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The Battle for Rome: The Germans, the Allies, the Partisans, and the Pope, September 1943-June 1944
Traces the Italian campaign during World War II, noting such events as Italy's unexpected surrender to the Allies, Hitler's attack on Rome, the Italian partisan uprising, the German round-up of Italian Jews, and the pope's efforts to preserve the Vatican State. 30,000 first printing.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
8 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Robert Katz
50 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 21, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. It’s a great example of readable history, covering the time from Italy’s armistice with the British and Americans until the liberation of Rome. It focuses on the diplomats, spies, and partisans, but also gives enough information about the military situation to help readers see the big picture (readers looking for a more campaign-focused account will probably be better served by picking up a different book).
I felt the book’s strength was in its coverage of the partisans, the roundup of Roman Jews, the partisan attack on the Via Rasella and the subsequent German reprisals at the Ardeatine Caves. Some of the reading was tragic, but it was also interesting.
Several people come off looking less than admirable. First, Italian King Vittorio Emanuele, who decided part of the US 82nd Airborne wasn’t enough protection (they were willing to parachute in), so he fled Rome, along with most of his government, before the Germans even got there. No wonder the Italians, after the war, decided they didn’t want a monarch anymore.
Then there’s US General Clark, the man so obsessed with taking Rome that he let the German Tenth Army escape so it could fight on for almost another year, all so that Clark could get his picture in the paper as the liberator of Rome before Ike made it to France. It’s poetic justice that newspaper men (and women) promptly turned their attention away from Clark mere hours after his big moment, when D-day in Normandy eclipsed the Italian campaign. Something new I learned from this book was how obsessed Clark was with having Americans be first in Rome. He didn’t want to share his moment with the British, and his stance hurt the overall war effort.
The author was at one time sued for desecrating the memory of the pope, Pius XII, in another of his books. I don’t know a ton about Pius XII, but I though Katz was fair in his portrayal of the man. The Pope was in a difficult position. He wanted to save Rome, and save the Romans, and German forces could have easily arrested him at any time if he upset them. So he adopted a policy of silence, trying to maintain his neutrality, and hoping to broker an early peace between the Western Allies and Germany. He saw Communism as a bigger evil than Fascism. When the Roman Jews were told to pay a huge sum of gold or face deportation, the Vatican offered an interest-free loan (the Jewish community was able to raise the money without the help, and in any case, deportation was only stalled, not stopped). Overall, I though the Pope’s priorities were mixed up. Under his very nose the average Roman civilian was starving, captured partisans were being horribly tortured, and Jews were being shipped off to death camps. He didn’t dare confront the Nazis about their atrocities. But he did write letters to the Americans asking that when they arrive, they refrain from stationing any colored troops in Rome.
Going back to the Jewish leaders of Rome. Several of them survived the war, but few of the Jews caught during the first big round-up of Roman Jews did. That’s unfortunate, especially because leaders in the community had warnings, but most of them refused to believe that the horrible things happening elsewhere could happen in Rome, and they spread a false sense of security that led to tragedy.
Who looks good in this book? Some of the partisans, particularly the couple code-named Elena and Paolo. They were involved in some of the initial resistance to German occupation, then in the large Via Rasella attack. (Also, their story is a bit of a love story, something rare for a history book.)
OSS agent Peter Tompkins was also a hero. His network gave the American armies incredibly useful information for months, until his radio operator was arrested and rival intelligence agents made his life difficult.
Then there were others: priests who concealed people hiding because they were Jewish or wanting to avoid forced labor, partisans who were captured and managed not to reveal their sources despite the worst kind of torture, and several people pretending to work for the Fascists while really helping the resistance.
Overall, I recommend this book for casual or rabid history readers.
I felt the book’s strength was in its coverage of the partisans, the roundup of Roman Jews, the partisan attack on the Via Rasella and the subsequent German reprisals at the Ardeatine Caves. Some of the reading was tragic, but it was also interesting.
Several people come off looking less than admirable. First, Italian King Vittorio Emanuele, who decided part of the US 82nd Airborne wasn’t enough protection (they were willing to parachute in), so he fled Rome, along with most of his government, before the Germans even got there. No wonder the Italians, after the war, decided they didn’t want a monarch anymore.
Then there’s US General Clark, the man so obsessed with taking Rome that he let the German Tenth Army escape so it could fight on for almost another year, all so that Clark could get his picture in the paper as the liberator of Rome before Ike made it to France. It’s poetic justice that newspaper men (and women) promptly turned their attention away from Clark mere hours after his big moment, when D-day in Normandy eclipsed the Italian campaign. Something new I learned from this book was how obsessed Clark was with having Americans be first in Rome. He didn’t want to share his moment with the British, and his stance hurt the overall war effort.
The author was at one time sued for desecrating the memory of the pope, Pius XII, in another of his books. I don’t know a ton about Pius XII, but I though Katz was fair in his portrayal of the man. The Pope was in a difficult position. He wanted to save Rome, and save the Romans, and German forces could have easily arrested him at any time if he upset them. So he adopted a policy of silence, trying to maintain his neutrality, and hoping to broker an early peace between the Western Allies and Germany. He saw Communism as a bigger evil than Fascism. When the Roman Jews were told to pay a huge sum of gold or face deportation, the Vatican offered an interest-free loan (the Jewish community was able to raise the money without the help, and in any case, deportation was only stalled, not stopped). Overall, I though the Pope’s priorities were mixed up. Under his very nose the average Roman civilian was starving, captured partisans were being horribly tortured, and Jews were being shipped off to death camps. He didn’t dare confront the Nazis about their atrocities. But he did write letters to the Americans asking that when they arrive, they refrain from stationing any colored troops in Rome.
Going back to the Jewish leaders of Rome. Several of them survived the war, but few of the Jews caught during the first big round-up of Roman Jews did. That’s unfortunate, especially because leaders in the community had warnings, but most of them refused to believe that the horrible things happening elsewhere could happen in Rome, and they spread a false sense of security that led to tragedy.
Who looks good in this book? Some of the partisans, particularly the couple code-named Elena and Paolo. They were involved in some of the initial resistance to German occupation, then in the large Via Rasella attack. (Also, their story is a bit of a love story, something rare for a history book.)
OSS agent Peter Tompkins was also a hero. His network gave the American armies incredibly useful information for months, until his radio operator was arrested and rival intelligence agents made his life difficult.
Then there were others: priests who concealed people hiding because they were Jewish or wanting to avoid forced labor, partisans who were captured and managed not to reveal their sources despite the worst kind of torture, and several people pretending to work for the Fascists while really helping the resistance.
Overall, I recommend this book for casual or rabid history readers.
June 2, 2013
Details thrived in this book - THE BATTLE FOR ROME. At first I thought too much info was taking away from the book by Robert Katz. However, as I really got into the battle for Rome I found it facinating in this period of the war.
February 5, 2023
Before actually reviewing this book I am going to spend some time outlining the various books which Mr Katz has published over the years recycling the same information under different titles. Mr Katz has over the years written five books dealing with events in Rome immediately after Italy withdrew from her Alliance with Nazi Germany and before the Americans marched into Rome. The first of these was 'Death in Rome' published in 1967 and republished in 1973 under the title 'Massacre in Rome' as tie in to the film of the same name. This was about the Ardeantine Cave massacre in 1944 and the role of Pope Pius XII in terms of what he knew, when he knew it and what did he do or not do with the information he had or did not have. His claims in the book were less then flattering to the pope and his relatives launched a slander claim in the Italian courts. Quite frankly all those who still desperately try and maintain Pius XII's reputation would've delighted if Katz's were the worst things the pope was accused of. Nowadays his role in the Ardeantine massacre is way to small scale for his defenders to bother about.
In 2003 Katz published 'The Battle for Rome' and a year later 'Fatal Silence' which again concentrates on the Ardeantine Cave massacre but brings to the fore the story of the partisans in Rome. There was certainly some mention of the round-up of the Jews of Rome. My edition of this book (it is not the one on Goodreads) has a introduction by Mr Katz gives the tale of how this book when first published attracted a libel suite from Pius XII still living relatives. So it would appear that Death in Rome, 1969 and Massacre in Rome', 1973 and Battle for Rome' and 'Fatal Silence' in 2003/4 are basically the same book though the later two may have some extra information. I can remember reading a very irate review on Goodreads (maybe ten years ago) of Battle for Rome that it was virtually identical to his earlier Death in Rome.
It is interesting that Katz has two separate listings on Goodreads, one for the his history books and a separate one for his fiction, he wrote many novels some like the Cassandra Crossing were made into films.
As for a review, this is a perfectly good account of some of the things that happened during the German occupation of Rome but with the reservation that historical writing and understanding of the Ardeantine Cave Massacre, the role of partisans during the period and the understanding of what Pius XII did or did not do during this period and why has moved on greatly. We know a great deal more, but there is no more agreement on many of these events and personalities than there was in 1967. Mr. Katz's account is both readable and, within the limits of what information was available at the time, it is first rate. It was the first serious challenge to the story the church wanted told about what it's role in WWII was. It was the start of questioning what happened and it is a process that is still going on. This is still a good book on Rome under the Nazis but one should read further.
Ultimately though he has published the same book under different titles at different times.
In 2003 Katz published 'The Battle for Rome' and a year later 'Fatal Silence' which again concentrates on the Ardeantine Cave massacre but brings to the fore the story of the partisans in Rome. There was certainly some mention of the round-up of the Jews of Rome. My edition of this book (it is not the one on Goodreads) has a introduction by Mr Katz gives the tale of how this book when first published attracted a libel suite from Pius XII still living relatives. So it would appear that Death in Rome, 1969 and Massacre in Rome', 1973 and Battle for Rome' and 'Fatal Silence' in 2003/4 are basically the same book though the later two may have some extra information. I can remember reading a very irate review on Goodreads (maybe ten years ago) of Battle for Rome that it was virtually identical to his earlier Death in Rome.
It is interesting that Katz has two separate listings on Goodreads, one for the his history books and a separate one for his fiction, he wrote many novels some like the Cassandra Crossing were made into films.
As for a review, this is a perfectly good account of some of the things that happened during the German occupation of Rome but with the reservation that historical writing and understanding of the Ardeantine Cave Massacre, the role of partisans during the period and the understanding of what Pius XII did or did not do during this period and why has moved on greatly. We know a great deal more, but there is no more agreement on many of these events and personalities than there was in 1967. Mr. Katz's account is both readable and, within the limits of what information was available at the time, it is first rate. It was the first serious challenge to the story the church wanted told about what it's role in WWII was. It was the start of questioning what happened and it is a process that is still going on. This is still a good book on Rome under the Nazis but one should read further.
Ultimately though he has published the same book under different titles at different times.
May 23, 2018
An excellent narrative covering the history and politics of the Nazi occupation of Rome. Katz digs deep into primary sources and examines carefully the complicated relationships between the Vatican, the Nazis, the Fascist state, and the Allies. It also paints a very sympathetic and human portrait of the Italian resistance, often forgotten in discussions of European resistance to fascism. At times, the number of characters can be a bit overwhelming, but Katz does an admirable job of keeping them straight.
Read
April 5, 2021Saggio
September 1, 2015
An in-depth account of the German occupation of Rome in the late stages of WWII, after the fall of Mussolini and Italy's subsequent surrender (and technical switch to) the Allied side. The early parts of the book are a bit challenging if (like me) you didn't know many specifics of the German occupation and partisan resistance -- the details of the many partisan groups opposed to the Fascists and Germans alone are enough to get a reader bogged down -- but the author does generally keep the story moving forward, and once the stage is set does a particularly good job covering some of the most disturbing and/or compelling events during this 9-month period, including the round up and deportation -- to Auschwitz -- of over 1,000 members of Rome's Jewish community, and especially the partisan attack on German forces that led to the Ardeatine Cave Massacre.
The role of Pope Pius XII is addressed at great length, and the author remains fairly balanced for most of the book, attempting to explain Pius' rationale for remaining officially (and actually) neutral and largely silent or obtuse about German offenses. But as Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa would later say, "if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor," and the conclusion of the book is a scathing condemnation of Pius' approach, which ultimately allowed the Germans to have their way in the Eternal City. Katz argues eloquently and compellingly that "the Pope should have lifted his voice simply because it was the morally right thing to do, whatever the consequences."
Also of note is the remarkable leniency with which German military and political leaders of the Roman occupation were treated after the war, given the atrocities they oversaw and committed. As we see so often, those in power have a tendency to be considerate of other powerful people -- even when they're no longer actively in power -- and the powerful Germans responsible for making decisions that are now considered "crimes against humanity" simply did not pay the price they should have. If the point of learning about history is to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, this book strives to make a valuable contribution to that end, and succeeds.
The role of Pope Pius XII is addressed at great length, and the author remains fairly balanced for most of the book, attempting to explain Pius' rationale for remaining officially (and actually) neutral and largely silent or obtuse about German offenses. But as Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa would later say, "if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor," and the conclusion of the book is a scathing condemnation of Pius' approach, which ultimately allowed the Germans to have their way in the Eternal City. Katz argues eloquently and compellingly that "the Pope should have lifted his voice simply because it was the morally right thing to do, whatever the consequences."
Also of note is the remarkable leniency with which German military and political leaders of the Roman occupation were treated after the war, given the atrocities they oversaw and committed. As we see so often, those in power have a tendency to be considerate of other powerful people -- even when they're no longer actively in power -- and the powerful Germans responsible for making decisions that are now considered "crimes against humanity" simply did not pay the price they should have. If the point of learning about history is to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, this book strives to make a valuable contribution to that end, and succeeds.
February 26, 2016
This book details the occupation of Rome by the Germans from July , 1943 until June 5,1945. It traces the development of the partisan factions that fought the Nazis. This group was divided into many factions depending on political persuasion i.e. Communist, democratic or monarchist. They often tried to work in concert but often their political divisions kept them apart. In addition, there were agents of the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA, working int the city. The activities of sabotage and the Nazi reprisals is a fascinating story. In addition to these activities was the role of Pope who maintained silence and even worked with Nazis to some extent. His actions were predicated on his desire to have Rome as a free city to avoid destruction of Vatican City as well as all the other historical sites. He also feared a Communist take over as being a greater evil than the Nazis. His silence over the deportation of over 1000 Jews to Auschwitz and the murder of 335 people in retaliation for a partisan attack on German soldiers, have been a source of controversy up until the present time. The book is a fascinating look at dark episode in WWII history.
November 16, 2011
I read this book as we headed over to Rome. It presents a comprehensive overview of World War II in Rome. Excellent descriptions of the Germans, the Partisans, the Vatican, and various spies. I found particularly interesting that the ruthless German commander in Rome, who organized and carried out the Ardeatina massacre as a response to a Partisan attack, also strove to prevent the roundup and deportation of Roman Jews to concentration camps. The weakest art of the book, in my view, is the actual description of the military advances of the Allies, but I still learned a lot. The book is extremely well written and lets the reader drawn his own conclusions from the facts set forth.
July 16, 2014
There aren't many good books on the German occupation of Rome. This is a very good entry. It's not easy to be impartial when it comes to WWII, the Pope and the Occupation, so it was no surprise that there were some sections where the author slipped into editorial mode. This doesn't ruin the account, though. The story is mostly told through the eyes of the Partisans; made personal through them. I liked this approach. There isn't a lot of "big picture" here but the audience is probably already somewhat familiar with that. I miss being able to refer to a detailed map; the included maps (2) are too generic to follow all the action. Good bibliography.
September 19, 2007
The Battle for Rome: The Germans, the Allies, the Partisans, and the Pope, September 1943 - June 1944 is as specific and as simple as its title. Robert Katz has painted a fascinating portrait of a city that was supposed to be "above" it all, yet wound up knee deep in it. There's everything you'd expect from great WWII-era history: spies, partisans, resistance fighters, occupying armies, plots... Oh, yeah. And a Pope.
NC
NC
September 17, 2016
I found this book in a reviewers sale at the Gazette when I worked there and found the history fascinating. When I was fortunate enough to visit Rome two years ago, we were staying just one block from where the resistance fighters were based (and eventually killed). Rome is so very FULL of history - an endlessly fascinating place for me.
August 15, 2013
The story is largely told through first hand sources (diaries, interview transcripts, etc) but it still manages to be very engaging and suspenseful. The Italian campaign isn't something I knew much about before reading this book.
Want to read
February 22, 2010partisans in rome
Want to read
July 12, 2013Recommended by Rick
January 26, 2015
A good account of the battle for Rome. You read this kind of book because you want details and that is what Katz delivers.
January 5, 2011
A great piece of history from Katz. Learned that for most of the war, Rome was an open city.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews