8 September 1943: the radio transmitted the news of the armistice with the al lied forces. Two days later Rome was occupied by Nazi troops. This was the beginning of 9 months’ terror for the Italian Capital, with roundups, persecution of the Jewish community, and hunting of Partisans. Gestapo headquarters were set up in Via Tasso where suspects were imprisoned and tortured. The attack in Via Rasella was followed by the horrendous Fosse Ardeatine massacre. The city was starving, on the bare point of survival but, then, in June the end of sufferance: the allied forces arrived, bringing with them a renewed joy of life.