The capture of Rome on June 4 1944, was the climax of Operation "Diadem," the Allies' greatest single triumph of the Italian campaign. Not only were the German 10th and 14th Armies routed, but, even more important, Alexander achieved the basic aim of holding as many as 26 German divisions away from "Overlord," the Allied landing in Normandy. Ironically, it was its very success that resulted in "Diadem's" being overshadowed by the cross-Channel operation.