History

Partisan Brigades

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This proved to be an ill-fated choice. In the following weeks the Nazis sent additional divisions into Italy, ostensibly to shore up the front line in Sicily, but instead disbursed troops throughout the peninsula and occupied Italy. The Germans then began a campaign of vengeance against the population, targeting the people and villages where they suspected aid and support were being given to help or hide partisans. Refusing to consider either captured partisans or former Italian troops who had been charged with desertion as “Prisoners of War”, in accordance with the Geneva Convention, the Germans would torture or execute them without due process.