Seventy-five years ago, on Jan. 22, 1944, the Battle of Anzio (code-named “Operation Shingle”) began with the amphibious landing of U.S. and British soldiers along a narrow strip of Italy’s west coast near the town of Anzio. By the end of the first day, 27,000 American and 9,000 British soldiers were ashore along with 3,000 vehicles and artillery. The resulting campaign would end on June 5 with the unopposed capture of Rome.
The Allied invasion of Italy from the south had stalled. Despite the surrender of Italian forces in October 1943, a powerful German army continued to fight.
Dr. Clif CleavelandPlanners thought a surprise attack at Anzio and an eastward drive across the Italian peninsula would isolate German forces further south and lead to their surrender or defeat. The German command did not learn of the Anzio landing for several hours. The German response was swift with reinforcements soon occupying the hills surrounding the landing zone.
Allied forces steadily increased to more than 92,000, squeezed into a rectangular space measuring roughly seven by 15 miles. Much of the area was reclaimed marshland. Destruction by German forces of drainage pumps led to progressive flooding of large areas. Foxholes quickly became mired in mud. Constant cold and wet conditions led to numerous cases of respiratory infection.
The encircled Allied forces endured relentless shelling from the hills and frequent air attacks.