NAPLES 1944

NAPLES 1944

by Keith Lowe.

In September 1943 Allied forces landed at Salerno approximately thirty miles south of Naples. Codenamed 'Operation Avalanche', it was the start of the Allied invasion of mainland Italy.

Badly planned and using many inexperienced soldiers, the invasion forces were met by German defenders who knew they were coming. It would cost thousands of lives and almost end in disaster on the Italian beaches.

When finally they could start to move towards Naples, the Allies would meet a scene of devastation at every turn. As the Germans retreated North, they had introduced a 'scorched earth' policy of leaving nothing of use for the Allies. From utilities to hospitals and factories, as the invading forces neared the city of Naples, fires across the city would light up the night as the Germans set about the destruction of the city.

On entering the city, Allied soldiers were engulfed by crowds of people now celebrating the first European city to be liberated. But many of the soldiers & the accompanying journalists soon noticed how dirty, thirsty and hungry the people were. In liberating Naples they had inadvertently marched into a humanitarian crisis. 

The retreating Germans had not only completely destroyed the docks and most of the road bridges, but essential water supplies, the sewage system and vital sources for food had also been eradicated, any livestock taken or killed.

Things had gotten so bad for the civilians that many had resorted to drinking sewage water! 

Even before the Allies had arrived Typhus was spreading. Slow to act initially, the Allies eventually would treat over three million people. An incredible achievement. 

The plight of the civilians is covered over many chapters. There are many stories both harrowing and heartbreaking.

The desperation for food led to much prostitution. Women and young girls were often pimped by their own husbands, fathers and brothers in exchange for money & tins of food. 

The behaviour of a select few Allied soldiers was even worse, as horrendous acts of rape were recorded.

The arrival of these so called liberators, would leave many scars that would never heal.

In a slight twist, the second part of the book goes back in time to describe what life was like for Naples under Mussolini, the outbreak of war and the arrival of the Germans. 

In another fascinating chapter titled 'The Four Days Of Naples' Keith reveals how armed Italian Partisans, some who were just young boys, took up arms against the retreating Germans. As previously mentioned, they were setting out to destroy huge parts of the city as the Allies approached. Ordinary civilians also became involved and in what Keith described as a 'civil war' the street fighting would also see these resistors up against Italian Fascists who had sided with the Germans.

The myth that the advancing Allies were the reason the city was almost empty of retreating Germans, is a misconception. This was no doubt fuelled by the Allies for propaganda purposes.

As we know, some of the actions by the Allies had not made them popular with the Italians. Anger grew when the Allies failed to arrest prominent Fascists known to have aided the occupying Germans. The screening of officials was carried out by both the British and the Americans, but these officers didn't have the knowledge or experience to sort the facts from the fiction. In what was a failure of Allied planning and good governance, it would be a year before arrests and removing those from office, took place. Despite many warnings from locals, many Fascists had been given important roles and positions by the liberating Allies.

The consequences would prove to be far-reaching. Towns and cities further North learned that those who needed to be held accountable, were not being dealt with by the Allies. Italians would seek out their own justice and revenge. What happened in the end to Mussolini himself, is a prime example.

As war moves on, writers often follow. But Keith's narrative remains in Naples as we learn more of what followed. 

Once again, it was so interesting to learn how by making German POWs labourers, they were actually taking vital jobs away from Italians. Once again another fail on the Allies part which caused more anger amongst the local population and with the rise of organised crime, would leave Naples still fighting battles long after the war.

Naples 1944 is a powerful and masterly written account. A city with a fascinating history and story to tell. Now put in the hands of Keith Lowe who has written a superb book.

The hardback book is published by William Collins and is released on September 26th.

I thank William Collins for this review copy.