September 8th on the periphery. The case of Potenza and the 7th Army Headquarters

Journal title ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA
Author/s Mario De Prospo
Publishing Year 2013 Issue 2013/271
Language Italian Pages 23 P. 256-278 File size 348 KB
DOI 10.3280/IC2013-271004
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The A. suggests new elements of analysis and reconsideration about the September 8th tragedy, taking his cue from what happened at that time in Potenza, the chief town of Basilicata and seat of the 7th Army of the Royal Armed Forces, in charge of all the troops quartered in South Italy, the peninsular area then cut in two by the front line. The commander in chief flees to Puglia soon after the surrender announcement. The top officers remaining in Basilicata bear the burden of safeguarding both the unit solidity and the communications with the detachments deployed in Calabria and Campania. The fate of the rank and file - with no chance of mobility or reinforcements, caught in the grip of aggressive Germans in retreat and allied aircraft bombing from the sky - was sealed. In such a frantic situation there emerges the figure of col. Giovanni Faccin, the highest-ranking officer still present at the Headquarters, who, aware of being incapable to do his duty to the full since the events were helplessly out of control, decided to commit suicide.

Keywords: September 8th 1943, 7th Army of the Royal Armed Forces, South Italy, Potenza, Basilicata, Giovanni Faccin

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Mario De Prospo, L’8 settembre in "periferia" Il caso di Potenza e del Comando della 7a armata in "ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA" 271/2013, pp 256-278, DOI: 10.3280/IC2013-271004