On 24 September, the Germans landed a force on the island, and by the next day they were able to induce the Italians to capitulation.[11] All 280 Italian officers on the island were executed during the next two days on the orders of General Hubert Lanz, in accordance with Hitler's directives.[11] The bodies were loaded onto a ship and disposed of in the sea.[11] Similar executions of officers also occurred in the aftermath of the Battle of Kos, when the Italian commander and 90 of his officers were shot.[12]