Video: The Bombing of Rome

In the May issue of History Today, Claudia Baldoli examines the reasons behind the Allied bombing of Rome in 1943. The Eternal City had been left untouched throughout the war, yet in July of that year it was subjected to a ferocious aerial bombardment. Claudia's piece looks at the reasons why, and examines how Italians viewed the city.

The video above shows newsreel footage of the raid, made by US and British bombers from their bases in north Africa, and illustrates (for propaganda purposes no doubt) the lengths to which the Allies went to avoid damaging some of the most important sites in the centre of Christendom.

The video below shows the damage from the ground:

Finally, here's a trailer from the film La Ciociara (Two Women, 1960), starring Sophia Lauren, which tells the story of a mother trying to protect her daughter from the horrors of war.

Claudia Baldoli's piece, Bombing the Eternal City, is published in the May issue of History Today, out April 19th. Subscribe now and ensure you don't miss it.