This week in the war saw Italy poised on the brink of changing sides.

On 6 August 1943, at the request of the Germans, representatives of Germany and Italy met at the Italian-Austrian border. The foreign ministers from both Germany and Italy were present, as were the respective chiefs-of-staff. The Italians assured their German allies that rumours of Italy entering into peace negotiations with Britain and the United States were unfounded.

Meanwhile, the RAF continued to pound the cities of northern Italy, notably Milan, Genoa and Turin. Much of Genoa was laid waste.

As for the former Duce, Benito Mussolini: The Italians were holding him in prison on the island of Maddalena, off the coast of Sardinia.