 On 3 September 1943, the British 8th Army landed on the Italian mainland at Reggio Calabria while the U.S. 5th Army landed at Salerno on 9 September 1943 a few hours after it was announced that Italy had signed an armistice.Adolf Hitler had other plans for Italy, and in response to the Italian armistice ordered Operation Achse on 8 September 1943 as the Germans turned against their Italian allies and occupied all of the parts of Italy not taken by the Allies.In response to the German occupation of Italy, neither Victor Emmanuel nor Marshal Badoglio made any effort at organised resistance, instead issued vague instructions to the Italian military and civil servants to do their best, and fled Rome during the night of 8–9 September 1943.