German Forces

Via Rasella, Rome.

The Via Rasella, Rome, a typical brown-stone "canyon" common in central Rome. On 23 March, 1944, 11 Company, 3 Battalion of Polizei Regiment "Bozen" were making a regularly scheduled march along a route that included this street. The object of these demonstrations was to impress/intimidate the Roman population at the "strength" of the continuing German presence which was, in fact, increasingly threatened by invading US and British forces. Unfortunately for them, they were targeted by a local unit of Italian partisans which, as the Company marched by, detonated a powerful bomb hidden in a street cleaner's cart, and opened fire from cover. 28 of the Company died immediately; 5 more would die of their injury within days. JR.