BACKGROUND
After the Allies successfully defeated the Germans in North Africa, they decided to invade Italy to force the Italian forces out of war. The operation code of the invasion was "Operation Avalanche". The invasion of Italy took place in Southern Italy from September 9th, 1943 to June 4th, 1944. Although the agreement between the Allies and Italy that made Italian forces neutral took place on September 3rd, the invasion did not start until September 9th and ended on June 4th, 1944 when the Allies captured Rome. The goal of getting the German forces out of Italy was not completely achieved however, since the Allies needed to focus their attention on France.
Picture of General Pietro Badoglio of Italy in 1871 (Library of Congress)
General Pietro Badoglio was the leader of the new Italian Government. He signed an agreement with the Allies on September 3rd that would neutralize Italy and their Italian forces making Germany the only resistance Axis power in Italy. He was involved with both the Italian invasion of Libya and the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. He was an Italian general in not only World War II but World War I as well.
From left to right: British General Harold Alexander with Secretary of War Henry Stimson, and Field Marshall Maitland Wilson (Missouri Digital Heritage).
The invasion of Italy was carried out by the 15th Army group led by British general Harold Alexander.