United States Army in World War II: Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Cassino to the Alps
by Ernest F. Fisher, Jr.
1977
... to Those Who Served
Table of Contents
The Author
Part 1: The Spring Offensive
Chapter 1: Spring in Italy—1944
Allied Strategy—German Strategy—Allied Command and Organization—The Germans
Chapter 2: Preparing for a New Offensive
The German Defenses—Alexander’s Concept—A Cover Plan—Disposition of the Allied Armies—Planning the Offensive—Planning for Operations in the Liri Valley—Developing the Fifth Army Plan—German Preparations
Chapter 3: DIADEM’s First Day—11 May
Behind the German Front—Monte Cassino and the Rapido—Santa Maria Infante and the S-Ridge—The Capture of Monte Majo
Chapter 4: Collapse of the Gustav Line
German Countermeasures—The II Corps’ Attack Renewed—The Germans Fall Back on the Right—The Fall of Santa Maria Infante—Attack on Castellonorato—The Germans Prepare To Withdraw—Keyes Reinforces His Left—Progress in the Liri Valley—The German Reaction
Chapter 5: Breakthrough on the Southern Front
The Eighth Army’s Advance to the Hitler Line—The Fifth Army’s Advance to the Hitler Line—Breakthrough of the Hitler Line—Junction With the Beachhead—The Tenth Army Withdraws
Part 2: Breakout From the Beachhead
Chapter 6: The Anzio Beachhead
Italian Lands vs. German Blood—German Plans—The Terrain—The Opposing Forces—Allied Preparations—Final Moves
A General Hazard—Harmon’s Plan—The Attack Begins—The Attack on Cisterna—Action on the Corps’ Flanks
Chapter 8: Breakout From the Beachhead
Action on the Flanks—The German Reaction—The Third Day—The Enemy Situation—The Attack on Cori—The Capture of Cisterna—German Countermoves
Part 3: Drive to Rome
Chapter 9: Stalemate Along the Caesar Line
Clark’s Decision—BUFFALO Buried—Almost—“The most direct route to Rome”—Truscott Commits His Armor—The German Situation—Infantry Against Lanuvio—The 1st Armored Division’s Attack Reinforced
Chapter 10: Breaking the Stalemate
Stratagem on Monte Artemisio—The German Reaction—Exploiting the Penetration—Preliminary Moves—Keyes’ Plan—The II Corps Begins To Move—The VI Corps Begins To Move
The Race for Rome—Entry Into Rome
Part 4: Rome to the Arno
The View From the Capitoline Hill—Planning the Pursuit—The German Situation—Rome in Allied Hands
Chapter 13: Pursuit North of Rome
Eighth Army Joins the Pursuit—Kesselring Outlines His Strategy—To the Trasimeno Line—The French Advance to the Orcia—The British Sector—Kesselring Reinforces His Right Wing—The Eighth Army Closes With the Frieda Line
Strategic Priorities: France or Italy—Breaking the Frieda Line—The Capture of Volterra and Siena—The Eighth Army—Strategic Decisions
Chapter 15: End of the Campaign in Central Italy
Mission—The Terrain and the Plan—Advance Toward Leghorn—The Capture of Leghorn—The Capture of Ancona and Arezzo—Pause at the Arno
The Eighth Army—The German Situation—Evacuation of Florence—The Ligurian Flank—The Cost
Part 5: The Gothic Line Offensive
Chapter 17: Planning for the Offensive
The Terrain—The Gothic Line—German Dispositions—Changes in Allied Strategy—Preliminary Moves—Conference With Clark—The Allied Plan—Allied Regrouping—Doubts on Both Fronts
Chapter 18: The Gothic Line Offensive Begins
Preliminary Operations—Leese’s Plan—German Preparations—The Offensive Begins—German Countermeasures—The Assault—The Germans Reinforce Their Line—The Coriano Ridge—The Fifth Army—Plans and Regrouping—IV Corps Crosses the Arno—The German Situation
Chapter 19: Battle for the Pass
The Approach—Plans and Terrain—First Contacts—The Attack on the Monticelli Ridge
Chapter 20: A Diversionary Operation
Leese’s Plan—Resuming the Offensive—The Capture of Rimini—Toward Imola—Battle for the Mountains—The Germans Reinforce—The Defense of Battle Mountain—The Imola Drive Abandoned—The Germans Take Stock—Shift Back to Highway 65
Part 6: In the Northern Apennines
Chapter 21: From Ridge to Ridge
Keyes’ Plan—II Corps Resumes Its Advance—The Livergnano Escarpment—Action on the Flanks—The Personnel Problem—Unrealistic Strategies
Chapter 22: Toward a Winter Stalemate
The Eighth Army Advance to the Ronco—The II Corps’ Plan—The II Corps’ Attack Renewed—German Countermeasures—New Plans for II Corps—Kesselring Hospitalized—The Attack Continues—Operations on the IV Corps Front—The Offensive Is Halted
Chapter 23: Stalemate in the Mountains and on the Plain
Alexander Develops His Strategy—The Capture of Forli—Reorganization and Planning on the Fifth Army’s Fronts—Outside Influences on Strategy—Command Changes—Alexander’s Orders—An Allied Directive—The Eighth Army’s Advance Continues—German Reactions—Attack on Faenza Resumed—The Fifth Army Plans and Waits—A German Counterattack—The Stalemate
Chapter 24: Through the Winter
Sustaining the Armies—Strengthening the Army—Regrouping the Army—Eliminating Enemy Bridgeheads on the Eighth Army Front—German Dispositions—Operation FOURTH TERM—A Forecast of Spring—Into the Mountains—The Second Phase—Truscott Halts the Attack
Part 7: The Last Offensive
Chapter 25: Strategies and Plans
German Strategic Problems—The German Defenses—Allied Strategy and Plans—The 15th Army Group Operations Plan—The Eighth Army’s Plan—Developing the Fifth Army’s Plan—The Plan—Allied Preponderance in Material and Manpower
Chapter 26: Breakthrough on the Eighth Army Front
In the East—In the West—German Indecision—The Eighth Army Attack—Breakthrough at the Argenta Gap
Chapter 27: Breakthrough on the Fifth Army’s Front
Armor Joins the Battle—The II Corps Attacks—Breakthrough to the Plain—Progress on the Flanks—Hitler’s Strategic Decisions
Part 8: Pursuit to the Alps
The Pursuit—Crossing the Po
Race for Verona—Clearing the Po Valley—Army Group C’s Situation—Victory on the Flanks—The Last Engagements—The Eighth Army Crosses the Adige
The Widening Circle—German Reservations—Preparations for a Cease-Fire—The Surrender at Caserta—Army Group C’s Last Hours
German Strategy—The Commanders—Allied Tactics—The Surrender Negotiations
Appendix A: Table of Equivalent Ranks
I. Jump-Off, 11 May 1944
II. Attack on Santa Maria Infante, 351st Infantry, 11–12 May 1944
III. Collapse of the Gustav Line, II Corps, 13–15 May 1944
IV. Approach and Breakthrough, the Hitler Line, 15–23 May 1944
V. Capture of Cisterna, 23–25 May 1944
VI. Shifting the Attack, 25–26 May 1944
VII. The Drive for Rome, 31 May–4 June 1944
VIII. Pursuit From Rome to the Trasimeno Line, 5–20 June 1944
IX. From the Trasimeno Line to the Arno River, 21 June–5 August 1944
X. The Approach to the Gothic Line: Concept of Operation OLIVE, 25 August 1944
XI. II Corps Attack on the Gothic Line, 10–18 September 1944
XII. Thrust Towards Imola, 88th Division, 24 September–1 October 1944
XIII. II Corps Attack on the Livergnano Escarpment, 1–15 October 1944
XIV. The Winter Line, 31 January 1945
XV. Breakthrough Into the Po Valley, IV and II Corps, 14–21 April 1945
XVI. The Spring Offensive, 9 April–2 May 1945
Inline Maps
1. The Battle for Monte Cassino, 12 May 1944
2. FEC Capture of Monte Majo, 11–13 May 1944
3. FEC Drive, 13–15 May 1944
4. II and VI Corps Link-Up, 22–25 May 1944
5. Stratagem on Monte Artemisio, 30 May–1 June 1944
6. Fifth Army in Rome, 4 June 1944
7. The Advance on Leghorn, 2–19 July 1944
8. Capture of Altuzzo and Monticelli, 16–18 September 1944
9. Operation FOURTH TERM, 8–11 February 1945
10. Operation ENCORE, 19 February-5 March 1945
11. The Last Battle, 10th Mountain Division Takes Lake Garda, 27 April-1 May 1945
Illustrations
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring—General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson—Lt. Gen. Sir Oliver Leese, General Sir Harold Alexander, and Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark—Maj. Gen. Alfred W. Gruenther—Liri Valley—Maj. Gen. John B. Coulter—Maj. Gen. John E. Sloan—Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes—Lt. Gen. Willis D. Crittenberger—Brig. Gen. Donald W. Brann and General Clark—Monte Cassino—Terrain Facing the U.S. II Corps—Terrain in French Corps Sector—American Troops Entering the Ruins of Santa Maria Infante—Monte Cassino Monastery Shortly After Its Capture—View of Itri—U.S. Infantry Approaching Itri—German Prisoners Captured at Itri—Aerial View of Terracina—Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott, Jr.—Maj Gen. Ernest N. Harmon—Brig. Gen. John W. O’Daniel—Isola Bella—General O’Daniel’s Battle Sleds—Patrol Moving Through Cisterna—Disarming German Prisoners at Cisterna—Aerial View of Valmontane and Highway 6—Tanks of 1st Armored Division Assembling for Attack Near Lanuvio—3rd Division Infantry Entering Valmontane—American Infantrymen Advancing Along Highway 6 Toward Rome—Generals Clark, Keyes, and Brig. Gen. Robert T. Frederick Pause During Drive on Rome—German Troops Withdrawing From Rome—Entering the Gates of Rome—American Infantrymen Pass Burning German Tank in Rome—Romans Line Streets as U.S. Tank Destroyers Roll by Coliseum—Aerial View of Civitavecchia—Grosseto and Terrain to the East—Generals Brann, Crittenberger, and Mascarenhas—Lt. Gen. Wladyslav Anders With General Leese—Aerial View of Cecina—General Alphonse Juin With General Clark at Siena—Aerial View of Leghorn—American Patrol Entering Pisa—Aerial View of Florence—Il Giogo Pass—Artillery Battery in Action—Carrying Supplies to Mountain Positions—Captured German Positions in Gothic Line—85th Division Troops on Mt. Verruca—Looking North From Futa Pass—Generals Clark and Keyes Study II Corps Situation Map—German Prisoners Captured Near Castel del Rio—Monte Battaglia—Men, Mules, Mud—Indian Infantry in Northern Apennines—6th South African Armoured Division Tanks Assembled for Attack—Truck Crossing a Steel Truss Bailey Bridge—Italian Mule Train Transporting Supplies to the Front—General Clark Visits British 13 Corps Sector With General Kirkman—Motor Transport in Northern Apennines—Soldiers Relaxing During Lull in Battle—Area North of Cinquale Canal, 92nd Division Zone—Ski Patrol, 10th Mountain Division—Apennines, IV Corps Sector—Artillery Ammunition Being Brought Forward, 10th Mountain Division Zone—Monte Belvedere Massif From Lizzano, 10th Mountain Division Sector—Evacuating Casualties Over Mountain Trail—SS General Wolff—The Last Heights Before Bologna—Mountain Infantry in Tole Area—German Prisoners Captured by 10th Mountain Division—Infantrymen Entering the Po Valley—34th Division Infantrymen Pause in Bologna—Aerial View of Po River Crossing—German Equipment Destroyed Along Po—American Troops Storm Ashore After Assault Crossing of the Po River—Placing a Steel Treadway Bridge Across Po—Col. William O. Darby—91st Reconnaissance Squadron Moves Through Verona Railroad Station—Crossing the Adige—American Infantry Enter Vicenza—Partisans Before the Cathedral of Milan—Engineers Repairing Approach to Tunnel, Lake Garda—General der Panzertruppen Heinrich von Vietinghoff gennant Scheel—German Representatives Sign Surrender Document—General Morgan Receives German Representatives—Generalleutnant Joachim Lemelsen and Oberstleutnant Victor von Schweinitz—General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr Leaves Bolzano for Surrender—Generalleutnant Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin Surrenders to General Clark at Fifteenth Army Group Headquarters—German Representatives Receive Instructions From General Gruenther—Prisoners of War Assemble at Foot of Alps—88th Division Column in Alpine Pass
Illustrations are from Department of Defense files, with the exception of the photograph on page 212, which is from Yank Magazine, and that on page 348, which was supplied by William G. Bell of the Center of Military History.
Center of Military History, United States Army
Washington, D.C.
United States Army in World War II
Maurice Matloff, General Editor
Advisory Committee (as of 1 March 1976)
Otis A. Singletary, University of Kentucky
Russell F. Weigley, Temple University
Edward M. Coffman, University of Wisconsin
Maj. Gen. Robert C. Hixon, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Harry L. Coles, Ohio State University
Brig. Gen. Edward B. Atkeson, United States Army War College
Frank Freidel, Jr., Harvard University
Brig. Gen. William C. Louisell Jr., United States Army Command and General Staff College
Peter Paret, Stanford University
Col. Thomas E. Griess, United States Military Academy
Center of Military History
Brig. Gen. James L. Collins, Jr., Chief of Military History
Maurice Matloff, Chief Historian
Col. Walter L. McMahon, Chief, Historical Services Division
Col. James F. Ransone, Jr., Chief, Histories Division
Joseph R. Friedman, Editor in Chief