User blog comment:KatDWolf/WWII and Hetalia/@comment-2151442-20100629162241

No it was WW2.

Italy was lead by Mussolini who was dictator during the war. After a campaign in Sicily, there were massive repercussions in the Italian goverment. With their faith in Mussolini falling the Fascist Ground Council in Rome on the 24th July all agreed on a vote of no confidence in Mussolini. The director was then conciquently arrested the next day on order of the King and then executed after trying to escape Italy.

In his place Pietro Badoglio was appointed leader and his gaol was to get Italy out of the war. By now the Italians were ready to drop out of Germanys course, no longer believing it, however this was difficult as they were surrounded by Germans and also the Allies were only going to accept unconditional surrender by the Axis. So after secret meeting with the Allies, Italy offical surrendered to them on 8th September 1943. Less than 3 weeks later Badoglio then signed an agreement stating the switch of Italy from the Axis to the Allies. Italy then went on to declare war on Germany on 13th October 1943.

However since much of Germany was still occupied by the Germans, the Italians weren't much use at the time. Eventually a few groups were trained to fight with the Allies. But most of the time the Italian people worked as guides, translator and supply carriers during the Allied campaign to get the Germans out of Italy.