ABSTRACT
On the morning of September 10, Rome resembled a ship abandoned by its helmsmen. Heedless of the rain, Raffaele Persichetti set out on foot for his regimental headquarters. He had decided to rejoin the Grenadiers, not as an act of heroism but as the only way to emerge from the sterile position in which he found himself. Negotiations with the command of German troops posted in the zone are taking place for the transfer of these units north. When the Germans had emerged that morning, Italian soldiers and civilians, with a fine sense of irony, had presented arms. Kesselring had gotten over his fear that the Allies might appear in the vicinity of Rome; they had failed to exploit the uncertainty and surprise which the armistice announcement had produced. Carboni did not return to his command, which was just across the street at Palazzo Caprara.
