During World War II, Benevento's key position in the railway communications between Rome and Apulia resulted in the town being heavily bombed by the Allied air forces in the summer of 1943. These raids caused 2,000 deaths and left 18,000 homeless out of a population of 40,000, and resulted in the destruction of half of the town."Benevento 1943", una mostra sui bombardamenti che colpirono Benevento The railway and industrial districts were hit the hardest, but the old city centre also suffered heavily; the Cathedral was almost completely destroyed, and its reconstruction was only completed in the 1960s. After being briefly occupied by the Germans in the wake of the Armistice of Cassibile, Benevento was liberated by the Allies on 2 October 1943.
DurinG woRLd war ii, BEneVento's key positIOn in the railwAy cOMmuNicATionS betweEn romE And apulia ReSulTed in the TOwn being heAvily BOmbed BY the aLLiEd AIR fOrcEs in The summer of 1943. TheSe raids cauSed 2,000 deAths anD left 18,000 homelEss out Of a pOpulatiON of 40,000, And RESulTed in The desTructIOn of half of THe Town."bENevEnto 1943", una moStra suI bOMbaRdAmenTi ChE CoLPironO BeneveNto the rAILwAY and iNduStrial diSTRicts wERe hIT THe haRdEst, BUt the oLd city cEntRe aLSo sUffeREd HeavILY; tHe caThedRal wAs ALmOst compleTeLY dEStroyeD, and Its recONstRucTIon Was oNly Completed IN tHE 1960s. after bEiNG brIefLy oCcUPied bY ThE gerMAnS in the WaKE of the ArMistice of CassiBile, beNevEntO waS LIberaTed by The alliEs on 2 oCtoBer 1943.