Pantelleria occupied in 20 minutes

Pantelleria occupied in 20 minutes

Article headlines: Pantelleria occupied in 20 minutes, garrison pounded into surrender, white flag hoisted on hill top, German dive-bombers vain last-minute attack.

1943-06-12

One newspaper cutting mounted on a scrapbook page

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THE TIMES SATURDAY JUNE 12 1943

PANTELLERIA OCCUPIED IN 20 MINUTES

GARRISON POUNDED INTO SURRENDER

WHITE FLAG HOISTED ON HILL TOP

GERMAN DIVE-BOMBERS’ VAIN LAST-MINUTE ATTACK

Pantelleria surrendered yesterday, and was occupied by allied forces within 22 minutes of the time that the white flag was seen flying from a hill top. A force of 50 to 60 German dive-bombers swept through rain clouds to attack our landing craft, but, according to eye-witnesses, without success.

The island fell after an overwhelming bombardment from sea and air, and a report from General Eisenhower states that the surrender was obtained almost without loss of allied life.

Last night President Roosevelt appealed to the Italian people to get out of the war, and promised them, after the expulsion of Nazi influence, freedom to choose any king or government they wanted except Fascism.