Germany Surrenders in Italy — First Major Axis Force to Capitulate

The German Army Group C in Italy signed an unconditional instrument of surrender at the Royal Palace of Caserta on May 2, 1945 — the same day Berlin fell to Soviet forces. The surrender came into effect at noon, ending 20 months of fighting in Italy that cost the Allies 313,000 casualties and Germany approximately 430,000. The Italian campaign had tied down 26 German divisions that could otherwise have reinforced the Eastern or Western Front. The Caserta surrender was negotiated partly through Operation Sunrise, a controversial secret contact between Allen Dulles of the OSS and SS General Karl Wolff.