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THE LIBERATION OF ROME

General Mark Clark (center) stands beneath the "Roma" sign he later liberated as a souvenir. On the right is General Geoffrey Keyes, commander of II Corps. Clark had disobeyed the orders of British General Alexander to cut the German line of retreat at Highway 6. Sending only the 3rd Division to Valmontone, he instead ordered his remaining troops to capture Rome ahead of British forces. As a result the German 10th Army escaped capture and continued its fight in Northern Italy.