the leadership of Giovacchini and Bertino Poli, conducted mass propaganda to the public, promoting the unification of Corsica as a "Corsica Governorate", similar to the Governatorate of Dalmatia of 1941. Public support for the Italian occupation was lukewarm until the summer 1943. Benito Mussolini postponed unification until a peace treaty after the anticipated Axis victory, mainly because of German opposition to irredentist claims. Administration Social and economic life in Corsica was administered by the French civil authorities, the and four in Ajaccio, Bastia, Sartene and Corte. This helped to maintain calm on the island during the first months of Italian occupation. On 14 November 1943, the restated French sovereignty over the island and stated that the Italian troops had been occupiers. Resistance Resistance by the Corsicans increased during the Italian occupation. The (secret mission Pearl Harbor) commanded by Roger de Saule, arrived from Algiers on 14 December 1942 on the Free French submarine ( Jean l'Herminier). The mission co-ordinated the local that merged as the in which communists were most influential. The network was originally formed in connexion with the Gaullist resistance in January 1943. Its leader, Fred Scamaroni, failed to unite the movements and was later captured and tortured, committing suicide on 19 March 1943. In April 1943, Paulin Colonna d'Istria was dispatched from Algeria by de Gaulle to unite the movements. By early 1943, the was sufficiently organised to request arms deliveries. The leadership was reinforced and morale was boosted by six visits by Casabianca, carrying personnel and arms, later supplemented by air drops. The became more ambitious and established control, especially over the countryside, by the summer of 1943. In June and July 1943 the (OVRA) the Italian fascist secret police and Black Shirts began mass repression, in which 860 Corsicans were jailed and deported to Italy. On 30 August, Jean Nicoli and two French partisans of the Front National were shot in Bastia, by order of an Italian Fascist War Tribunal. Liberation 1943 On 8 November 1942, the western Allies began Operation Torch, landings in French North Africa (Morocco and Algeria). The Axis implemented (Case Anton), a plan for the occupation of Vichy France and Italian forces carried out , occcupying Corsica and mainland France west to the Rhône. The Italian Special Naval Force, originally intended for the invasion of Malta, disembarked at Bastia in the north-east of Corsica on the night of 11/12 November; other