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Post by Diarist on Mar 25, 2016 5:58:26 GMT 1
There has been intensive fighting overnight and at dawn most of Torino has been captured with the Italians holding out in the north-central section of the city. The front is now about 15 km to the east of Torino and is held by the Italian 10th Infantry Division to the north and 2nd Alpini Division northeast of Asti. General Smith and members of his staff had breakfast in Torino.
 
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Post by Diarist on Mar 26, 2016 12:38:04 GMT 1
As news of Mussolini's removal spread on both sides of the front there were calls for an immediate ceasefire from both sides. This was agreed upon except for the pocket within Torino. The troops there have to surrender. They would be allowed to pass unarmed through French occupied territory to the main front east of the city. This offer does not apply to officers and senior NCO's. The conditions were accepted and by 1600 the first Italians were leaving the pocket. Before dusk all of Torino was in French hands.
During the entire operation CPT Guy Simmonds has been scouring the POW lists unable to find who he was looking for. Now he was where the surrendered officers were being processed and called out for Tenente Colonello Luigi Cardese. His call was answered by a tall man with a bandaged left arm. Cardese identified himself and Guy Simmonds arranged for him to bypass the formalities and accompany him to their own medical section to look at his wounds and receive a clean dressing. On the way Simonds explained that he's a friend and colleague of CPT Bob Carter and the invitation for him and his family to visit England is being renewed. |
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