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==Response From Mousolini==
==Response From Mousolini==


The Italian dictator, possibly unaware that his men were responsible, blamed the allies for the attack, attempting to gain international support and turn other countries agaisnt the allies.<ref>http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2010/11/who-bombed-vatican-during-world-war-ii.html</ref>
The Italian dictator, possibly unaware that his men were responsible, blamed the allies for the attack, attempting to gain international support and turn other countries agaisnt the allies.<ref>http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2010/11/who-bombed-vatican-during-world-war-ii.html</ref> He received little response from the world.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 00:36, 7 February 2011

Vatican Raids
Part of the Italian Campaign of World War II
Date5th of November 1943
Location
Result Italian operational failure
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Italy  Vatican City
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Italy Roberto Farinacci Vatican City Pope Pius XII
Strength
Single bomber
Casualties and losses
None None

The Bombing of The Vatican during World War II happened on the 5th of November 1943 when an Italian bomber dropped five bombs on Saint Peter's Basilica.[1] Only four out of the five bombs detonated.[2][3]

The Vatican City was neutral during the whole of the war,[4] and both allied and axis bombers were told not to attack the Vatican when bombing Rome. The attack was a deliberate attempt to knock out the Vatican Radio, but the raid did not succeed. The Italians were under the impression that the Vatican radio was sending coded messages to the allies.[5] Damage from the raid can still be seen today, but is not signposted in any way.[6][7]

There was no actual loss of life during the raid but several windows and a mosaic were destroyed., as well as severe damage to the Vatican's train station and water-system[1][8]

Response From The Pope

Pope Pius XII was basically silent about the bombing, seemingly acknowledging the British claims that the bombing was a genuine accident. Although the Papal Swiss Guard and other units of the Vatican military were on high-alert during the whole of the war, no movement towards mobilizing them was made. The pope claimed that he did not want the perpetrators brought to justice, but rather a simple cease of violence.[5]

Response From Mousolini

The Italian dictator, possibly unaware that his men were responsible, blamed the allies for the attack, attempting to gain international support and turn other countries agaisnt the allies.[9] He received little response from the world.

References