| Original caption: “Genoa, Italy. In this newly liberated city the Ninety-Second Division troops enter the Galleria Guiseppe [sic] Garibaldi.” The liberation of Genoa occurred following a partisan insurrection which began on the night of April 23 and ended on the evening of April 26, 1945, with the arrival of the 1st contingents of Allied troops, who entered the city on the morning of April 27. The city of Genoa is the only case in Europe where an entire German military contingent, under the command of Generalmajor Gunther Meinhold (May 12, 1889 – February 21, 1979), surrendered to the Resistance forces without any Allied intervention. Professor “Stefano” the nom de guerre of Giustizia e Libertà (“Justice and Freedom”) partisan leader Carmine A. Romanzi (September 8, 1913 – 1994), visited Meinhold at his headquarters in Savignone. Professor “Stefano” handed him 2 letters, 1 from Cardinal Pietro Boetto (May 19, 1871 – January 31, 1946) of Genoa and the other containing the surrender proposal made by the Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale (CLN – “National Liberation Committee”). Meinhold accepted the negotiation and delivered his gun to Professor “Stefano.” The General was escorted to Genoa to the 13th century Villa Migone, Cardinal Boetto’s residence, where he met the representatives of the CLN and at 1930 Hours on April 25, 1945, he signed the surrender. Meinhold’s order to Nazi German soldaten to deliver their weapons to the partisans was met with opposition from the Kriegsmarine (“Nazi German Navy”), commanded by Kapitän zur See Max Berninghaus (October 16, 1900 – ????). Berninghaus attempted to break out with his Kriegsmarine sailors, eventually becoming a Prisoner of War in May 1945. He was held until November 8, 1945. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) pronounced a death sentence on Meinhold when the broadcast of his surrender order was received. Thus, the fighting in Genoa continued until April 26 when, in the evening, the 1st advanced forces of the allied troops began to arrive, who entered the city on the morning of the 27th. Major General Edward M. Almond (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979), Commanding the 92nd Infantry Division, had ordered the 473rd Regimental Combat Team to seize Genoa on April 24. The 473rd entered liberated Genoa on April 27, a day after the remaining Nazi German garrison soldaten had surrendered their positions. By May 25, the 92nd Infantry Division had traveled so far beyond 5th Army lines of communication that 5th Army Commander General Lucian K. Truscott Junior (January 9, 1895 – September 12, 1965) passed control of it to General Mark W. Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) at 15th Army Group. Genoa’s capture effectively ended combat operations in Italy. Several Axis remnants held out for a couple more days, but by April 30 all resistance in the area had ceased. The 370th Regimental Combat Team had forced the 2 divisions it was pursuing to surrender to the British Expeditionary Force, the 1st large scale surrender in Italy. The remaining German commands established a ceasefire and surrendered on May 2, 1945. With the war in Italy over, Almond established his occupation headquarters in Genoa. On June 6, 1945, Almond and the 92nd Infantry Division received their greatest honor of the war. They returned the ashes of Genoa’s greatest hero, Christopher Columbus, to his home city. Genovese officials had removed and hidden the ashes and accompanying papers early in the war to keep them safe. Almond formed the division in the Piazza della Vittoria in front the massive War Memorial Arch. Captain Harold E. “Monty” Montgomery (March 4, 1921 – December 7, 2006) led H Company, 370th Regimental Combat Team, which escorted the urn containing the remains on a horse-drawn caisson draped with the Italian flag. Almond laid a wreath at the ashes after depositing them in their place of honor in City Hall, and then gave a short victory speech to the assembled soldiers and citizens of Genoa. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0645.jpg |
| Image Size | 771.09 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2352 x 2898 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 27, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Genoa |
| State or Province | Liguria |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-337144 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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