking the Gustav Line and advancing towards Rome, although the intense fighting and destruction incurred significant casualties on both sides.

Facing challenging terrain, fierce German resistance, and strategic stalemates, the campaign proved to be a protracted and difficult struggle for the Allies, contributing to the broader European theater.

The Allied campaign in Italy during World War II, launched in September 1943, involved a series of amphibious landings and subsequent advances up the Italian peninsula.

The invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, occurred in July 1943 when Allied forces, comprising primarily American, British, and Canadian troops, landed on the island. This successful amphibious operation marked a crucial step in the liberation of Italy from Axis control during World War II, opening up a new front in Southern Europe.

The German retreat in Africa during World War II was a gradual withdrawal of Axis forces, primarily led by General Erwin Rommel, from North Africa in 1943, marking the end of the Axis presence on the continent as Allied forces pursued them westward.

The Battle of El Alamein was a pivotal conflict in North Africa during World War II. It marked a decisive Allied victory over Axis forces, led by Germany and Italy, halting their advance into Egypt and ultimately leading to the Allies regaining control of North Africa. The success at El Alamein shifted the momentum in the favor of the Allies in the Mediterranean theater.

During World War II, Malta endured intense and sustained aerial bombardment by Axis forces due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean. Despite the relentless attacks, the Maltese, along with British and Allied defenders, successfully withstood the siege, earning the island a crucial role in disrupting Axis supply lines and contributing to the eventual Allied victory in North Africa.

The Battle of Crete showcased the strategic significance of airborne forces and led to the eventual occupation of the island by Axis powers. Nazi forces would later retreat in the face of Allied advances across the Mediterranean theater.

World War II in the Balkans was marked by rapid German-led invasions and occupations of countries in the region, including Yugoslavia and Greece, during April 1941. The resistance movements in the Balkans, comprising both communist and nationalist factions, engaged in guerrilla warfare against Axis forces, contributing to the eventual liberation of the region.

The early stages of World War II in North Africa primarily involved the conflict between the Axis powers, led by Germany and Italy, and the Allied forces, primarily represented by British and Commonwealth troops. The North African campaign was characterized by a series of back-and-forth battles and strategic maneuvers.

All roads lead to Rome and for the men of the Allied forces, it was a long and bloody one. It is estimated that between 1943 and 1945 some 90,000 Allied and 110,000 German soldiers died in Italy. This remarkable story of the men and the battles, portrays some of the most savage on any front of the Second World War.