When the Allies marched into Rome on Sept.10, the King fled. Mussolini, meanwhile, escaped and set up an opposition fascist government, while, at the very same time, Badoglio was busy declaring war on Germany. Even by Italian standards, it was chaos.

After Italy's surrender on Sept. 3, Italian POWs were offered the chance to join the newly formed Italian Service Units. Serving with American forces, they could assist in ending the chaos in Italy, and free their homeland from the Germans and fascists. Joining the Italian Service Units would help Italy start over again with "a clean house."