After the Armistice was announced, the German forces moved to occupy the nevralgic points and disarm the Italian units stationed around the city; most of these resisted, however, so as a result the Germans had to fight for Rome.
It's little known that, for the defense of the city, it was fought a real tank battle. To take the city, the Germans prepared a pincer movement, with the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division coming from north, and the 2nd Fallschirmjäger (Parachute) division from the south. The 3rd Panzergrenadier Division was faced by the Italians of the Ariete II Division, near Bracciano. The battle was favourable to the Italians, and the German panzers were diverted from the city. However, in the south, the 2nd Parachute Division overcame the resistance of the Granatieri di Sardegna Division and took the city after two days of hard fight.