For days the fighting raged on Cephalonia, with the Acqui Division's six battalions holding their own against five better-armed German ones. Using their greatest advantage - mobility - the Germans set out on a long flank march through the rugged hills in the center of the island, to strike the capital from the south. During the 20-hour march the Germans overran a compound where the Italians held 470 Germans prisoner. All had been treated well - a fact that only highlights the crimes that followed.

After breaking through Italian lines south of Argostoi, the Germans took the town from several directions. When resistance ceased, the massacres began. The Germans had already killed 75 officers and 2,000 soldiers (many after they had surrendered). Acqui's leaders apparently did not realize the extent of German crimes, and directed their troops to yield. Another 155 officers and 4,700 men were murdered after Acqui headquarters capitulated. Gandin, 193 of his officers and 17 sailors were shot by firing squad over the next few days.