World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

The independent and neutral Catholic religious state located inside Rome, Italy was ruled by the pope. Established in Feb 1929 after an agreement with Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI, the country became a hub of communications between both sides of the conflict during WW2; as a result, it became grounds for political intrigue and was ripe with spies and other agents of espionage from both sides. In Jul 1943, as Italy was losing ground in the war, Adolf Hitler considered occupying the country, and only abandoned the idea after Joachim von Ribbentrop and Joseph Göbbels convinced him that it would be a bad move politically. Throughout the war, Vatican City provided haven or escape for Jews, victims of German and Italian fascist regimes, Nazi leaders and collaborators, and Allied prisoners of war.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Alejandro says:
   19 Apr 2009 03:19:24 PM
   
   the pope made vatican city a refuge for many jews who had left there country.

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