Italian Hospital Staff Snookered the Nazis

In the beginning of World War II, Italy was partnered with the Axis Powers under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Around halfway through the war, Italy decided to switch over to the Allied Powers. Of course, Germany was not very happy about this betrayal. For nine months of 1943, the Nazi party occupied Rome. Thousands of people were denied access to food, and many were tortured and killed. At one point, the Nazis even bombed the Vatican, which was supposed to be a neutral territory. Pope Pius XII just barely made it out alive, but refused to abandon Rome.