| Representatives of Allied nations – British and American – climb the steps of Saint Peter’s after the 5th and 8th Armies occupied Rome. At 1800 Hours on June 5, 1944, Romans and Allied soldiers gathered in St. Peter’s Square. A white banner rimmed with red velvet and the Coast of Arms of Pope Pius XII was unfurled from the balcony, and he addressed the crowd. The joy of Romans after months of harsh Nazi German occupation led them to cheer at almost every pause. Captain Alfred R. Tanner (May 14, 1904 – September 5, 1974) was the official War Office Color Photographer from April 1944. He probably staged this photo before the Pope’s speech. Tanner photographed a number of Allied soldiers in front of Rome landmarks. Because General Mark W. Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984), Commander, V Corps, wanted the liberation of Rome to be an American operation, the United Kingdom 8th Army did not arrive in force until June 7. Its units passed through Rome on the way to pursue Nazi German forces retreating to the Gothic Line. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0663.jpg |
| Image Size | 346.80 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1109 x 1679 |
| Photographer | Alfred R. Tanner |
| Photographer Title | Ministry of Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 5, 1944 |
| Location | Saint Peter’s Basilica |
| City | Rome |
| State or Province | Lazio |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | TR 1840 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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