Facts about the Bombings of Rome’s Eternal City

Facts about the Bombings of Rome’s Eternal City

It is not known by many that Rome is really all that was left behind after the terrible bombings that shook the city many years ago.

Details of these events and the exact destruction caused during World War II remain largely unreported, and though the damage was extensive, Rome bounced back relatively quickly.

Here are a few facts of interest surrounding this tumultuous time in Rome.

by Fatih Özdemir – Unsplash

The Bombing of Rome’s Eternal City Took Place on More Than One Occasion

Rome was bombed on multiple occasions between 1943 and 1944. Prior to this, other parts of Italy had been under bomb fire since 1940, with Rome managing to stay off the radar for the first few years of the war.

Bombings in Italy began less than 24 hours after Mussolini declared his war on France and Britain. By the end of the war, almost every city in Italy had experienced bombs, with Britain initiating them and the United States following suite later on.

Remains in Rome – by British Government Licence – Wikimedia Commons

Rome was bombed for the first time on 19 July 1943. It was considered a heavy hit, with over 500 planes covering the city at once. There were three major targets around the city that were bombed in a morning, afternoon and evening session throughout the day.

The last target was Rome’s Ciampino Airport in the southeast of the city .

Three weeks later the bombers returned, targeting the parts of the city that were missed in the initial round. A month after this, the Ciampino Airport was bombed again; and then again two days later.

There would be twelve more bombings of Rome before March 1944. Most of them targeted the city’s airfields and marshalling yards, in attempt to weaken the Italian military strength. But the bombing of the city on March 18th would be the most devastating of them all.

Remains in Rome – by British Government Licence – Wikimedia Commons

The Roman center was bombed and over 100 civilians were left in casualties. This shook the people, more so than any of the prior attacks, as it made them aware of the fragility of both the city and themselves. A terrifying realization during a war that was not yet over. Luckily this was the last time bombs were ever dropped on Rome, and the war ended a year later.

The Bombing of Rome’s Eternal City Was Highly Controversial

There was large disagreement over the bombings of the Italian capital. The main debate being that Rome itself was over 2,500 years old, and had only been the capital for a mere 70 years. Was it significant enough of a city to destroy in warfare?

What’s more, Rome contained the Vatican City within its walls. The Vatican held a strong stance of neutrality during the war, and its close quarters with Rome made it difficult to avoid in the line of fire.

Italian soldiers in Rome – by Giorgiomonteforti – Wikimedia Commons

There was also a lot of pressure from the west as many Americans were strongly opposed to the bombing of Rome, identifying it as an ancient, global asset to be preserved and treasured. This made it difficult for certain countries and allies to make their moves. 

60,000 Tons of Bombs Were Dropped on Rome in 78 days

You might think that the last bombs to be dropped on Rome in March 1944 brought the end of their troubles in the war. On the contrary, this was the starting point of capture of Rome by the Allies, who would occupy the city within the month.

In the 78 days leading to the last bombings, over 60,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the Eternal City. Also interesting to note, that 60,000 is the number of civilian lives lost in total during bombing in Italy.

Remains in Rome – by British Government Licence – Wikimedia Commons

Pope Pius XII wrote to Roosevelt Prior to the Bombings

After the first bombs hit Rome, Pope Pius XII made an attempt to reach out to then president, Theodore Roosevelt, pleading with him to spare the ancient city. He is quoted to have asked that Rome “be spared as far as possible further pain and devastation, and their many treasured shrines… from irreparable ruin.”

Roosevelt Replied…

A short while later, Roosevelt sent his response to Rome:

“Attacks against Italy are limited, to the extent humanly possible, to military objectives. We have not and will not make warfare on civilians or against nonmilitary objectives. In the event it should be found necessary for Allied planes to operate over Rome, our aviators are thoroughly informed as to the location of the Vatican and have been specifically instructed to prevent bombs from falling within Vatican City.”

He acknowledged that attempt would be made to spare the neutral Vatican, but no promises for the rest of the city. Rome prepared for the worst as Roosevelts response was a subtle confirmation that more destruction was to come.

Despite Remaining Neutral in the Conflict, the Vatican City Too Was Bombed

Despite the Vatican’s attempt to remain neutral through the war the country was bombed on two occasions.

The first was in November 1943 when British troops dropped four bombs over the city. They hit the mosaic studio near the Vatican railway station and broke a few of the windows at the St. Peter’s Basilica. Some of this destruction is still visible within the city today.

The second attack was by German troops and occurred in March ’94. Six bombs were dropped around the Court of Saint Damaso.

Rome – by Christoph Schmid – Unsplash

Visiting Rome today, while knowing all of the above, changes one’s perspective of the city ruins quite significantly. Rome becomes a place of combined ancient ruins and warfare ruins, and you likely wouldn’t know the difference were it not told to you by someone local.

Guided walking tours through Rome are one of the best ways to explore the city by foot and see the ruins at ground level for yourself. Tour guides are usually knowledgable on Italy’s involvement in the war, and the real extent to which Rome was impacted.