Italy
(9 September 1943–4 June 1944)
The Allied victory in Sicily helped to bring about the surrender of
Italy. The terms of the Italian surrender were signed on 3 September
1943 and announced on the night of the 8th. Allied troops received the
news on shipboard while under way to invade Italy. Fighting did not
cease with the surrender. Instead, the Germans took over the country
with troops on the spot and sent reinforcements. The defeat of the
Germans in Italy would strengthen Allied control over the Mediterranean
shipping lanes and would provide air bases closer to targets in Germany
and enemy-occupied territory. The Allied troops in Italy would also
engage enemy troops which might otherwise have been employed against
the Russians.
On 3 September, elements of the British Eighth Army crossed into Italy
and advanced up the Italian toe in pursuit of the retreating Germans.
On 9 September the main assault was launched when an Anglo-American
force, part of the U. S. Fifth Army, landed on the beaches near
Salerno, south of Naples. Since the enemy had expected landings in the
vicinity of Naples and had disposed his forces accordingly, the Allies
encountered prompt and sustained resistance. By 15 September, however,
the Germans started to withdraw up the Italian Peninsula, pursued on
the west by the Fifth Army and on the east by the Eighth Army. The port
of Naples fell on 1 October and the Foggia airfields about the same
time.
After crossing the Volturno River against stiff resistance, the
Allies advanced to the Winter Line seventy-five miles south of Rome.
In bitterly cold weather the troops slogged through mud and snow to
breach the series of heavy defenses and advanced to the Gustav Line.
In midJanuary the main Fifth Army launched a new offensive across the
Rapido and Garigliano Rivers to pierce the Gustav Line and advance up
the Liri Valley toward Rome. Bridgeheads were secured across the rivers
and footholds were obtained in Cassino and surrounding hills, but no
break-through of the main German positions was effected. A few days
after the initial attack against the Gustav Line, an Anglo-American
amphibious force landed at Anzio and struck inland with the purpose
of compelling the Germans on the southern front to withdraw. But the
Allied beachhead force was contained by the enemy’s unexpectedly rapid
build-up and was hard pressed to stave off several fierce German
counterattacks.
After the Anzio front became stabilized and the effort to take Cassino
was abandoned, the AAI (Allied Armies in Italy) regrouped and launched
a new offensive on 11 May 1944. Fifth Army, led by French troops and
assisted by American troops, broke through the main German positions
in the Arunci Mountains west of the Garigliano River while the Eighth
Army advanced up the Liri Valley. A few days later the beachhead force
effected a junction with the troops from the southern front, and
advanced almost to Valmontone on Highway 6 before the axis of attack
was shifted to the northwest. After several unsuccessful attacks
toward Lanuvio and along the Albano road, the Fifth Army discovered an
unguarded point near Velletri, enveloped the German positions based on
the Alban Hills, and pushed on rapidly toward Rome, which fell on 4
June 1944 with the Germans in full retreat. Meanwhile preparations were
being rushed for an invasion of southern France by Allied troops, most
of them drawn from forces in Italy.
[Illustration: ITALY
RAILROAD YARDS IN NAPLES burning after bombardment by Allied
bombers from Africa. Before the invasion of Italy the bombing
of enemy rail communications leading into southern Italy had
high priority. Naples and Foggia were the most important rail
centers south of Rome and both were heavily bombed prior to the
landings.]
[Illustration: ITALY
GOLFO DI SALERNO. The plain of Salerno in Italy, ringed
and dominated by mountains, provided observation posts and
commanding positions for the enemy. Here, on 9 September 1943,
landed elements of the U. S. Fifth Army, an Anglo-American
force. The British 10 Corps of this army landed on the
beaches shown in the center of the picture, the U. S. VI
Corps on beaches at Paestum in distance. One division of the
British Eighth Army landed at Taranto in the heel of Italy
simultaneously with the main landings in the Golfo di Salerno.
Just six days before these landings two divisions of the British
Eighth Army had invaded Italy from Sicily. These two armies were
to advance northward: the U. S. army along the west and the
British army along the east side of the peninsula.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MAIORI BEACH, located a few miles west of the town of Salerno.
Three Ranger battalions landed here unopposed on the morning of
the invasion. Their mission to advance across the mountains and
into the Nocera plain to prevent reinforcements located around
Naples from reaching the invasion area was accomplished.]
[Illustration: ITALY
PAESTUM BEACH ON THE GOLFO DI SALERNO. At lower right is Paestum
tower, the most prominent landmark on the beach. This beach was
the scene of the first invasion of U. S. troops on the mainland
of Europe. The landing took place before daylight on 9 September
and the troops reached Monte Soprano before nightfall. The
area did not contain many fixed defenses, but the enemy had a
considerable number of tanks and mobile guns.]
[Illustration: ITALY
[Illustration: ITALY
DUKW’S HEADING FOR SALERNO BEACHES. The one in the foreground is
carrying gasoline in five-gallon cans. The maintenance of Allied
forces for the first few days depended largely on craft such as
these “ducks.”]
[Illustration: ITALY
INVASION SCENES AT PAESTUM BEACH. Infantry debarking from
assault craft (top) and naval personnel evacuating wounded
soldiers to a transport for medical care (bottom). The landing
craft shown are all LCVP’s.]
[Illustration: ITALY
DUKW LANDING AT PAESTUM BEACH. These amphibian trucks brought
light artillery and antitank guns ashore after the first assault
waves had landed and, later in the day, brought men and supplies
ashore.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIERS HUGGING THE BEACH during air strafing and bombing
attack on D Day. Five enemy air raids, each by a formation of
eight fighter-bombers, were made against U. S. troops along
the beach. Several smaller formations were sent against ships
offshore. Casualties and damage caused were relatively slight on
D Day.]
[Illustration: ITALY
WRECKED SPITFIRE shot down by Allied antiaircraft fire over
Paestum beach. As several U. S. fighter squadrons were equipped
with British Spitfires, the planes bore U. S. markings.
Providing air cover from the Salerno area was a difficult
problem because Allied fighters were based in Sicily. The
longest-range fighter, the P-38, could stay over the beaches for
only one hour, the A-36 (modified North American P-51 Mustang)
thirty minutes, and the Spitfire about twenty minutes. (In
background: LST unloading equipment over sectional ponton ramp.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
REINFORCEMENTS COMING ASHORE at Paestum beach on D Day. Top:
bulldozer coming ashore--in background is a U. S. type LST,
two-davit design; bottom: infantry, armor, and medical aid
men--in background is British type tank landing ship (LST
(1)). This ship was one of three belonging to the Boxer class.
These were the first ships built specifically for tank landing
purposes after the successful experimentation with the converted
Maracaibo class oil tankers. They could land medium tanks over a
low ramp carried within the ship and extended through low gates
toward the beach. Load: thirteen 40-ton tanks or the equivalent.
(A DUKW also is shown in the top picture; the tanks in the
bottom picture are Sherman M4A1.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
HEAVY EQUIPMENT ROLLING ASHORE ON D DAY. Waterproofed medium
tanks (Shermans) rolling toward shore across sectional ponton
ramp from LST (top), and LST discharging fully loaded trucks
(bottom).]
[Illustration: ITALY
FREIGHTER BURNING AFTER BOMBING ATTACK. The night of 10–11 and
the day of 11 September saw the greatest enemy air activity.
During that time about 120 hostile aircraft raided the beaches
and the transport area.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SALERNO, which fell to the British forces of the Fifth Army on
D Day. Until the port of Naples, which fell on 1 October, was
cleared, all reinforcements and supplies for the army came in
over the beaches or through the port of Salerno. On 19 September
the entire Salerno plain was securely in Allied hands. The
German counterattacks which had started on 12 September had been
checked by the 15th. On the 17th the Germans started to withdraw
from the area.]
[Illustration: ITALY
ENGINEERS REPAIRING A BRIDGE NEAR ACERNO. While part of the
invading forces advanced westward toward Naples, part proceeded
toward Benevento to the north. The enemy retreated slowly toward
the river Volturno, the next natural line of defense, leaving
rear guards to delay the advance, mine the roads, and blow the
bridges.]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRY ADVANCING ACROSS BYPASS TO BRIDGE near Avellino on the
way to the Volturno River. Blown bridges caused much delay;
infantry, after crossing, generally ran into opposition that
required the use of tanks, which had to wait until the engineers
could rebuild the bridges.]
[Illustration: ITALY
U. S. TROOPS IN NAPLES. The city fell to the British 10 Corps,
assisted by elements of some U. S. units, on 1 October 1943.
When Naples fell, the Allies were in possession of three of
Italy’s best ports, Naples, Bari, and Taranto, as well as two of
the most important airport centers, the Naples area on the west
and the Foggia area on the east of the peninsula. The latter
had fallen to the Eighth Army on 27 September and soon became
the base for the biggest concentration of Allied bombers in the
entire Mediterranean theater.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
U. S. NURSES DEBARK FROM LCI in the Bay of Naples. Port
facilities in the city had been heavily bombed by the Allies for
months before the invasion and the damage had been increased
by the Germans as they retreated. Much of the cargo coming
into the harbor had to be discharged over beaches in the bay.
However, twelve days after the capture of the city the unloading
facilities were beginning to function and that day 3,500 tons
were discharged.]
[Illustration: ITALY
AIRFIELDS NEAR NAPLES. Capodichino (top) and Pomigliano (bottom)
after they had been put to use by the Allies. Both fields had
been severely damaged by Allied bombers before the invasion.]
[Illustration: ITALY
BARI AIRPORT, on the Adriatic just north of the heel of Italy,
was captured by the British on 22–23 September 1943. The enemy
had used this airport as a transport base and for staging
fighters on the way to Africa. The near-by town of Ban became
headquarters for the heavy Allied bombardment units based at
several airfields on the Foggia plain. Both the town of Ban and
the Bari airport were subject to attack by enemy aircraft.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FLYING FORTRESSES taxiing out to runway to take off on a
mission. This picture was taken early in the Italian campaign,
before this airfield in the Foggia area had been improved. Soon
after the Foggia airfields had been captured, Allied bombardment
groups started to move from the African bases.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LIBERATOR BOMBER taxiing along flooded runway on one of the
airfields in the Foggia area. When the fall rains started in
October 1943 most of these fields became muddy and some were
flooded. The flying of missions was continued while construction
was in progress, runways being lengthed and raised, and fields
drained. By the end of 1943 most of the fields had been put into
good shape and by that time two heavy bombardment groups, two
medium groups, and two fighter groups were operating out of ten
airfields in the Foggia area.]
[Illustration: ITALY
AIRMAN BAILING OUT HIS TENT after a rainstorm in southern Italy.
This was late fall 1943. As time went on conditions improved. By
the end of the year there were 35,000 U. S. combat airmen with
their supporting forces in Italy.]
[Illustration: ITALY
CASERTA, NEAR NAPLES. This area fell to the Fifth Army on 5
October 1943. The palace shown at end of tree-lined road became
headquarters of the Fifth Army soon after the building was
captured. Later it also became headquarters of the 15th Army
Group (Fifth and Eighth Armies) and still later Allied Force
Headquarters, the last named having control over the entire
Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The German surrender in
Italy was signed in the palace.]
[Illustration: ITALY
VOLTURNO RIVER ABOVE CAPUA. This was the first natural line of
defense north of the Naples area. The Fifth Army had reached the
southern bank of this river by 6 October. In the period between
the landings on 9 September and the arrival at the Volturno,
the Fifth Army had suffered 12,219 casualties of all kinds;
4,947 were U. S.; 7,272 were British. On 13 October the first
successful crossing of this river took place above and below the
hairpin loop. The river here is from 150 to 200 feet wide, its
depth from 3 to 5 feet. U. S. troops crossed in assault boats
or on rafts; some used life preservers, and some forded the icy
stream with the use of guide ropes.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIERS ENTERING CAIAZZO after crossing the Volturno River. The
two men in foreground are carrying the Springfield rifle with
telescopic sights; those in rear, the Garand. (The Springfield
rifle M1 903A 4, .30-caliber, bolt-action, manually operated,
became the standard U. S. Army rifle in 1903. Garand rifle M1,
.30-caliber, self-loading, semiautomatic, is at present the
standard U. S. Army rifle.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE GARIGLIANO RIVER AREA on the Golfo di Gaeta. The area shown
was the western anchor of the enemy Gustav Line as well as his
Winter Line. By 15 November 1943 the Fifth Army was halted in
front of the Winter Line, which consisted of well-prepared
positions across the waist of Italy from the mouth of the
Garigliano River on the west, through the mountains in the
center, to the mouth of the Sangro on the east coast. The more
formidable Gustav Line was located farther north except along
the lower Garigliano where the two defense lines generally
coincided. Little fighting took place in the area shown until
the British 10 Corps crossed the river on 17 January 1944 to
support the main Fifth Army effort to drive up the Liri Valley.
Garigliano River is located at right in top picture and at lower
left in bottom picture.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE CAMINO HILL MASS. Top picture is taken looking toward the
northwest from road fork of Highways 6 and 85. Bottom picture
shows the hill mass with the Rapido River Valley in distance.
The Winter Line continued along the south and east slopes of
these mountains. The Camino Hill area fell to British and
American troops on 9 December 1943, after several days of severe
fighting.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE MIGNANO GAP. Looking west through the gap toward Monte
Cairo, the snow-covered mountain in distance. Cassino is located
at the foot of this mountain (top). Looking north from the gap;
the village of Mignano, Highway 6, and the railroad are in lower
left hand corner (bottom). San Pietro Infine, the village on the
slope of Monte Sammucro, was the scene of one of the costliest
battles of the Winter Line campaign. Mignano Gap was one of the
few breaks in the mountains of the Winter Line and the main
effort to breach that line was made at this gap.]
[Illustration: ITALY
VOLTURNO RIVER VALLEY NORTH OF VENAFRO. River is in foreground.
The valley had been cleared of enemy troops by the middle of
November 1943. While German rear guards carried out delaying
actions, the main enemy forces strengthened the Winter Line
defenses in these mountains, which separate the Volturno River
from the Rapido River. Hard fighting took place for control of
the road leading from Pozzilli through the mountains to San Elia
in the Rapido Valley. Initial attempts made by U. S. forces to
cross the mountains failed because of the exhaustion of the
troops, the difficulty of supply, the unfavorable weather, and
the determined resistance of the enemy. The U. S. units were
replaced by fresh French mountain troops, who in January 1944
fought their way across the mountains.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE MONNA CASALE MOUNTAIN RANGE. These are the highest mountains
in the ridge separating the Volturno and Rapido Valleys. Two
roads across these mountains connect the two valleys: the Colli
al Volturn-Atina road on the north side of the range, the
Pozzilli-San Elia road on the south side. Both were relatively
poor. Hill mass at lower left is Monte Pantano. The battle for
this hill started on the night of 28–29 November and lasted
until 4 December. On that day the U. S. forces withdrew with the
enemy still in possession of most of the area. French troops
seized the rest of Monte Pantano on 17 December.]
[Illustration: ITALY
COLLI AL VOLTURNO. This typical Italian mountain village is
located at the headwaters of the Volturno and was on the right
flank of the U. S. Fifth Army. The mountains between this area
and the left flank of the British Eighth Army fighting along
the east coast of Italy were so rugged that no fighting took
place there. Both Allied armies merely maintained small patrols
to keep in contact. The lower road on the left runs through the
mountains separating the Volturno and Rapido River Valleys and
leads to Atina north of Cassino.]
[Illustration: ITALY
PACK TRAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS. These pack trains consisted mainly
of mules, but horses and donkeys were also used. Without the use
of pack trains the campaign would have been much more difficult.
To supply the basic needs of an infantry regiment in the line
two hundred and fifty animals per day were required.]
[Illustration: ITALY
PACK TRAIN IN THE VENAFRO AREA. Top: first donkey is loaded with
an 81-mm. mortar, the second carries the ammunition; bottom:
strapping a light .30-caliber machine gun on a donkey. The pack
animals obtained by the Allies in the Mediterranean area were
of varying sizes, generally smaller than the ordinary American
mule, and standard U. S. pack equipment had to be modified in
the field. Most of the equipment, however, was purchased in
Italy.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIRING A HOWITZER ON THE VENAFRO FRONT, with camouflage net
pulled back for firing. While the infantry crouched in foxholes
on the rocky slopes of the mountains, the artillery in the muddy
flats behind them gave heavy supporting fire on enemy positions.
To clear the masks presented by the high mountains ahead,
barrels had to be elevated. (105-mm. howitzer.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
BRITISH SOLDIERS SEARCHING A HOUSE IN COLLE, a village on Monte
Camino. Soldier in foreground is covering his partner while the
latter kicks open the door. The stone houses, typical of those
in the mountain areas, with walls sometimes four feet thick,
made fine strong points. They could be reduced by artillery,
but in the Camino fighting, a joint British-American operation,
there was no close-support artillery.]
[Illustration: ITALY
PREPARING AIR DROP OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES. Packing food parcels
into belly tanks of a P-40 (top), and attaching tank to the bomb
rack of A-36 fighter-bomber (bottom). The tank is released like
a bomb. During the fighting on Monte Camino in December several
air drops were attempted, but poor visibility, poor recovery
grounds, and proximity to enemy positions combined to defeat the
attempts on that occasion.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
FLYING FORTRESS RETURNING FROM A MISSION. Note part of the
pierced steel plank runway in the foreground. The moving of the
heavy bombers from their bases in Africa to the Foggia area in
Italy was a tremendous undertaking because of the equipment
necessary to establish new runways, pumping plants, pipelines,
repair shops, and warehouses. The move took place during the
late fall and winter of 1943 and required about 300,000 tons of
shipping. This was at a critical time of the ground fighting and
there was not enough shipping to take care of both the air and
the ground fighters. So heavy were the shipping requirements
that the build-up of Allied ground forces was considerably
delayed.]
[Illustration: ITALY
OBSERVING SMOKE SHELLS FALLING on enemy-occupied Monte Lungo
during the second fight for the village of San Pietro Infine on
15 December 1943. The smoke was to prevent enemy observation on
the village, which at this time was under infantry attack. The
first attacks on San Pietro Infine, 8–9 December, were repulsed
by the enemy, as were the attacks of 15–17 December. By this
time, however, the Allies had launched an attack and taken
Monte Lungo, thus outflanking the Germans in the San Pietro
Infine area. This caused the Germans to evacuate the village and
withdraw to the next position a few hundred yards back.]
[Illustration: ITALY
HOSPITAL TRAINS taking men wounded in the 1943–44 winter
campaign to base hospitals in the Naples area. Until the
fighting had advanced beyond Rome, the main Allied hospital area
in Italy was in and around Naples. The trains above have German
and Italian cars and U. S. locomotives. (Ambulances: truck,
¾-ton 4 x 4, crew of 2 with 4 litter patients or 7 sitting
patients.)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
CHRISTMAS TURKEY ON THE HOOD OF A JEEP, Christmas 1943. Every
effort was made to give the troops the traditional holiday
dinners, complete with trimmings.]
[Illustration: ITALY
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN FLOODWATERS OF THE VOLTURNO. The fall rains
of 1943 started early and flooded the rivers and streams between
Naples, the main supply base, and the fighting area of the
Winter Line. Just behind the lines, mud, traffic, and enemy
shelling combined to keep roads and bridges in a condition that
required constant work.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FRONT-LINE SOLDIERS BEING BRIEFED on arrival in rest camp in
Naples. Because of lack of food and housing in Italy it was
found impossible to give a man a pass and let him seek his
own recreation. Military rest camps were set up in several
localities, where the men could sleep late in clean beds, have
good food, and some entertainment.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE TOWN OF ACQUAFONDATA UNDER ENEMY SHELLFIRE. This village was
located on the road between Pozzilli in the Volturno Valley and
San Elia, north of Cassino. The road was on the right flank of
the Fifth Army throughout the Winter Line fighting. Most of the
fighting along this road was done by French mountain troops of
the Fifth Army.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIRING A MORTAR DURING A TRAINING PROBLEM near Venafro in the
Volturno River Valley. Mortars played an important part during
the drive through the Winter Line mountains and an intensive
training schedule was maintained prior to and during the
drive. (60-mm. mortar M 2, mount M 2, standard, developed by
the French, but manufactured in the United States under rights
obtained from the French.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
ADJUSTING ELEVATION AND DEFLECTION of 4.2-inch chemical
mortar. This mortar had a rifled barrel and was designed for
high-angle fire. Because of its accuracy (insured by rifled
barrel), mobility, rate of fire, and ease of concealment, it was
particularly suited for close support of attacking units.]
[Illustration: ITALY
RADAR IN OPERATION NEAR SAN PIETRO INFINE. The operating parts
were mounted on a semitrailer towed by a tractor or truck. A
van-body truck carried a complete stock of spare parts. (Radar
SCR 547.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
CAMOUFLAGED MOBILE ANTIAIRCRAFT UNIT near San Pietro Infine.
Enemy air attacks were not very numerous during the Winter
Line fight; the Germans had few aircraft to spare and the
weather tended to restrict the use of enemy as well as Allied
aircraft. (Multiple-gun motor carriage M 15 composed mainly of a
half-track personnel carrier with a 37-mm. gun, two .50-caliber
machine guns, and M 6 sighting system.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
HOWITZER IN THE MIGNANO AREA. This model was the largest U. S.
artillery piece in Italy. It and the 8-inch howitzer were rushed
from the States to help reduce the strong enemy fortifications
of the Gustav Line; the most heavily fortified part of this line
was in the Cassino area. (240-mm. howitzer.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
CAPTURED GERMAN ARTILLERY. The standard medium gun of the German
Army. It was a World War I model which was used on all German
fronts and was part of the corps artillery. The caliber was
10-cm.]
[Illustration: ITALY
CHANGING TRACKS ON A SHERMAN TANK at Presenzano. This village is
located near Highway 6 a few miles behind the lines in Mignano
Gap. Tanks had not played a big role during the Winter Line
fight because of the mountainous terrain and the muddy lowlands.
Tank units were kept ready for use once the infantry had cleared
the way through Mignano Gap to Cassino and the entrance to the
Liri Valley, the so-called Gateway to Rome.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LOADING A CURTISS P-40 Kittybomber for a bombing mission. This
was one of the first U. S. fighter types to get into combat, The
many variations and modifications of this early fighter of World
War II had many names. Those Army planes transported by naval
aircraft carrier to the coast of Africa during the invasion
there were called Tomahawks, those sold by the United States to
the British were called Kittyhawks. Later in the war, as faster
fighters arrived to protect bomber formations, the P-40 became a
fighter-bomber and was called the Kittybomber. The P-40 groups
in Italy were being re-equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
fighters early in 1944.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LOADING A MITCHELL MEDIUM BOMBER, North American B-25, with
1,000-pound bombs. Tail fins were attached to the bombs after
they were in position in the bomb bay.]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRY PATROL ENTERING CERVARO on 12 January 1944. The man at
left is carrying a tommy gun and covering the two men in front
as they hunt for snipers. A few minutes after this picture was
made two men of this patrol were killed by Germans hidden in the
ruins. Cervaro is on the western slopes of the Rapido Valley.
By this time the Fifth Army had fought its way through the
Winter Line mountains. Fighting in this area had lasted from 15
November 1943 to 15 January 1944.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SMOKE POTS USED TO SCREEN INFANTRY crossing the Rapido River
near Cassino. The first attempt to cross was made south of
Highway 6 by a U. S. division on 20 January 1944. It was a
failure. Crossings attempted in the next two days by this
division also failed. By afternoon of 22 January all assault
boats had been destroyed, efforts to bridge the stream had been
unsuccessful, the troops who had managed to cross were isolated,
and supply or evacuation had become impossible. On 23 January
the attack in the sector was ordered halted. Casualties were
1,681: 143 killed, 663 wounded, and 875 reported missing. On 24
January another U. S. division managed to cross the Rapido north
of Highway 6.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LITTER BEARERS TAKE SHELTER ALONG ROAD near the Rapido River
during the first crossing attempt. Casualties among medics
were high during the Rapido River crossings. Visibility was
generally poor because of mist or artificial smoke and enemy
automatic weapons had been zeroed in on likely crossing sites
and the surrounding areas. The only means of protection for the
litter bearers was the red cross markings on their helmets and
sleeves, but at night and during periods of poor visibility in
the daytime these identifications were not easily seen.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIRING A MORTAR during the successful Rapido River crossing on
24 January. The attack was made north of Highway 6 and directed
toward the mountains north of Cassino. The outskirts of the
town were entered for the first time on the morning of 26
January. Tanks were not able to help during the first few days
as the ground was too soggy and the engineers were unable to
construct bridges. The entire area was under observation from
Montecassino and the adjacent hills. Four tanks finally managed
to cross during the morning of the 27th, but by noon they were
all out of action. Two days later thirty tanks were across, the
infantry had taken the village of Cairo high in the hills north
of Cassino, and the Allies had made the first dent in the Gustav
Line in the Cassino area. (81-mm. mortar.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
ARMORED CAR FIRING ITS CANNON IN THE CASSINO AREA. (Armored car
M8; principal weapon, 37-mm. gun. The one above is also equipped
with a .50-caliber M2 Browning machine gun in AA mount.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
ITALIAN SOLDIERS preparing to fire one of their railway guns
against targets in the Gustav Line. On 7 December 1943, Italian
units first entered the fight on the side of the Allies under
command of Fifth Army. The Italians took over a narrow section
in Mignano Gap with 5,486 combat troops. In addition to the
combat personnel the Italians also provided various service
companies and pack units which proved valuable in solving the
difficult supply problem in the mountains.]
[Illustration: ITALY
BURNING AMMUNITION DUMP in the Mignano Gap area near Highway 6.
The dump was located about seven miles behind Cassino front. The
fire was accidental and not due to enemy action. Dumps in this
area were not camouflaged because they were too large and Allied
air forces had most of the enemy air grounded. Huge quantities
of ammunition were needed to reduce the defenses of the Gustav
Line. Dispersion was difficult because of the muddy ground.
Vehicles became mired as soon as they left the road.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LOADING LST’S IN NAPLES FOR THE INVASION OF ANZIO. Everything
was combat-loaded for quick removal, as plans required the
convoy to be unloaded in twenty-four hours. The slow advance
of the Allies late in 1943 led to the revival of plans for an
amphibious operation south of Rome. Early in January 1944 the
Allies broke through the Winter Line and unless some movement
could be devised to breach the more formidable Gustav Line they
faced another difficult mountain campaign. Enough landing craft
for Anzio were finally assembled, though resources were limited
by requirements for the coming Normandy invasion. (Note LST in
center, with take-off runway for cub observation planes. Planes
could not land on these runways. Two ships were thus equipped
with six planes each which landed on the beachhead shortly after
dawn on D Day, 22 January 1944.)]
[Illustration: ITALY]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE ANZIO BEACH AREA. Top: looking westward, Astura tower lower
right; bottom: looking eastward. The beach shown in these
pictures was the U. S. zone of the landing area. The British
landing beach, about six miles northwest of Anzio, proved too
shallow for unloading supplies. It was closed soon after the
British forces had landed there, and supplies were handled
mostly through the port of Anzio. The Anglo-American assault
force consisted of almost 50,000 men and 5,200 vehicles.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MORNING OF D DAY. Top: men coming ashore from LCI’s. Enemy air
raids started at 0850 and consisted of three separate attacks by
an estimated 18–28 fighter-bombers. One LGI was hit and is shown
burning. Bottom: LST backing away from portable ponton causeway
after having unloaded. Bulldozer is holding causeway in place.
In background is an LGI with a deckload of soldiers waiting to
go ashore.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
MEN AND EQUIPMENT COMING ASHORE on Anzio beaches on D Day
morning. The first assault craft hit the beaches at 0200,
22 January 1944. There was practically no opposition to the
landings as the enemy had been caught by surprise. Men with
full equipment wading ashore from LCI (top); in foreground are
two DUKW’s near beach, at right is LST unloading equipment over
portable causeway pontons (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
ARTILLERY OBSERVATION PLANE taking off from LST carrier to land
at Anzio beachhead shortly after dawn on D Day. The first use
of an LST carrier for this purpose was during the invasion of
Sicily. Two planes were launched and directed naval fire to the
vicinity of Licata, Sicily. Cub planes were to play an important
part at Anzio. The area of the beachhead and surroundings is
generally flat and featureless and in such terrain observation
was at a premium and it was vital to secure or deny that
observation.]
[Illustration: ITALY
B-26 BOMBING ROADS IN THE LIRI VALLEY behind the Gustav Line on
22 January 1944 in order to hamper the enemy in sending troops
to the Anzio area. The hill at lower left is Montecassino.
The mountains immediately above the plane were the scene of
bitter fighting during the winter of 1943–44. While the Anzio
landing was still in preparation the Allied air forces had been
bombing airfields and communication centers, and the army had
started its drive (on 17 January 1944) to penetrate the Gustav
Line. By the 22d, the date of the Anzio invasion, the attempt
to penetrate the Gustav Line had bogged down in front of the
Cassino defenses.]
[Illustration: ITALY
DOUGLAS HAVOC BOMBING RAILROAD BRIDGE and enemy installations at
Cisterna di Littoria. This town became one of the enemy strong
points surrounding the beachhead. It was shelled and bombed for
months, and when it finally fell, on 25 May 1944, it was nothing
but a mass of rubble.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE PORT OF ANZIO, which was taken intact with very little
opposition on the morning of D Day, 22 January 1944. The
enemy had placed demolition charges to destroy the port and
its facilities, but the assault was so sudden and unexpected
that there was no opportunity to set off the charges. By
early afternoon the port was ready to receive four LST’s
and three LCT’s simultaneously. By midnight on D Day 36,034
men, 3,069 vehicles, and large quantities of supply had been
brought ashore, either through the port or over the beaches.
The unloading area of the port (upper right) was not suitable
for Liberty ships or other freighters; these continued to be
unloaded offshore, mostly by DUKW’s.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FREIGHTER UNLOADING CARGO INTO DUKW’S. Supplies for Anzio were
carried by two methods: in truck-loaded LST’s from Naples and in
bulk-loaded Liberty ships or other freighters from Africa. After
its capture, the port of Anzio sustained regular shelling by
enemy artillery. The LST’s docked at the port and the freighters
unloaded into smaller craft or DUKW’s offshore.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MEN WORKING ON A BARRAGE BALLOON. A number of balloons were
used at the beachhead, chiefly in and around the port area.
Floated at the end of a steel cable, their purpose was to
prevent low-level strafing and dive-bombing attacks and to force
the bombers high enough to give the antiaircraft gunners time
to get on the target. Up to forty balloons were flown at one
time over the port. These were filled with highly inflammable
hydrogen gas, which was manufactured in the field. Helium gas
was sometimes used but was harder to obtain.]
[Illustration: ITALY
CAMOUFLAGED MULTIPLE-GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M16 mounting four
.50-caliber machine guns in Maxson turret. Allied antiaircraft
artillery faced its first major test in Italy with the
establishment of the beachhead. The enemy air force now started
on a large-scale, continuous offensive. The offshore shipping,
port, and beach congestion in the Anzio area offered easy
targets. Allied fighter aircraft were based about one hundred
miles to the south and they found it difficult to counter the
enemy’s quick sneak raids and night attacks. Antiaircraft
artillery units were mainly responsible for combatting these
attacks and keeping the flow of supplies constant. By May 1944,
1,051 pieces of antiaircraft artillery were on the beachhead,
including sixty-four 90-mm. guns.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIER SHARING HIS C RATION WITH NATIVE BOY. A few days after
the landing most of the civilian population, about 22,000, were
evacuated by sea to Naples, leaving only about 750 able-bodied
civilians. Later, as the need for workers increased, an office
was set up in Naples to recruit Italian civilians for work at
the beachhead. (Soldier is wearing a combat jacket, initially
issued with trousers to members of armored units.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
CAMPOLEONE STATION near the Albano highway leading from Anzio
to the Colli Laziali, the mountain mass overlooking the plains
of the beachhead. By 31 January 1944 the Allies had advanced to
Campoleone station, the front line being the railroad bed in
foreground above, but the available forces could not hold the
area. The enemy was bringing reserves toward the Gustav Line
where the Allied drive had stalled. These enemy reserve troops
were rerouted to contain the Anzio beachhead and, if possible,
force the Allies back to the sea. The picture above, looking
toward the sea, gives an idea of the flat, featureless terrain
in the area. The group of buildings in the distance at right is
the “Factory,” scene of hard fighting.]
[Illustration: ITALY
CISTERNA DI LITTORIA. A thrust toward Cisterna di Littoria
was made by the Allies on 25–27 January 1944, but was stopped
about three miles southwest of the town. Another attempt made
on 30 January-1 February met even less success. In the distance
are the Colli Laziali overlooking the beachhead. Below the
mountains is the town of Velletri. Highway 7 through Cisterna
di Littoria leads past the mountains to Rome. Attempts to
extend the beachhead failed: the first attempt along the Albano
road was stopped at Campoleone; the second, the effort to cut
Highway 7 at Cisterna di Littoria, was stopped within sight
of the village. By this time the enemy outnumbered the Allies
and the latter consolidated their positions and waited for the
counterattacks.]
[Illustration: ITALY
CAMOUFLAGED FOXHOLES AND ARTILLERY POSITIONS along the Mussolini
Canal. On 2 February 1944, after the unsuccessful attempt to
extend the beachhead, the Anzio force received orders to dig in
and prepare for defense. By this date casualties totaled 6,487.
Allied troops were on the defensive in Italy for the first time
since the invasion at Salerno.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LAYING AN ANTITANK MINE. The man at left is arming the mine by
pulling the safety fork. This type of mine contained 6 pounds of
cast TNT and had a total weight of 10⅔ pounds. The pressure of a
man stepping on the mine would not detonate it, but any vehicle
hitting it would set it off. Mines were generally laid at night
or on foggy days behind a smoke screen. The task of laying mine
fields at night in the open, almost featureless terrain resulted
at first in many improperly marked fields causing accidents.
The practice was finally adopted of first marking a field, then
recording it, and only then laying the mines. (Antitank mine
M1A1.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
LONG TOM FIRING AT GERMAN POSITIONS. On 3 February 1944 the
enemy started a series of counterattacks to wipe out the
beachhead. There were three main attacks: 3–12 February, 16–20
February, and 28 February–4 March. The stalemate began on the
latter date and lasted until the offensive to break out of the
beachhead got under way on 23 May 1944. Enemy prisoners taken
during the February fighting always commented on the heavy
artillery fire, which caused numerous casualties, shattered
nerves, and demoralized many enemy units.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SIGNAL CORPS MEN working in the main frame room of headquarters
switchboard installation. The beach area at Anzio-Nettuno was on
a slightly higher level than the rest of the beachhead area and
was honeycombed with tunnels and caves so far underground that
they were bombproof. Wherever possible the installations along
the shore were put underground.]
[Illustration: ITALY
RADAR SET IN OPERATION. By 24 February 1944 the first sets of
this type were in position on the Anzio beachhead. They were
brought in to cope with enemy jamming techniques and “window”
(small strips of metallic paper dropped from attacking planes)
which had reduced the effectiveness of earlier types of radar.
During the night of 24 February a flight of twelve bombers
approached in close formation, using the “window” method of
jamming. Forty-eight 90-mm. guns directed by radar of the
improved type caught them at extreme range over enemy territory
and brought down five with the first salvo. The remainder of the
formation jettisoned their bombs and fled. (Radar SCR 584.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIRING ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN at ground targets. The enemy
counterattack down the Albano road on 16–20 February 1944 was
the most severe and dangerous of the three main attacks the
Germans made on the Allies at Anzio beachhead. On the 17th
it looked as if the enemy might succeed in driving down the
Albano road from the Campoleone area to Anzio and thus split
the beachhead forces. To aid the hard-pressed infantry, all
the artillery in the area was brought to bear on the enemy.
In addition to 432 guns representing corps and divisional
artillery and three companies of tanks, four batteries of 90-mm.
antiaircraft guns were employed against ground targets. Two
cruisers assisted with fire on the flank of the beachhead.]
[Illustration: ITALY
GERMAN PRISONERS TAKEN NEAR THE ALBANO ROAD on 19 February 1944.
The German attack started in the morning hours of 16 February
and relied on smoke to conceal the advancing troops. By 18
February the enemy infantry, strongly supported by tanks, had
pushed the defenders back about three miles. The next day the
Allies counterattacked and halted the advance. Never again was
the enemy to come so close to rolling up the final beachhead
line.]
[Illustration: ITALY
TANK DESTROYER DUG IN BEHIND HAY STACK. These weapons were used
well forward, sometimes dug in, but more often placed behind
a house or other means of concealment. Tanks were also used
well forward, particularly after the front became somewhat
stabilized at the beginning of March. The distribution was about
one company of tanks to one regiment in the line. This practice
violated the principle of employing tanks in mass, but their
usefulness in support of the infantry outweighed the loss of
mobility and dispersion of strength.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE GERMAN PANTHER TANK. This heavy tank was probably the
most successful armored vehicle the Germans developed, having
relatively high speed and maneuverability, combined with heavy
armor and a rapid-fire, high-velocity gun. It first appeared on
the Russian front in the summer of 1943, and soon thereafter
on the Italian front. No U. S. tank comparable to it appeared.
The frontal armor could not be penetrated by Sherman tank
guns at ordinary fighting range. In constructing this vehicle
the Germans were influenced by the Russian tank, the T34. The
corrugated surface (top picture) is a plastic coating to prevent
magnetic mines from sticking to the metal. (Pz. Kpfw. Panther,
7.5-cm. Kw. K. 42 (L/70) gun. After Action Reports indicate that
there were a total of 165 enemy tanks surrounding the beachhead
as of 28 February 1944. Of these 32 were Tigers and 53 Panthers,
the rest being mostly Mark IV.)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
ANZIO ANNIE, 280-mm. railway gun (top). The beachhead faced a
heavy concentration of German artillery. During enemy attacks
in February this was employed mostly in direct support of the
infantry. Standard German divisional medium howitzer (bottom).
The caliber was 150-mm. (15-cm. s. F. H. 18.)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
LANDING CRAFT BRINGS WOUNDED TO HOSPITAL SHIP in Anzio bay. On
the night of 24 January 1944 a fully illuminated and marked
British hospital ship was bombed and sunk while taking wounded
on board. All evacuation from the beachhead was by sea. Air
transportation could not be used, since the dust raised by
planes landing or taking off brought on enemy shelling. Hospital
ships were used whenever possible, but as these could not dock
in the shallow port, LCT’s were used to transfer patients from
shore to ships. When storms and high seas interrupted this
procedure the wounded were loaded on board LST’s at the Anzio
docks for the 30-hour trip to Naples. For the period 22 January
to 22 May, 33,063 patients were evacuated by sea.]
[Illustration: ITALY
NURSE GIVING INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF PLASMA to a wounded
soldier. In the period 22 January to 22 May 1944, 18,074
American soldiers suffering from disease, 4,245 from injuries,
and 10,809 battle casualties--33,128 in all--were given medical
care and attention in evacuation hospitals at the beachhead. If
recovery required fourteen days or less, the casualty remained
in the evacuation hospital; if the recovery period was estimated
to take more than two weeks, the patient was evacuated to one
of several base hospitals in the Naples area as soon as he was
strong enough to be moved.]
[Illustration: ITALY
NURSE DIGGING FOXHOLE. The confined area of the beachhead and
the lack of distinction between the front lines and rear areas
were nowhere more noticeable than in the locality of the U.
S. evacuation hospitals. For more than sixteen weeks medical
personnel healed and comforted the sick and wounded in an area
within range of enemy artillery. Soldiers called the hospital
zone “Hell’s Half Acre” and admitted their preference for the
protection of a front-line foxhole to a cot in a hospital tent.
Of the medical personnel at the beachhead, 82 were killed in
action, 387 were wounded, 19 were captured, and 60 were reported
missing in action.]
[Illustration: ITALY
WRECKAGE OF EVACUATION HOSPITAL ON THE BEACHHEAD. Most of the
hospitals were located in the vicinity of Nettuno, and all were
within easy range of enemy artillery. It was impossible, within
the confined area of the beachhead, to locate hospitals in an
area out of reach of enemy artillery.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MECHANICAL SMOKE GENERATOR IN ACTION. Generators of this type
were used at ports to prevent accurate bombing and in the field
to conceal movements of troops. Large quantities of oil, about
two 53-gallon drums per hour, were consumed. The generator was
capable of converting hydrocarbon oils of low volatility into a
fog of relatively great persistence. The special oil, usually
referred to as fog oil and used for the generation of large area
screens, was a petroleum by-product. The fog would frequently
extend five miles or more downwind. (Smoke generator M1.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
SMOKE SCREEN SHIELDING ALLIED POSITIONS. Smoke was used to a
great extent on the beachhead because the flat terrain which
the Allies occupied was under constant observation from the
enemy-held Colli Laziali. The harbor area was screened by smoke
starting one-half hour before sunset, the time the enemy bombers
usually appeared, and on every air raid alarm.]
[Illustration: ITALY
BATHING FACILITIES at the beachhead were limited but those
available were used to the fullest extent.]
[Illustration: ITALY
PRIMITIVE SHOWER BATH. Some of the more hardy souls took their
showers directly from the well in winter.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIRING A PACK HOWITZER. From the establishment of the beachhead
the Allied artillery surpassed that of the enemy. Even with
limitations imposed on some types of ammunition, the artillery
was firing about 25,000 rounds per day. At the same time the
enemy fire falling in the port and the rest of the beachhead
was estimated to be not more than 1,500 rounds. The amount of
Allied artillery increased month by month. At the end of March
a battalion of 8-inch howitzers was brought in with the primary
mission of demolishing houses used by the enemy as observation
posts and strong points. In April a battery of 240-mm. howitzers
was added to the beachhead forces. (75-mm. pack howitzer.)
[Illustration: ITALY
USED SHELL CASES BOUND FOR THE UNITED STATES as scrap are loaded
into a freighter from an LCT.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIER FIRING A SUBMACHINE GUN at a haystack suspected of
concealing enemy soldiers. After the last German attempt to
reduce the beachhead had died out during the first days of March
1944 there began a period of stalemate on the Anzio plain. This
did not mean the end of fighting; it meant the end of pitched
battles by large numbers of men and armor. Artillery duels still
continued and enemy aircraft bombed and strafed positions as
before. There were frequent clashes and fire fights between
infantry patrols. To provide protection against enemy infantry
attacks, stress was laid on the development of self-sustaining,
mutually supporting points of resistance, usually centered on
Italian farmhouses. (.45-caliber Thompson submachine gun.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIER TESTING “STICKY GRENADE” on an armored vehicle. This
was a British weapon used against tanks. It had a hollow-type
charge, and was held to the metal by magnets. Unlike the real
sticky grenade which could be thrown and which stuck to the
target by means of a glue substance, this antitank grenade had
to be hand-placed. During the stalemate period the front-line
troops were equipped with this type of grenade in addition to
bazookas. The charge was a delayed action type and the grenade
was set off by pulling the string attached to it.]
[Illustration: ITALY
BEACHHEAD RATION DUMP. The failure of the main part of the
army in the south to break through the Gustav Line and join
the troops at Anzio necessitated maintaining the beachhead
by sea for a longer period than planned. Shipping schedules
were revised to take care of the gradually growing forces and
to build up a reserve of food, fuel, ammunition, and other
supplies. Food could be kept in a large dump, but fuel and
ammunition presented problems. The beachhead area was so small
that fuel and ammunition dumps, no matter where placed, were
within enemy artillery range. These dumps were kept small and
dispersed in order to keep losses to a minimum. Between 22
January and 10 March 1944 a little more than 1,000 tons of
ammunition were destroyed, mostly by enemy bombing. Losses never
became critical.]
[Illustration: ITALY
SOLDIERS BUTCHERING A COW. Cattle and sheep would frequently
wander into mine fields and be wounded or killed. The carcasses
presented a welcome change from regular rations. During the
stalemate some soldiers had their own chicken pens, others
bought fresh eggs from the few remaining farmers. Foraging
patrols for homeless livestock and poultry were as carefully
planned as patrols against the enemy.]
[Illustration: ITALY
LISTENING TO A CONCERT BY A SOLDIER ORCHESTRA. This is in a
recreation area established by one of the divisions on the
beachhead in March 1944. Only a limited audience could attend
because of the ever-present danger of enemy artillery fire.
During the critical period of enemy counterattacks in February
all troops were needed for defense, but as soon as the front had
become stabilized 750 men every four days were sent by LST to
the rest center at Caserta.]
[Illustration: ITALY
OPEN AIR BARBERSHOP AT THE BEACHHEAD located in one of the
few wooded sectors of the area. Barber service, because of
its uplifting effect on morale, was made available whenever
possible.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MALARIA CONTROL. Soldier pouring diesel oil in water-filled bomb
crater to kill mosquito larvae. The Pontine Marshes near the
beachhead had for centuries been notorious for the prevalence
of malaria. In April 1944 large-scale draining projects were
started, and patrols were sent out to dust or pour oil on
canals, ditches, and pools. This activity was even carried
right into no man’s land at night. The program, combined with
preventive measures taken by the individual soldier, such as
the use of head nets, mosquito bars, insect repellents, and
atabrine, kept malaria from becoming a medical problem. The
division stationed in the worst area did not develop a single
new case of the disease.]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFLATING RUBBER DUMMY TANK (top). Placing dummy tank in
camouflaged position which had been vacated by a tank moving
toward the front for the coming offensive (bottom). The dummy
tank was designed by the British and manufactured in the United
States.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
WATCHING THE BATTLE FROM OBSERVATION POINT. The offensive from
the beachhead started at 0545, 23 May 1944, when the artillery
began firing. Allied medium and fighter bombers strafed and
bombed enemy positions. At 0630 the infantry and tanks moved
out. The artillery preparations, the most intensive thus far at
the beachhead, had searched out command posts, assembly areas,
and dumps with the result that enemy communications and supply
lines were severely damaged. The Germans recovered and put up
a strong fight, but they could not make up for the initial
disorganization.]
[Illustration: ITALY
WALKING WOUNDED ON THEIR WAY FROM THE FRONT to a hospital. Tags
tell the nature of the wound and what has been done for it in
the field or at the first aid station. On the first day of the
fight to break out of the beachhead, the Allies suffered the
heaviest casualties of the Anzio Campaign. American combat
casualties for the whole army on that day were 334 killed,
1,513 wounded, and 81 missing, a total of 1,928 and the high
point in the entire Italian campaign. The U. S. and British
combat casualties at the beachhead between 22 January and 22
May numbered about 30,000, including at least 4,400 killed
and 18,000 wounded. The enemy captured about 6,800 prisoners.
The noncombat casualties during this period amounted to about
37,000.]
[Illustration: ITALY
RECOVERING ARMOR. Tank recovery vehicle pulling disabled tank
destroyer M10 out of mine field near Cisterna di Littoria (top).
Many Allied tanks were disabled by running into their own mine
fields. Front of tank destroyer is still smoking from effect of
mine blast. In the left background is a disabled Sherman tank.
To the right are a ruined German Mark IV tank and a personnel
carrier. During the first day’s attack the Allies lost heavily
in tanks and tank destroyers. Those that ran on mines were
generally repairable, those lost as a result of enemy fire were
often wrecked beyond repair. Tank recovery vehicle M31 (same as
at top) towing German 75-mm. assault gun (bottom).]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRY SOLDIER IN GISTERNA DI LITTORIA. This town on Highway
7 had been one of the German strong points facing the beachhead
forces. It fell to tanks and infantry on 25 May. The main
Allied drive had been launched in the direction of Cisterna di
Littoria with the object of continuing straight north to capture
Valmontone on Highway 6 and cut off the enemy forces retreating
toward Rome from the shattered Gustav Line defenses.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE VILLAGE OF CAMPOLEONE with Campoleone station in upper
left. The station area was reached on 31 January, when the
first attempt to break out of the beachhead was made, but was
soon lost to enemy counterattacks. It was not retaken by the
Allies until 29 May 1944 during the drive on Rome. Starting
on that day a tank-infantry attack fought a two-day action to
penetrate the German defenses here, but without success. The
area was heavily defended by infantry weapons supported by enemy
tanks, self-propelled guns, artillery, and flak guns. On 31 May
the U. S. armored division making the attack was withdrawn for
maintenance purposes. Losses in both tanks and personnel had
been severe. The break-through, when it came, was made across
the eastern side of the Colli Laziali.]
[Illustration: ITALY
MONTECASSINO ABBEY. Liri Valley, the so-called Gateway to Rome,
is on the left. On 15 February the abbey was bombed and shelled
for the first time. Before that Allied soldiers had orders not
to fire even a rifle shot at the structure. Enemy ammunition
dumps were located close to the building, and gun emplacements
in the vicinity were numerous. It had become a legitimate
military objective. The bombing and shelling destroyed the abbey
as a work of art, but its usefulness to the enemy was scarcely
impaired. The rubble caused by the destruction of the upper
parts of the building only served to strengthen the remaining
lower parts.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE BOMBING OF CASSINO on 15 March. Although it had been
repeatedly bombed before, the town was heavily bombed and
shelled that day in preparation for the attack by the New
Zealand Corps, at this time part of the Fifth Army. About 1,200
tons of bombs were dropped and 195,969 rounds were fired by
artillery ranging in size from 3-inch guns to 240-mm. howitzers.
The enemy’s defenses were not destroyed. Protected by cellars,
steel and concrete pillboxes, caves, and tunnels, the German
troops suffered comparatively few casualties. The bombing and
shelling neither overcame the enemy’s resistance nor noticeably
reduced his morale. When the infantry moved in for the attack
they were met by heavy mortar fire; when the Allied tanks
appeared they could not advance because of bomb craters and
debris. The attack was repulsed.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
CASSINO AREA, looking along Highway 6. “Castle Hill,” in left
foreground topped by tower, was in Allied hands for weeks
before the town of Cassino fell. Below cliff are ruins of
the town. The picture, made from the vicinity of the abbey,
gives some indication of the enemy’s observation over Allied
positions. The main drive through the Winter Line defenses
started above San Pietro Infine. U. S. forces began the advance
on 15 November 1943 and had fought their way to the outskirts
of Cassino by 26 January 1944, a distance of eight miles in
seventy days. The town fell on 18 May to the Eighth Army after
several unsuccessful attacks. The drive on the southern front,
to penetrate the Gustav Line, started on 11 May 1944, while that
out of the Anzio beachhead started on 23 May.]
[Illustration: ITALY
HOWITZER. These pieces fired their first mission in Italy in
Mignano Gap, 30 January 1944. They were used with good effect
during the Gustav Line fight in and around Cassino. Vehicle
towing weapon is converted General Grant tank M3 (top). Howitzer
in position near San Vittore del Lazio, five miles southeast of
Cassino (bottom). (240-mm. howitzer.)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS in March 1944 damaged a number of
aircraft on fields in the vicinity. Fuselages and wings were
pierced by fragments of rock hurled from the volcano. In
foreground is a P-40 fighter-bomber.]
[Illustration: ITALY
BAILEY BRIDGE over bypass on Highway 7 near Sessa Aurunca. This
is the coastal road between Rome and Naples; the inland road,
through the Mignano Gap, past Cassino and up the Liri Valley
to Rome, is Highway 6. The Bailey bridge was invented by the
British, from whom the U. S. forces obtained it.]
[Illustration: ITALY
THE RUINS OF SANTA MARIA, INFANTE. This village between the
Aurunci Mountains and the Golfo di Gaeta fell to U. S. forces on
14 May, three days after the attack that was to carry the Allies
to Rome started. The village had been demolished by air and
artillery bombardment. (57-mm. antitank gun.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
GOLFO Dl GAETA. The high mountain at the right is Monte
Petrella, which is 4,600 feet high; the one in the center is
Monte Ruazzo, which is 4,000 feet high. The drive through the
Gustav Line, started by the left flank of the Fifth Army, had
reached Monte Petrella by 15 May and had advanced to the Itri
Valley on the left of the picture. U. S. forces in general
advanced along the slopes facing the sea.
The French mountain troops advanced across the mountains farther
to the north, then turned right into the Liri Valley on the
other side and threatened to cut off the German forces around
Cassino and in the lower part of Liri Valley. This action by the
French made the German position untenable and the enemy started
a general withdrawal from the Gustav Line.]
[Illustration: ITALY
GOUMIERS OF THE FRENCH FORCES leading a pack train into the
Aurunci Mountains during the drive that started 11 May. Tank
is U. S. M5 light tank manned by French crew, and armed with a
75-mm. howitzer.]
[Illustration: ITALY
U. S. TANKS IN CORENO AUSONIO on 14 May. The same tanks, manned
by Americans, were attached to the French mountain troops making
a drive from the Castelforte area on the right flank of the
Fifth Army, through the Aurunci Mountains and into the Liri
Valley. (Left, light tank M5; right, medium tank M4.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
SWEEPING THE TERRACINA BEACH FOR MINES. Terracina is located
on Highway 7. During the drive the road became so overcrowded
that some supplies had to be shipped by sea. Since the small
harbor was cluttered with wreckage of ships, the beach had to be
cleared for landing and unloading. (Mine detector SCR 625.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
GERMAN PORTABLE PILLBOXES. Some of these were found in the
Gustav Line around Cassino and others were later found in
the Hitler Line in the Liri Valley. These steel pillboxes,
camouflaged and usually connected by communication trenches to
well constructed bunkers, were impregnable to all but direct
hits from artillery fire. (German mobile steel pillbox, being
removed by tank recovery vehicle M31.)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
VALMONTONE ON HIGHWAY 6, twenty-five miles southeast of Rome.
This was the main escape route of the enemy forces trying to
retreat toward Rome from the Cassino-Liri Valley area. The enemy
kept the road open until 1 June. U. S. forces found the village
unoccupied on the morning of 2 June when a battle patrol entered
the town.]
[Illustration: ITALY
A TANK-INFANTRY TEAM entering Rome on 4 June. The burning
vehicle is a German Tiger tank. The enemy had been evacuating
the city for several days, but had left a strong rear guard
equipped with tanks and artillery to hold the Allies in and
below the city as long as possible. Since the streets of Rome
were not suitable for conventional infantry attacks, small
tank-infantry teams entered the city from several directions and
by early morning of 5 June were in possession of the bridges
across the Tiber.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRYMEN OF ONE OF THE TANK-INFANTRY TEAMS to enter Rome on 4
June. Soldier on left has a Browning automatic rifle. The one on
right holds a bazooka (rocket launcher M1).]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRY AWAITING SIGNAL TO ENTER ROME on 4 June. At this time
the city was being cleared by small tank-infantry teams.]
[Illustration: ITALY
FIFTH ARMY ENTERING ROME on 5 June only to continue through the
city in pursuit of the enemy retreating along the roads north
of Rome. During this retreat the Germans were under constant
bombing and strafing attacks by Allied air forces. The roads of
retreat were littered with vehicles of all kinds. (3-inch gun
motor carriage M10.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
GERMAN GRIZZLY BEAR on a street in Rome. This is a close-support
weapon and mounts a short-barreled howitzer in a high, armored
superstructure (15-cm Stu. H. 43 on Pz. Kpfw. IV chassis.)]
[Illustration: ITALY
INFANTRY IN PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY north of Rome. Note dead horse
on left. Much of the German equipment was horse-drawn, limiting
the speed of withdrawal. During the pursuit of the enemy from
Rome to the Arno River whole divisions both American and French
were gradually withdrawn from the Fifth Army to train for the
coming invasion of southern France. Army strength dropped from
248,989 on 1 June to 153,323 on 1 August 1944. Three U. S.
divisions, veterans of the Italian campaign, were sent to the
Naples area for invasion training. (57-mm. antitank gun.)]
SOUTHERN FRANCE
[Illustration: SOUTHERN FRANCE]