The surrender of the Italian Fleet-1943

valtrex · 01-24-2007, 06:03 AM

INTRODUCTION

With the invasion of Sicily, the Allies hoped to knock Italy out of the war. The Italian government was fed up with the war and the invasion of Sicily threw it into crisis. On 25 July 1943, King Victor Emmanuel had Mussolini arrested and replaced him with Marshal Pietro Badoglio , the Army Chief of Staff.
Badoglio immediately started secret negotiations with the Allies to take Italy out of the war. The deal was announced September 8 , while the British 8th Army landed in Southern Italy. The Italian Fleet limped into Malta & surrendered on 10 September 1943 .

THE SURRENDER

Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force (ANCEF) Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham

ordered a small allied squadron to sail out & meet the surrendering Italian fleet off the coast of Malta & escort its battleships back into the island, in the morning of 10 September . The Allied Forces assembled to meet the Italian Fleet were:
The British
-HMS Warspite
-HMS Valliant
-HMS Faulknor
-HMS Fury
-HMS Echo
-HMS Intrepid
-HMS Raider
the Greek
-RHNS Vassilisa Olga/Queen Olga
& the French
-FLN Le Terrible

For the Greeks it was a sign of recognition of the Greek Navy's contribution to the allied cause in WWII.
For the British this had also a symbolic meaning: Warspite & Valliant were the same vessels present to the surrender of the German Imperial Fleet in 1918.
At noon of the same day, two Italian Battleships (Caio Duilio, Andrea Doria), set out from Salerno, Italy to Malta. Among the allied ships escorting these vessels to Malta, was RHNS Adrias. Her captain, Commander Ioannis Toumbas RHN , sent this signal to Vice-Admiral Constantine Alexandres RHN, C-i-C of the Royal Hellenic Navy:
"With profound summit of happiness and national pride, I inform you that I escort to Malta the surrendering Battleships of the Italian Fleet. Everyone on board the Adrias, offers thanks to God for this astounding moment"

The Adrias crew witness the surrender of the Italians

On 13 September , all the Italian ships set sail to Alexandria to disarm. Early in the morning of 16 September , the ships arrived to Alexandria. There, Admiral Cunningham escorted by Vice-Admiral Alexandres, accepted officially the surrender of the Italians. Admiral Alexandres writes in his memoirs:
"...admiral Cunningham informed me on the 15th, that he intends to wear his own rank flag on the small minelayer "Durby" in order to set out & meet the Italians. He also invited me to do the same & I boarded on the minelayer "Carteria/Endurance". I chose Carteria as a symbol of our nation's power of endurance and because Carteria was the first ever steamer worldwide that took part in a naval engagement, in 1826. Admiral Cunningham with this eloquent gesture, wanted on one hand to abase the Italian Fleet for its unconditional surrender & on the other hand to express his feelings of gratitude towards the Greek Navy. It was an overwhelming experience to be boarded on a small minelayer & accept the surrender of a large Fleet. The Italian ships were sailing before us with black pennants, as signs of defeat. After the ceremony, I said to admiral Cunningham:
-It's been a memorable day for me, I thank you.
Admiral Cunningham replied:
-Yes it has. I hope you'll join me for the surrender of the German Fleet too"

Vice Admiral Alexandres

Mastermind · 01-24-2007, 10:15 AM

Must have really been a grand day for all. MM

Vehemence · 01-24-2007, 11:36 AM

Except the Germans.

Primus Severus Aemilianus · 01-24-2007, 12:22 PM

Much worse for the Italians.

Off Asinara Is.
September 9, 1943:

Malta
September 13, 1943:

La Spezia
Sometime around 1952:

01-24-2007, 06:03 AM	#1
valtrex Banned user Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The world's an oppressive place to live through -yet with a little pride it's worth it Age: 39 Posts: 509	The surrender of the Italian Fleet-1943 INTRODUCTION With the invasion of Sicily, the Allies hoped to knock Italy out of the war. The Italian government was fed up with the war and the invasion of Sicily threw it into crisis. On 25 July 1943, King Victor Emmanuel had Mussolini arrested and replaced him with Marshal Pietro Badoglio , the Army Chief of Staff. Badoglio immediately started secret negotiations with the Allies to take Italy out of the war. The deal was announced September 8 , while the British 8th Army landed in Southern Italy. The Italian Fleet limped into Malta & surrendered on 10 September 1943 . THE SURRENDER Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force (ANCEF) Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham ordered a small allied squadron to sail out & meet the surrendering Italian fleet off the coast of Malta & escort its battleships back into the island, in the morning of 10 September . The Allied Forces assembled to meet the Italian Fleet were: The British -HMS Warspite -HMS Valliant -HMS Faulknor -HMS Fury -HMS Echo -HMS Intrepid -HMS Raider the Greek -RHNS Vassilisa Olga/Queen Olga & the French -FLN Le Terrible For the Greeks it was a sign of recognition of the Greek Navy's contribution to the allied cause in WWII. For the British this had also a symbolic meaning: Warspite & Valliant were the same vessels present to the surrender of the German Imperial Fleet in 1918. At noon of the same day, two Italian Battleships (Caio Duilio, Andrea Doria), set out from Salerno, Italy to Malta. Among the allied ships escorting these vessels to Malta, was RHNS Adrias. Her captain, Commander Ioannis Toumbas RHN , sent this signal to Vice-Admiral Constantine Alexandres RHN, C-i-C of the Royal Hellenic Navy: "With profound summit of happiness and national pride, I inform you that I escort to Malta the surrendering Battleships of the Italian Fleet. Everyone on board the Adrias, offers thanks to God for this astounding moment" The Adrias crew witness the surrender of the Italians On 13 September , all the Italian ships set sail to Alexandria to disarm. Early in the morning of 16 September , the ships arrived to Alexandria. There, Admiral Cunningham escorted by Vice-Admiral Alexandres, accepted officially the surrender of the Italians. Admiral Alexandres writes in his memoirs: "...admiral Cunningham informed me on the 15th, that he intends to wear his own rank flag on the small minelayer "Durby" in order to set out & meet the Italians. He also invited me to do the same & I boarded on the minelayer "Carteria/Endurance". I chose Carteria as a symbol of our nation's power of endurance and because Carteria was the first ever steamer worldwide that took part in a naval engagement, in 1826. Admiral Cunningham with this eloquent gesture, wanted on one hand to abase the Italian Fleet for its unconditional surrender & on the other hand to express his feelings of gratitude towards the Greek Navy. It was an overwhelming experience to be boarded on a small minelayer & accept the surrender of a large Fleet. The Italian ships were sailing before us with black pennants, as signs of defeat. After the ceremony, I said to admiral Cunningham: -It's been a memorable day for me, I thank you. Admiral Cunningham replied: -Yes it has. I hope you'll join me for the surrender of the German Fleet too" Vice Admiral Alexandres

01-24-2007, 10:15 AM	#2
Mastermind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nevada USA Posts: 4,881	Must have really been a grand day for all. MM

01-24-2007, 11:36 AM	#3
Vehemence Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Unrestrained Disorder Age: 28 Posts: 3,249	Except the Germans.

01-24-2007, 12:22 PM	#4
Primus Severus Aemilianus Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 141	Much worse for the Italians. Off Asinara Is. September 9, 1943: Malta September 13, 1943: La Spezia Sometime around 1952: