Initially the resistance movement was composed of independent troops, spontaneously formed by members of political parties previously outlawed by the Fascist regime or by former officers of the disbanded Royal Army loyal to the monarchy. Later the Committee of National Liberation created by the Italian Communist Party, the Italian Socialist Party, the Partito d'Azione (a republican liberal party), Democrazia Cristiana and other minor parties took control of th ...

See also:

Italian resistance movement, Italian resistance movement - Origins of the movement, Italian resistance movement - List of partisan governments

Read more here: » Italian resistance movement: Encyclopedia II - Italian resistance movement - Origins of the movement

April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. April 28 - Events. 1253 - Nichiren, a Japanese Buddhist monk, propounds Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for the first time and declares it to be the essence of Buddhism, in effect founding Nichiren Buddhism. 1788 - Maryland becomes the 7th state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. 1789 - Mutiny on the HMS Bounty. Captain William ...

Including:

• April 28 - Events
• April 28 - Births
• April 28 - Deaths
• April 28 - Holidays and observances

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After the German invasion in 1943, the anti-Semitic persecutions have increased. The Fascists and the Germans have began arresting the Jews and sending them to concentration camps. When Eugenio had learned about the capture of his family and the fact that they had been kept in Florence's Le Murate prison, he tried to organize their escape. His efforts were in vain. In May 1944 they were all deported to a concentration camp in Fossoli, and on the 16th of the same month were sent on to Auschwitz. His wife Carolina gave birth to their fourth son while on the train. His family was killed by ...

See also:

Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - German occupation, Eugenio Calò - San Polo massacre, Eugenio Calò - Gold medal for military valour, Eugenio Calò - Remembering Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - References and bibliography

Read more here: » Eugenio Calò: Encyclopedia II - Eugenio Calò - German occupation

The following groups may differ widely in numbers and in activity: Resistance movement - Post-World War II. Resistance movement - World War II. See also Resistance during World War II Communist resistance, in several countries Albanian resistance movement Belgian resistance movement Czech Resistance movement Danish resistance movement Dutch resistance movement Valkenburg resistance ...

See also:

Resistance movement, Resistance movement - Background, Resistance movement - Resistance movements, Resistance movement - Post-World War II, Resistance movement - World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-20th Century, Resistance movement - Notable individuals in resistance movements, Resistance movement - World War II anti-Nazi anti-Fascist, Resistance movement - Other Resistance Movements

Read more here: » Resistance movement: Encyclopedia II - Resistance movement - Resistance movements

An intricate series of resistance operations were launched in France prior to, and during, Operation Overlord. On June 5 1944, the BBC broadcasted a group of unusual sentences, which the Germans knew were code words—possibly for the invasion of Normandy. The BBC would regularly transmit hundreds of personal messages, of which only a few were really significant. A few days before D-Day, the commanding officers of the Resistance heard the first line of Verlaine's poem , Chanson d'Automne, "Les sanglots longs des violons de l'automn ...

See also:

Resistance during World War II, Resistance during World War II - Organisation, Resistance during World War II - Forms of resistance, Resistance during World War II - Famous resistance operations, Resistance during World War II - Resistance movements during World War II, Resistance during World War II - Notable individuals, Resistance during World War II - Documentaries, Resistance during World War II - Dramatisations

Read more here: » Resistance during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Resistance during World War II - Famous resistance operations

Italy declared war on Britain and France on 10 June 1940. O'Connor was appointed Commander of the Western Desert Force, and tasked to protect Egypt and the Suez Canal from Italian attack. To accomplish this, O'Connor planned to use a screen of light tanks and armored cars, supported by artillery, to delay the Italians led by Marshal Rodolfo Graziani. In command of this delaying force was Brigadier General Gott. Meanwhile, the main force was to retreat towards Mersa Matruh and the Baggush Box where strong fixed defences had been prepared. These would stop the Italians long enough for re ...

See also:

Richard O'Connor, Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War, Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years, Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass, Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture, Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy, Richard O'Connor - Operation Market Garden India and afterwards

Read more here: » Richard O'Connor: Encyclopedia II - Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Following this event, Mussolini would change his mind repeatedly as to whether or not he intended to enter the war. The British commander in Africa, General Wavell, was correct in arguing that Mussolini's pride would ultimately cause him to enter the war. Wavell would compare Mussolini's situation to that of someone at the top of a diving board, "I think he must do something. If he cannot make a graceful dive he will at least have to j ...

See also:

Military history of Italy during World War II, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War, Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy attacks Greece, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean, Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Soft Underbelly

Read more here: » Military history of Italy during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII

Resistance movement - World War II anti-Nazi anti-Fascist. Mordechaj Anielewicz Josip Broz - Tito Jean Moulin Christian Pineau Hannie Schaft Nancy Wake Jan Karski Resistance movement - Other Resistance Movements. Rummu Jüri Laura Secord Aivar Voitka Ülo Voitka ...

See also:

Resistance movement, Resistance movement - Background, Resistance movement - Resistance movements, Resistance movement - Post-World War II, Resistance movement - World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-20th Century, Resistance movement - Notable individuals in resistance movements, Resistance movement - World War II anti-Nazi anti-Fascist, Resistance movement - Other Resistance Movements

Read more here: » Resistance movement: Encyclopedia II - Resistance movement - Notable individuals in resistance movements

After September 8, 1943, the German invasion army was ordered by the highest authorities not to obey the Geneva Convention nor normal rules of war and to have no mercy towards the civilian population. The high German command promised to give complete protection against all accusations of brutality. A specific order was issued to torture and kill everyone found with weapons and to terrorize the unarmed civilian population. For every Germ ...

See also:

Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - German occupation, Eugenio Calò - San Polo massacre, Eugenio Calò - Gold medal for military valour, Eugenio Calò - Remembering Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - References and bibliography

Read more here: » Eugenio Calò: Encyclopedia II - Eugenio Calò - San Polo massacre

O'Connor was born in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, on 21 August 1889. The son of a Major in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and maternal grandson of a former Governor of India's central provinces, he was destined for an army career. Young Richard attended Tonbridge Castle School in 1899 and The Towers School in Crowthorne in 1902. In 1903, after his father's death in an accident, he transferred to Wellington School ...

See also:

Richard O'Connor, Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War, Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years, Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass, Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture, Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy, Richard O'Connor - Operation Market Garden India and afterwards

Read more here: » Richard O'Connor: Encyclopedia II - Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War

On 21 January 1944 O'Connor became commander of VIII Corps. It consisted of the Guards and 11th Armoured Divisions, 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division along with 6 Guards Tank Brigade, 8 Group Royal Artillery and 2 Household Cavalry Regiment. A powerful force, but one still in need of much training and preparation for the upcoming Operation Overlord. O'Connor proved more than up to the task, and over the following months the Corps would conduct many training operations in Yorkshire, including ones involving the new mine-clearing flail tanks. ...

See also:

Richard O'Connor, Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War, Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years, Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass, Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture, Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy, Richard O'Connor - Operation Market Garden India and afterwards

Read more here: » Richard O'Connor: Encyclopedia II - Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy

From 1920 to 1921 he attended the Staff College at Camberley. O'Connor's other service in the years between the world wars included an appointment (from 1921 to 1924) as Brigade Major of the Experimental Brigade (or 5 Brigade), which was formed to test methods and procedures for using tanks and aircraft in co-ordination with infantry and artillery. Many of the theories of mechanised, combined arms manoeuvre warfare put forth by J.F.C. Fuller (the brigade's commander), Liddell Hart, Heinz Guderian, and o ...

See also:

Richard O'Connor, Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War, Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years, Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass, Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture, Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy, Richard O'Connor - Operation Market Garden India and afterwards

Read more here: » Richard O'Connor: Encyclopedia II - Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years

In a grand strategic sense, however, the victory of Operation Compass was not yet complete. O'Connor was fully aware of this and urged Wavell to allow him to push on to Tripoli with all due haste to finish off the Italians in North Africa. Wavell concurred, and XIII Corps resumed its advance. But O'Connor's new offensive would prove short-lived. When the Corps reached El Agheila, just to the southwest of Beda Fomm, Churchill ordered the advance to halt there. The Axis had invaded Greece and Wavell was ordered to send all available forces the ...

See also:

Richard O'Connor, Richard O'Connor - Early life and the First World War, Richard O'Connor - Inter-War years, Richard O'Connor - The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass, Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture, Richard O'Connor - VIII Corps and Normandy, Richard O'Connor - Operation Market Garden India and afterwards

Read more here: » Richard O'Connor: Encyclopedia II - Richard O'Connor - The tide turns and capture

Resistance movements can include any irregular armed force that rises up against an enforced or established authority, government, or administration. This frequently includes groups that consider themselves to be resisting tyranny. Some resistance movements are underground organizations engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military occupation or totalitarian domination. Tactics of resistance movements against a constituted authority range from nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, to industrial sabo ...

See also:

Resistance movement, Resistance movement - Background, Resistance movement - Resistance movements, Resistance movement - Post-World War II, Resistance movement - World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-World War II, Resistance movement - Pre-20th Century, Resistance movement - Notable individuals in resistance movements, Resistance movement - World War II anti-Nazi anti-Fascist, Resistance movement - Other Resistance Movements

Read more here: » Resistance movement: Encyclopedia II - Resistance movement - Background

In addition to the well known campaigns in the western desert during 1940, an additional front was opened by the Italians in June 1940. That was around their colonies of Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland and Eritrea in east Africa. As in Egypt, the Italian forces with ~70,000 Italian soldiers and ~180,000 native troops outnumbered their British opponents, but Ethiopia was isolated from the Italian mainland, and thus cut off from resupply, whi ...

See also:

Military history of Italy during World War II, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War, Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy attacks Greece, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean, Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Soft Underbelly

Read more here: » Military history of Italy during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa

Within a week of Italy's declaration of war, the British 11th Hussars had seized Fort Capuzzo and, in an ambush east of Bardia, the Tenth Army's Engineer in Chief, General Lastucci, was captured. Mussolini ordered Marshal Graziani, commanding the Tenth Army in Libya, to attack into Egypt. Graziani wondered how he was possibly expected to succeed, but tried anyway. On September 13, 1940, the Tenth Army crossed the border and the assault would eventually carry through to Sidi Barrani, ~ ...

See also:

Military history of Italy during World War II, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War, Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy attacks Greece, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean, Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Soft Underbelly

Read more here: » Military history of Italy during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War

The San Polo massacre is commemorated every year, as is the liberation of Arezzo on July 16, 1944. The local religious, civilian and military authorities participate in the ceremony. There are streets in Arezzo and Florence bearing the names of Eugenio and Angelo and in the town of Quarata near Arezzo there is a school named after Eugenio Calò. ...

See also:

Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - German occupation, Eugenio Calò - San Polo massacre, Eugenio Calò - Gold medal for military valour, Eugenio Calò - Remembering Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - References and bibliography

Read more here: » Eugenio Calò: Encyclopedia II - Eugenio Calò - Remembering Eugenio Calò

The Regia Marina (Italian Navy) could not match the overall strength of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, and wisely declined to engage in a confrontation of capital ships. Since Britain's major problem was one of supply and protecting convoys supplying her outposts in the Mediterranean, the mere continued existence of the Italian fleet (the so called Fleet in being) caused problems to the Bri ...

See also:

Military history of Italy during World War II, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War, Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy attacks Greece, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean, Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Soft Underbelly

Read more here: » Military history of Italy during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean

On December 8, the British Operation Compass began. Planned as an extended raid, a force of British, Indian and Australian troops succeeded in cutting off the Italian troops. Pressing their advantage home, General O'Connor pressed the attack forward and succeeded in reaching El Agheila (an advance of 500 miles) and capturing tens of thousands of enemy. The Italian army was virtually destroyed, and it seemed that the Italians would be swept out of Libya. However Winston Churchill ordered that the advance be stopped and troops dispatched to defend Greece. Weeks later th ...

See also:

Military history of Italy during World War II, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Beginning of WWII, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy Enters the War, Military history of Italy during World War II - East Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - Italy attacks Greece, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Naval War in the Mediterranean, Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa, Military history of Italy during World War II - The Soft Underbelly

Read more here: » Military history of Italy during World War II: Encyclopedia II - Military history of Italy during World War II - On the defensive in North Africa

Eugenio had spared the lives of some thirty captured German soldiers and insisted on acting in a humane way, even though his own family (his wife Carolina Lombroso, daughter Elena and sons Renzo and Albertino) had been captured and sent to Auschwitz only a couple of months earlier. For his military activities against the Germans as a member of the Italian resistance movement, for his contribution as second in command of the "Pio Borri" partisan division that patroled the Casentino mountains in Tuscany, for his bravery, and for his humanity, Eugenio Calò was awarded in 1947 the highest honor for mi ...

See also:

Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - German occupation, Eugenio Calò - San Polo massacre, Eugenio Calò - Gold medal for military valour, Eugenio Calò - Remembering Eugenio Calò, Eugenio Calò - References and bibliography

Read more here: » Eugenio Calò: Encyclopedia II - Eugenio Calò - Gold medal for military valour