NORTHERN ITALY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 66, 15 September 1943, Page 5

NORTHERN ITALY

GERMAN OCCUPATION

LONDON, September 14. The German occupation of northern Italy is apparently almost complete. Reports from the Italian frontier state that German troops moved in on the Italian garrisons a few hours after the terms of the armistice were announced early on Sunday. In many cases they entered the Italian quarters at night and disarmed the sleeping Italians. All communications were systematically cut, ' and ammunition dumps, arsenals, and other military stores were seized according to plan. The Italians, though outnumbered, resisted bravely in many cases, but the Germans often smashed their barracks by driving tanks through the walls.

The Germans are reported to be in control of the Italian end of the Simplon Pass. Some Italian units escaped to the mountains.

The German-controlled Oslo radio declared that the Communist rebellion in Milan and Turin assumed alarming proportions for' a time, but was suppressed bloodily by German troops cooperating with Italian Fascist units.

Rome radio stated that irresponsible elements opposed the German troops in Rome, but that order has now been re-established. The radio gave a warning that persons found in' possession of arms after tomorrow would be executed.