Italy declares war on Nazi Germany

One month after the surrender of the Italian army, Prime Minister Pietro Badoglio declares war on Germany, Italy’s former Axis partner. Much of Italian territory, however, was still in German hands, and a puppet state led by deposed Italian leader Benito Mussolini was established in the north. Nevertheless, most Italians opposed Mussolini’s new government, and the Allies received invaluable aid from Italian resistance fighters during their continuing liberation of German-controlled Italy.