Chapter VI: Section V: Italy

(5 June 1944–2 May 1945)

The Allies did not halt after taking Rome, but their northward progress was soon slowed by skillful delaying tactics of the retreating enemy and by the fact that all the French and some of the American divisions were being withdrawn from the U. S. Fifth Army for the operation in southern France. The Germans speeded construction of the Gothic Line in the north Apennines, and early in August 1944 the Allies paused for reorganization on a line running approximately from ten miles north of Ancona on the east through Pisa to the west coast. The Fifth Army held the territory south of the Arno River from the sea to a few miles east of Florence; the British Eighth Army was north of Ancona on the Adriatic.

During August preparations were made by the Allied armies in northern Italy to penetrate the heavily fortified Gothic Line. This defensive system of the enemy extended in general from southeast of La Spezia through the mountains to Rimini. After regrouping and building up supplies, the Allied armies started their offensive on 26 August. They succeeded in breaching the Gothic Line in the center and along the coast, but fierce enemy resistance, bad weather, and a shortage of ammunition and replacements halted the offensive south of the Po River plain by the late fall of 1944. The winter of 1944–45 was spent in the mountains overlooking the Po Valley.

The spring drive by the Allied armies started on 9 April 1945. Bologna fell on 20 April, and armor and infantry overran the plain and divided the German forces. On 2 May 1945 the enemy in Italy surrendered unconditionally.

SOLDIER LOADING WING GUNS OF A FIGHTER with .50-caliber
ammunition. In Italy these tough and maneuverable fighters
were used for a variety of purposes, particularly after other
fighter planes with a higher speed and longer range were
available for escorting and protecting bombers. The P-47’s
became fighter-bombers, and were also equipped to use rockets.
(4.5-inch 3-tube AC rocket launcher M15 of a P-47.)]

FRENCH COMMANDOS AND SENEGALESE TROOPS on an LCI in a Corsican
harbor prior to the attack on the island of Elba. The troops
were taken to Elba on 17 June 1944 in U. S. landing craft and in
two days the island had been secured.]

GOUMIERS BOARDING AN LST in Corsica for the attack on Elba.
The attack, though not carried out by Fifth Army troops, was
co-ordinated by Allied Force Headquarters with the advance on
the Italian mainland and was launched when the forces driving
up the mainland were nearly opposite the island. The attacking
force consisted of French, goumiers, and Senegalese.]

BRAZILIAN SOLDIERS ARRIVING IN NAPLES, July 1944, to serve
with the Fifth Army during the 1944–45 winter campaign in the
northern Apennines.]

GASOLINE DISTRIBUTION POINT. Oil tankers brought gasoline into
major ports. From there it was transported to storage tanks at
distribution points by pipeline, trucks, or tankers where it was
transferred to five-gallon cans for pickup.]

A TIGER TANK, such as was encountered in Tunisia and Sicily, but
with a non-magnetic plastic coating. It is believed that most of
the tanks thus coated were originally destined for the Russian
front where the Germans were greatly troubled by delayed-action
magnetic mines which were stuck onto the armor of their tanks by
Russian infantry.]

GERMAN ARMOR. Medium tank is the Mark IV (top). Of the four tank
types with which the Germans started the war, only this survived
in service until the end. Originally it had a short-barreled
75-mm. gun which changed its role from a close-support vehicle
to a fighting tank. Assault gun (bottom). The Germans used
this in great numbers, and it was often called a tank, but was
actually an assault gun and tank destroyer on the chassis of a
Mark III tank. (Top: Pz. Kpfw. IV tank with 7.5-cm. Kw. K. 40
(L/43) gun; bottom: Stu. G. III with 7.5-cm. Stu. K. 40 gun.)]

GERMAN AMPHIBIAN JEEP, a version of the light Army car,
Volkswagen. Both versions were inferior in every respect to the
U. S. jeep except in the comfort of the seating accommodations.
(Schwimmwagen, le.P.K w.K.2s.)]

ENGINEERS SETTING OFF ENEMY MINES in a street in Leghorn on
19 July 1944, the day the city fell. The soldier at left is
guarding engineers against snipers. The Germans had destroyed
all the port facilities, mined the buildings in the harbor
area, and made the latter unusable by blocking the entrance
with sunken ships. The drive from Rome to the Arno River was
a pursuit action in which the Germans, by skillful delaying
tactics, slowed the Allied advance so that completion of
the Gothic Line defenses in the northern Apennines could be
expedited. The mouth of the Arno River was reached by 23 July
1944.]

TROOPS IN PISA. The southern outskirts of this town on the Arno
River were entered on 23 July 1944. The enemy had destroyed all
bridges across the river and when the infantry entered the town
they were met by heavy fire from across the river. The southern
half of the city was found heavily mined and booby-trapped.
During the approach to the Arno River plans were being completed
for introduction of antiaircraft units into the lines as
infantry since enemy air activity had decreased to the extent
that many AA units could be more profitably used as infantry.]

FIRING HOWITZERS across the Arno River in August. The men of
this unit were part of an American all-Negro regimental combat
team, the first to appear in Italy. They entered the line south
of the Arno on 23 August. A few weeks later an entire Negro
infantry division was at the front. (105-mm. howitzer.)]

MEMBERS OF AN ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY UNIT firing a 105-mm.
howitzer during training south of the Arno River. The howitzer
is mounted on a Priest. The Fifth Army reached the Arno at
Pontedera on 18 July and the first week in August found the
forces grouped along the southern bank on a thirty-five-mile
front reaching from the sea on the west to Florence. The month
of August was used for resupplying, resting, and training the
units. (105-mm. howitzer; M7 gun motor carriage.)]

NEGRO TROOPS CROSSING THE ARNO near Pontedera on 1 September,
during the drive toward the Gothic Line. The attack on this line
was started by the Eighth Army along the east coast on the night
of 25–26 August. On 1 September the line had been breached in
that sector but by the 6th the advance had been stopped a few
miles below Rimini on the Adriatic coast. This advance by the
British caused the German High Command to shift three divisions
opposing the Americans to the British sector. The forces
directly opposite the Arno drew back into the Gothic Line, a
distance of about twenty miles.]

SHERMAN TANK FORDING THE ARNO in the Cascina area on 1
September. Little opposition was met until the Gothic Line
was reached. The Germans had started to withdraw into this
line during the last days of August. Before the withdrawal,
it was estimated that the area between the Arno River and the
Gothic Line contained about 350 enemy tanks, half of which were
Panthers and Tigers. (Sherman tank M 4A 1.)]

TOP OF IL GIOGO PASS IN THE GOTHIC LINE, looking toward the
north. The Fifth Army broke through this pass in the Gothic Line
defenses outflanking the heavier prepared fortifications at Futa
Pass on Highway 65. The scarcity of roads through the mountains
made it possible for the Germans to concentrate their defensive
works at a few key points such as the Futa and Il Giogo Passes.
Highway 6524 branches off Highway 65 thirteen miles north of
Florence, winds through Il Giogo Pass, and ends at Highway 9 in
Imola (Po Valley).]

INFANTRY ADVANCING OVER THE HILLS in the area of Il Giogo Pass
on 18 September, the day the pass was taken. The fight for the
area started on the morning of 12 September. The mountains on
each side of Il Giogo Pass are too steep to require antitank
defenses other than road blocks, but other defenses such as
underground fortresses were numerous and well prepared. Barbed
wire and antipersonnel mine fields guarded approaches. Many of
the hills were covered with pine woods which made it difficult
to locate enemy defenses by the use of aerial photographs. Some
information was obtained from partisans who had worked on the
Gothic Line.]

PACK MULE TRAIN approaching the Gothic Line in the area of Il
Giogo Pass. For the difficult task of supplying their troops
through the mountains the Allied forces had 9 Italian Army mule
pack companies, each containing 260 mules. (2½-ton U. S. truck
overturned.)]

HIGHWAY 65 AT FUTA PASS. This pass, at an altitude of 2,962
feet, is one of the lowest through the northern Apennines.
Highway 65, the most direct route to Bologna and the Po Valley,
became the main supply route and a principal axis of advance in
the Fifth Army area, although the breach in the Gothic Line was
not made here. Futa Pass fell on 22 September.]

INFANTRY PACK TEAMS bringing supplies to units fighting in the
Gothic Line near Futa Pass. Mule pack teams were available but
some of the paths were too steep even for pack animals.]

ANTITANK DITCH AT FUTA PASS. This ditch, about three miles long,
crossed the road south of the pass. The ditch was covered with
a network of infantry positions and bunkers for antitank guns.
The area in front of the ditch was mined. Two of the bunkers in
this area were topped by Panther tank turrets with long-barreled
75-mm. tank guns.]

A PANTHER TURRET CASEMATE in the Gothic Line near Futa Pass. The
turret could not be penetrated by the guns of any of our tanks,
but was vulnerable to artillery fire.]

REPAIRING PONTON TREADWAY BRIDGE over the Arno at Pontedera.
The supply situation of Fifth Army troops at the Gothic Line
was made difficult by fall rains which raised the Arno River to
flood level and washed out most of the bridges between Florence
and Pontedera.]

MACHINE GUNNERS FIRING AT GERMANS in the Monticelli area near Il
Giogo Pass. Note flash hider attached to front of machine gun.
The Americans occupied Firenzuola on 21 September. (.30-caliber
Browning machine gun M1917A1, a development of the M1917 which
proved its worth in World War I.)]

AMERICAN ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTING A BYPASS in the Firenzuola
area during the pursuit of the Germans. The combat engineers,
prepared to bulldoze a bypass or to install temporary bridges,
followed closely behind the leading elements of the infantry and
armor. (Jeep; crawler type diesel tractor with angledozer.)]

BAILEY BRIDGE in the Firenzuola area. This is the same site as
the scene of the bulldozer constructing a bypass, the picture
being taken two days later. The Bailey bridge was particularly
suitable for operations in the mountains of Italy where sudden
rains would swell the rivers and wash out ponton bridges.]

AMERICAN ARTILLERYMEN firing captured German 150-mm. gun near
Lucca. Note small amount of smoke. German ammunition was charged
with smokeless, flash-less powder which in both night and day
fighting helped the enemy tremendously in concealing his fire
positions. All U. S. guns, from the rifle to the large howitzer,
left telltale puffs of smoke during daytime or showed relatively
large and brilliant muzzle flashes at night.]

A GROUP OF ARMORED VEHICLES at a salvage yard of a heavy
maintenance company in Italy. (1, 2, and 3, light tanks M5; 4,
medium tank M4; 5, gun motor carriage M10; 6, medium tank M4. A
tractor and tank recovery trailer are partially visible, upper
right.)]

SOLDIERS IN THE APENNINES receiving an issue of woolen
underwear, September 1944. Some of the peaks in the northern
Apennines rise to well over 5,000 feet and the weather is
unpleasantly cold in winter. Fall rains, often turning to sleet,
start in September and the higher peaks are usually snow-covered
by late October. Highway 65, the main axis of advance, runs
mostly on top of the mountain ridges. Here the cold is
particularly severe. There is nothing to break the winter winds
and part of the road is so high that it is often cloud-covered.]

LOADING MULES WITH AMMUNITION for 155-mm. howitzers in the
Castel del Rio area on Highway 6524, between Firenzuola and the
town of Imola in the Po Valley. After breaching the Gothic Line
at Il Giogo Pass an attempt to reach the Po Valley at Imola
was made along the route above. Because of the exposed salient
and stiff enemy resistance, the axis of attack was changed to
Highway 65. On 1 October, the day the picture was made, bloody
fighting for possession of the controlling height of Monte
Battaglia, east of Castel del Rio, was in progress.]

A TANK BATTALION PREPARING TO ATTACK along Highway 65 toward
the village of Monghidoro. The attack started on the morning of
1 October and by evening of the 2d the village was securely in
Allied hands. The Sherman tanks pictured here are all armed with
76-mm. guns.]

TRUCK TOWING HOWITZER along Highway 65 during the beginning of
the 1 October drive. Smoke is from M2 smoke generators. (6-ton
truck; 155-mm. howitzer.)]

TERRAIN OF THE WINTER STALEMATE in the northern Apennines,
looking toward the southeast. The high mountain peak in distance
is Monte Vigese. This mountain was taken by the South Africans
of the Fifth Army on 6 October 1944 after a three-day fight.
The territory in the foreground was in enemy hands until the
beginning of March 1945 when it was taken by American and
Brazilian troops in a limited offensive to obtain better jumping
off places for the main attack toward the Po Valley.]

NEGRO TROOPS ADVANCING ON HIGHWAY 12 along the Torrente
Lima. Jeeps with trailers were used and in danger areas the
windshields were folded forward and covered with canvas to
prevent light reflection. The sort of road demolition shown was
common during the fighting in the northern Apennines. Valley
roads were subject to natural landslides, and large-scale
destruction was easy to accomplish.]

ROAD IN THE APENNINES during the October drive. After the first
week, weather was a contributing factor to the slow pace of the
offensive. Rainy and foggy days worked almost entirely to the
benefit of the enemy. Artillery observation planes were grounded
and few of the planned air missions could be flown. Finally,
with each mile that the troops advanced over the rain-soaked
trails and dirt roads, the problem of keeping supplies moving
forward increased. Engineers kept working night and day pouring
gravel and crushed rock on the roads. They managed to keep
highways open for all types of vehicles and side roads passable
for the four-wheel-drive jeep and the powerful 2½-ton truck.
(Jeep; 2½-ton truck.)]

THE WEASEL, officially cargo carrier M29, came into its own
during the campaign in the northern Apennines. It operated
satisfactorily off the roads under mud or snow conditions and
helped to provide lateral communications. Most roads in the
Fifth Army sector of the Apennines ran more or less parallel
in a northerly direction; the area of the winter fighting
was almost completely devoid of east-west roads. The Weasel,
originally designed for use over snow and ice, had low ground
pressure and proved suitable for operation across fields or poor
trails. It had a crew of two and a pay load of approximately
1,000 pounds.]

JEEPS ALONG THE SUPPLY ROADS in the northern Apennines. This
vehicle was capable of operating over unimproved roads and
trails and could be shifted into four-wheel drive for steep
grades and muddy or sandy terrain. It could climb a 60 percent
grade and attain a speed of 65 miles per hour over level
highways. The jeep could also ford a stream 18 inches deep while
fully loaded and a deeper stream when especially equipped with
exhaust and air-intake extensions. The jeep, truck, and pack
mule were always important in the advances made.]

APPROACH TO LIVERGNANO ON HIGHWAY 65, looking from the south
along the highway. The village is the small cluster of ruined
houses below cliff on left. The Germans occupied the houses
as well as the tops and sides of the two hills. The latter
were honeycombed with caves which the enemy had enlarged and
strengthened. The fighting lasted from 9 to 14 October. On the
14th the enemy was still in possession of most of the village
and the two hills but retreated because he had been outflanked
from the west.]

THE RUINS OF LIVERGNANO. The main highway through the village
runs to Florence (upper right), and to Bologna (center left).
Livergnano, taken in a five-day fight, became known as “Liver
and Onions.” During the final attack of this fall offensive
toward Bologna, which started on 16 October and bogged down in
mud toward the end of the month, the enemy concentrated his
artillery fire on this village in an attempt to demolish the
houses along the road and thus block the highway, the supply
road for the area. The enemy managed to knock down some of the
houses but did not succeed in stopping traffic. Bulldozers
filled the craters in the road and pushed aside the rubble.]

MONTE BELLA FORMICHE, taken after a three-day fight starting on
10 October. This mountain, located east of Highway 65, is 2,092
feet high, the highest of the terrain features in the chain
of enemy defenses stretching east and west across Highway 65
through the village of Livergnano.]

LIGHTNING FIGHTERS. This twin-engined fighter was the first
successful long-range bomber escort developed by the United
States. Most Allied fighter planes in Italy gradually came to
be used as fighter-bombers as the need for protecting bomber
formations from hostile aircraft diminished. In August 1943
the Germans had only about six hundred combat aircraft, mostly
fighters, in Italy. About a third of these were of limited use.
Demands for fighters on the Russian front and the need for
protecting production centers in Germany from Allied bombings
caused some withdrawal of enemy fighters based in Italy. (P-38.)]

THUNDERBOLT FIGHTER-BOMBERS over the northern Apennines. Note
belly tank to increase range, and bombs under wings. Beginning
in October 1944, extensive use of the 110-gallon fuel tank
incendiary bombs containing a jelly-like mixture called napalm
was made for the first time on the Italian front. The bombs
proved particularly effective against enemy bivouacs and troop
installations in wooded areas where the highly inflammable
fuel, scattered over a wide area, could start numerous fires.
Fighter-bombers co-operated closely with the ground forces.
(P-47.)]

MUSTANG FIGHTERS. This plane, the P-51, was originally made
for the British and was used by the Royal Air Force as early
as November 1941. The Army Air Forces started to use it in
July 1942. The A-36 version of the P-51 was a fighter-bomber,
and except for diving brakes and differences in armament, the
two ships were alike. With the addition of wing tanks the P-51
became a long-range fighter used to escort bombers.]

LIBERATOR BOMBERS from Italian bases bombing the Munich area
in southern Germany. Smoke-making generators in operation to
blanket vital areas. Note black bursts of antiaircraft fare.
Heavy bombers from Foggia could easily strike at the passes
in the Alps and attack enemy installations and factories in
southern Germany and Austria as these targets were closer to
Allied bases in Italy than they were to those in England.]

LIBERATOR BEING SHOT DOWN by flak over the Po Valley in northern
Italy. As the war in the Mediterranean progressed the size
and effectiveness of the enemy air forces decreased, while
the antiaircraft defenses increased and became more and more
concentrated around the remaining enemy targets. As various
enemy targets were damaged beyond usefulness, antiaircraft
units defending them were sent to strengthen defenses around
industrial plants still in production.]

FLAK-DAMAGED FUSELAGE OF A FLYING FORTRESS. This plane received
a direct antiaircraft shell hit while on a mission over Hungary
but managed to fly back to Italy where it collapsed on landing.
In spite of damage to the bomber none of the crew was hurt.]

COREGLIA ANTELMINELLI in the mountains west of the Serchio
River. This region was being held by an American Negro infantry
division. On the morning of 26 December 1944 a mixed enemy force
of Germans and Italians started an attack in this vicinity and
pushed the division back several miles. An Indian brigade was
rushed up to halt the advance of the enemy. Since it was feared
that the enemy might break through and threaten the Allied
supply base at Leghorn, reinforcements were rushed to the area
to protect the vital base. On the night of the 27th the Indians
made contact with the enemy who started to retreat. By 31
December almost all the lost territory had been regained and the
line was again stabilized.]

A SOUTH AFRICAN ARMORED UNIT in the Reno River valley firing at
German positions across the river, November 1944. Combat action
in the Fifth Army sector during November and the first half of
December was largely confined to patrol activities and artillery
duels. The South African armored division had been transferred
from the Eighth Army to the Fifth Army in late August 1944.]

TANK MAINTENANCE POST in abandoned Italian farmhouse. During the
long winter stalemate time was utilized to make major repairs
on armored vehicles. Minor repairs, such as thrown tracks, were
made at forward maintenance posts such as the above which was
located only about 400 yards behind the front lines. (1, medium
tank M4A1; 2 and 3, 76-mm. gun motor carriage M18; 4, medium
tank M4A1; 5, medium tank M4, with 76-mm. gun (note different
gun mount); 6, tank recovery vehicle M31.)]

MOBILE FIELD ARTILLERY MAINTENANCE UNIT near the front. These
units were used a great deal during the winter. Artillery off
the main roads could be moved only with difficulty after the
rains started and repairs that were normally made in shops
behind the front had to be done in the field. The first two
vehicles shown above are tank recovery vehicles M32, and are
modifications of the M4 designed primarily for recovery of tanks
from battlefields. The fixed turret replaces the customary tank
turret. Third vehicle is weapons carrier, ¾-ton 4 x 4 truck.]

BRITISH ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNNERS protecting U. S. engineers
constructing a Bailey bridge on Highway 64 crossing the Reno
River. This was in preparation for an attack on Monte Belvedere
west of the highway. The 3,600-foot mountain was taken on 24
November 1944 by elements of a U. S. Negro infantry regiment
and members of British and U. S. antiaircraft units serving as
infantry. The enemy counterattacked for five days and the Allies
had to give up the position. During the fall and winter of 1944
most U. S. and British antiaircraft units were being trained
for infantry duty as rapidly as training and the issuance of
appropriate weapons would permit. (The gun shown is the 40-mm.
automatic antiaircraft type, originally made in Sweden and used
by the Allies and the enemy. The gun could be towed at 50 miles
per hour and transferred from traveling to firing position in 25
seconds.)]

PATROL ACTIVITY, December 1944. During the relatively quiet
period of the first half of December, both sides sent patrols
to probe the front lines and bring back prisoners. When the
cold weather set in, winter clothing was issued, including the
reversible, hooded coat known as the parka shown above. One
side was the conventional olive drab, the other side white for
camouflage in snow. New type shoepacs, combination wool sweaters
and cotton field jackets, and sleeping bags left the troops
better prepared for inclement weather than they were during the
previous winter, but there would be no possibility of keeping
dry at the front during an attack when the rain lasted for days
on end.]

INSPECTING FRONT-LINE TROOPS FOR TRENCH FOOT. The second winter
of fighting in Italy found the Allies better equipped to handle
the trench foot problem which in November 1943 accounted for
20 percent of the casualties at its peak incidence. Units were
gradually being equipped with shoepacs, an important item
in the prevention of trench foot. The shoepac consisted of
a moccasin-shaped foot of rubber, and a laced, waterproofed
leather top, which extended well up the calf of the leg. It was
worn with felt inner soles or woolen ski socks.]

PIPELINE PUMPING STATION AT LEGHORN. Construction of this line
started soon after the capture of the port. By 23 November 1944
the pipeline had reached Highway 65 just a few miles behind the
front, eliminating the trucking of gasoline over this already
overcrowded road.]

DOUBLE PIPELINE which carried gasoline from the port of
Leghorn to the army front in the Apennines. “Pipeline walking”
to inspect for leakage was done by jeep whenever possible.
Because of hilly terrain several booster pumping stations were
necessary. (4-inch double pipeline.)]

FILLING CANS WITH GASOLINE at the Raticosa Pass on Highway 65,
terminal of the pipeline from Leghorn. These cans were picked
up by truck and distributed to individual units. As the front
moved, the pipeline was extended to keep up with the troops.
(Five-gallon gasoline cans.)]

MEMBERS OF A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIT firing a Long Tom. This unit was
stationed along Highway 64. During the winter of 1944–45 the
U. S. Fifth Army roster included Brazilians, South Africans,
British, and Italians as well as U. S. white and Negro troops,
while the British Eighth Army along the east side of the
peninsula contained New Zealanders, Canadians, Poles, Indians,
Italians, and Jewish troops from Palestine in addition to United
Kingdom units.]

TRUCK WITH ROTARY SNOWPLOW clearing Highway 64 near Collina.
The first snow fell in the mountains on 11 November. Snow,
rain, sleet, and ice-coated curves on the roads leading to the
front made the supply situation a difficult one. The constant
work by snowplows and the hand labor of thousands of soldiers
and Italian civilians kept the main roads open throughout the
winter.]

AMBULANCE EVACUATING WOUNDED from the front lines near Highway
65, between Loiano and Livergnano. The flow of wounded from
the battlefield was carefully controlled. Evacuation hospitals
were kept as free of patients as possible, thereby affording
immediate facilities for the most urgent cases. It was found
desirable in daylight hours to direct the main stream of
casualties to hospitals located farther in the rear, while
during the night most of the patients were brought to the
forward hospital units in order to reduce the delay caused
by blackout ambulance driving over icy roads. (¾-ton 4 x 4
ambulance.)]

TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 65 near Loiano receives near miss, January
1945. This highway had been the main axis of advance during the
October offensive in the U. S. sector and was the only good road
in this area. During the winter stalemate and build-up for the
spring offensive, a period of about five months, this road was
under observed enemy artillery fire directed from Monte Adone, a
commanding position between Highways 64 and 65.]

MEN RESTING IN THEIR QUARTERS in an old barn after a day in
foxholes at the front. During cold weather, winterization of
living quarters was carried out on a large scale, although men
in the extreme forward positions usually had to improvise with a
raincoat and a blanket in a foxhole.]

TROOPS IN A DEFENSE POSITION near Highway 65. This area was
thinly populated and houses were few and far between. Those
still standing drew fire, and troops in support or reserve
positions would dig in on the reverse slope of hills and make
their foxholes as comfortable as possible. Roofs and walls were
constructed from empty shell cases, food containers, and the
like and reinforced with sand bags. Keeping warm was a problem:
the area is almost bare of trees; most of the heating of the
foxholes was done by gasoline stoves, sometimes issued, often
improvised.]

SOLDIERS AT THE ROMAN FORUM during a rest and recreation period
away from the front. The rest-center idea, which had proved
highly successful during the winter fighting of 1943–44, was
carried out on a much larger scale in Rome and in the cities
of the Arno Valley in the fall and winter of 1944–45. Hundreds
of thousands of troops were rotated through the rest and leave
centers set up under military supervision to provide a place
of relaxation where men could forget the rigors and dangers
of the front line, sleep in beds, take baths, visit places of
historic interest, and generally indulge in the pleasures and
entertainment of civilization, if only for a brief period.]

FIRING ROCKET PROJECTILES from a tank mount. Experiments were
carried out in January 1945 in the Arno Valley. Of the several
different mounts tested, one had 54 tubes placed on top of a
medium tank turret, another had 18 tubes mounted on the same
carriage as a towed 37-mm. gun. Because of the great variation
in deflection and range the weapon was not practical against
a point target and the smoke and flame given off when fired
tended to disclose its position. It proved effective for a heavy
concentration over a wide area for a short period. The short
range of the rocket, slightly less than 4,000 yards, was a
limiting factor. (Each cluster of 3 magnesium tubes is a rocket
launcher, aircraft M15, mounted on M17 (T40) modified rocket
launcher frame. 4.5-inch rockets were used.)]

AN INFANTRY COMPANY moves into the line under a smoke screen to
relieve another company. During the five-month static period
starting at the beginning of November 1944, rotation of units
for rest and recreation was a regular procedure.]

JEEP PASSING A TRAFFIC CONTROL POINT in the northern Apennines.
Rigid supervision of transportation over the crowded mountain
roads was necessary if proper supply was to be made, tactical
movements carried out, and vehicles conserved. To accomplish
this, traffic control points were set up. Road movement
approval was required for all convoys of ten or more vehicles.
The traffic posts also served as a check on unnecessary or
unauthorized use of military vehicles. Military police operated
“chain points” where vehicles going into the mountains were
stopped and beyond which the use of chains was mandatory.]

RESTACKING HOWITZER AMMUNITION. German air activity by this time
was so slight that dumps a few miles behind the front were not
camouflaged. (Ammunition for 155-mm. howitzer.)]

SIGNAL CORPS MEN checking wires outside the telephone exchange
in a cave at Livergnano.]

MAN CARRYING HOWITZER AMMUNITION to a battery high in the hills.
These men were members of a division especially trained for
mountain fighting. On 18 February 1945 this division, together
with the Brazilian division under Fifth Army command, started an
assault on German positions in the Monte Belvedere area west of
Highway 64. The Monte Belvedere area dominated about ten miles
of this highway. After severe fighting that lasted until 5 March
1945, the mountain mass was in Allied hands. (Ammunition for
75-mm. howitzer.)]

REINFORCEMENTS MOVE UP toward the fighting in the Monte
Belvedere area. The men are equipped with M1 rifles and
carbines, special shoes, and rucksack type pack.]

EVACUATING WOUNDED FROM MONTE BELVEDERE. As vehicles could not
negotiate the mountain trails, stretcher bearers had to carry
the wounded. Casualties from mines were numerous as the enemy
had been in position on this dominating hill for several months
and had mined and booby-trapped every likely avenue of approach
as well as many of the farmhouses on the mountain slopes.]

RED CROSS GIRL writing letter for wounded soldier. In addition
to performing duties such as this, the American Red Cross
operated clubs and motion picture theaters for the soldiers. The
clubs served coffee, doughnuts, and ice cream, and sponsored
musical programs, vaudeville shows, and dances. All was free of
charge. The estimated attendance at the Red Cross clubs in the
Arno Valley during February 1945 was 896,000.]

SOLDIERS DURING A LULL IN THE FIGHTING on Monte Grande which was
taken on 20 October 1944 after a tough two-day fight. The city
of Bologna was only about nine miles away and could be plainly
seen from the summit. Because of its commanding position,
the Germans made several local attacks during the winter to
recapture the mountain but were repulsed each time.]

INFANTRY COLUMN passing a supply-transfer point in the Monte
Grande area east of Highway 65, February 1945. Supplies were
transferred from trucks to the tracked Weasels at this point.
Higher in the mountains the mule pack train took over from the
tracked vehicles.]

Members of an American Engineer Company working on a trail in
the vicinity of Monte Grande. An Indian pack mule convoy is
returning after taking supplies to the front line.]

BRIDGING EQUIPMENT. “Ark” with end sections of treadway in
raised position (top). Medium tank M4, crossing canal on Ark
(bottom). With a total span of 54 feet, the treadway would
span a canal about 45 feet wide. After November 1944, when
the offensive in the mountains bogged down, most of the armor
with the Fifth Army was gradually withdrawn to the Arno Valley
where training for the spring offensive took place. New methods
and techniques were developed and tried. The Ark above was
constructed by an ordnance company for use in crossing canals in
the Po Valley.]

SIGNAL CORPS LINEMEN stringing communication wire in preparation
for the coming spring offensive. During the winter stalemate
many new lines were strung and hookups were made to the Italian
state underground cable system. Circuits linked all units of the
Fifth Army and an eight-mile line containing eight open-wire
circuits was started in February 1945 from Filigare on Highway
65 near Monghidoro to the village of Lagaro Highway 6620.]

SOLDIERS IN LIVERGNANO watch the shelling of the village by the
enemy, March 1945. Livergnano was taken on 14 October 1944 after
a five-day fight along Highway 65 in an attempt to break through
into the Po Valley. The advance was halted a few miles beyond
this village. (Garand M1, .30-caliber rifle.)]

INFANTRY ACTION during the attack toward Monte della Spe. The
soldier in the foreground is covering the house with his rifle
while the other members of his squad approach it. A few minutes
after this picture was made the house and the knoll behind it
were taken, netting 57 German prisoners. Monte della Spe, west
of Highway 64, was taken on 5 March 1945.]

MONTE DELLA SPE AREA, looking toward the east. Highway 64
parallels the Reno River (in distance). The village of Vergato
is shown on the west bank of the river. Monte della Spe is the
rounded hill in foreground. It was taken on 5 March 1945 during
an attack to secure a suitable jumping off place for the spring
offensive. Vergato, which was an enemy strong point, and most
of the surrounding territory remained in enemy hands after the
capture of Monte della Spe. The main offensive, the attack
toward the Po Valley, started from here on 14 April 1945 and by
the 20th Allied troops had broken into the valley.]

EASTER SERVICE 1 APRIL 1945.]

RETURNING PATROL. As the spring offensive became imminent,
patrol activities increased.]

SOLDIERS MOVING UP into the line a few days before the start of
the attack toward the Po Valley.]

SELF-PROPELLED GUNS of a South African armored unit firing
a mission a few days before the attack to break into the Po
Valley. These vehicles are American Sherman tanks modified by
the British as self-propelled guns. Prior to the jump-off, the
units along the Fifth Army front had been engaged in a series of
deceptive artillery fires.]

NEGRO SOLDIERS FIRING HOWITZERS in support of the Nisei who were
making an attack northward along the mountain ridges toward the
towns of Massa and Carrara. The attack started on 5 April 1945.
The Nisei were American soldiers of Japanese ancestry. (75-mm.
howitzers.)]

BODIES OF AMERICAN INFANTRYMEN killed during the opening of the
spring offensive. Note stretcher bearer in background looking
for casualties. The infantry was making an attack across the
mountains toward Massa and Carrara on the west coast.]

TANK DESTROYER speeding along Highway 1 through the town of
Querceta during the spring offensive. The main effort of the
army was along Highways 64 and 65.]

BRINGING IN THE FIRST PRISONERS taken at the start of the main
drive to reach the Po Valley. On 14 April at 0945 the offensive
was started by U. S. mountain troops in the hills west of
Vergato on Highway 64.]

PIANORO ON HIGHWAY 65, looking south toward the hills occupied
by the Allies for almost six months. Pianoro, at lower left, was
one of the keys of the German defense systems barring entrance
to Bologna and the Po Valley. The fight for Pianoro started on
16 April. Entering what was left of the town on the evening of
the 18th, the infantry found it booby-trapped.]

SOUTH AFRICAN ARMOR waiting along Highway 64 for a U. S.
infantry division to pass on its way to the Po Valley, 20
April. On this date the troops in the U. S. zone broke through
the mountains into the Po Valley just west of Bologna. The two
highways in this area, 64 and 65, became congested with troops
and vehicles in pursuit of the fleeing enemy. (Sherman medium
tanks.)]

U. S. ARMY MOTION-PICTURE CAMERAMAN photographing the first
tank of the South African armored force to cross the Reno River
southwest of Bologna, 20 April. The practice of infantrymen
riding on tanks while advancing was included in training for
armored units in the United States early in 1944. (Sherman M4A3
tank with British 17-pounder; camera: PH-330 (Sig C), Eyemo,
Bell, and Howell, 35-mm., three lenses mounted in turret.)]

WEARY U. S. TROOPS IN BOLOGNA on the morning of 21 April. The
city, entered from the south by U. S. forces and from the east
by Poles of the Eighth Army, fell that day. Pressing forward the
troops pursued the fleeing Germans.]

ITALIAN PARTISANS WATCHING FOR SNIPERS. During the winter of
1944–45 Allied officers, arms, and ammunition were dropped
behind the enemy lines to assist partisans in the Po Valley.
Although partisans, armed with equipment obtained from Italian
arsenals or seized from the Germans, first appeared north of
Rome, it was not until the Allies reached Bologna that they met
the efficiently organized groups from the Po Valley. As troops
entered the city, where the Germans were numerous, the partisans
struck, seizing government agencies and public utilities.]

THE PANARO RIVER BRIDGES near Bomporto. After the breakout into
the Po Valley, the next objective was the Po River. The area
south of this river is broken by small streams and numerous
canals. Most of the bridges had been destroyed by the Allied air
forces during the winter. Later air reconnaissance found these
undamaged bridges at Bomporto. A task force, sent to secure
them, passed through the fleeing and disorganized enemy. So
sudden was its appearance that, by 1600 on 21 April, it captured
the bridges before the Germans could detonate previously laid
demolition charges.]

TREADWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE PO RIVER at San Benedetto. Opened on
the afternoon of 25 April, it was the first bridge across the
river. The infantry had started to cross in this area on the
morning of the 23d in assault boats under heavy machine gun,
mortar, and rifle fire as well as fire from enemy antiaircraft
guns lowered to fire airbursts on a flat trajectory. Casualties
were high, but by 1745 a bridgehead of 2,000 square yards had
been established on the north bank of the Po. The bridge above
is 915 feet long. (Floating treadway bridge M2, class 18.)]

ACTION DURING THE PO RIVER CROSSING at Ostiglia, 24 April. A
57-mm. antitank gun firing in support of an infantry assault
across the railroad bridge to the north bank of the river. (The
British 6-pounder was the forerunner of the 57-mm. gun. It was
adapted for U. S. use and also manufactured for other United
Nations under the lend-lease agreement as the 57-mm. antitank
gun.)]

INFANTRY CROSSING PO RIVER UNDER FIRE, Ostiglia railroad bridge,
24 April. The crossing in this zone was opposed by enemy machine
guns and 20-mm automatic weapons. The patrol above worked its
way to the other side and knocked out enemy guns and crews. The
railroad bridge was partially demolished and unfit for vehicles.]

“ALLIGATORS” ABOUT TO CROSS PO RIVER near Ostiglia. Developed by
the U. S. Navy, the first shipment of these amphibian tracked
vehicles arrived in December 1944 and training was begun.
Great secrecy surrounded them and they were kept thoroughly
camouflaged before the dash to the Po. They were armored and
each had socket mounts at four locations for either .30-or
.50-caliber machine guns. A stern ramp could be lowered to take
on a vehicle. Maximum capacity was 8,000 pounds and a crew of
three. (LVT(4).)]

FERRYING EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE PO in support of the infantry
assault, Ostiglia, 25 April. The large vehicle is a 76-mm.
gun motor carriage M18, designed for tank destroyer use. It
was a full track-laying type, using a torsion bar independent
suspension, and was front-sprocket driven. The vehicle was
lightly armored, had a low silhouette, and was highly mobile.]

PONTON BRIDGE under construction across the Po River near
Ostiglia. This bridge was opened on 25 April. (M2 treadway
bridge.)]

INFANTRY ACTION AT VICENZA, in the foothills of the Alps. The
advance of the Allies across the plain was too fast for the
Germans to halt, reorganize, and make a determined stand behind
either the Po or the other rivers in the Po plain. Speedy
thrusts by infantry-armor columns split the enemy forces and
severed communications. After the crossing of the Po, the action
on both sides developed into a race to the Alps, the enemy
hoping to escape into Germany, the Allies determined to prevent
them. Many isolated pockets of resistance developed behind the
advancing columns and special task forces were organized on 23
April to deal with them.]

TANK DESTROYER on the shore of Lake Garda blocking one of the
escape routes to Brenner Pass. Heavy fighting took place in the
demolished tunnels on the road along the east shore of this
lake, but on 30 April the area was under Allied control.]

GERMAN PRISONERS and their equipment captured on the Po plain.
For the first time in the Italian campaign, the enemy was
retreating over terrain suitable for swift pursuit. Since the
Germans lacked vehicles and gasoline, they had to rely to a
great extent on horse-drawn transportation. They retreated
across an open valley having a fine network of roads for
mechanized forces and were forced to cross wide rivers by
ferries and ponton bridges under constant attack by Allied air
forces. The retreat became a rout.]

PRISONERS WERE CAPTURED by the tens of thousands in the Po
Valley and marched to the rear, often unguarded, or guarded only
by one or two men. On 2 May 1945, the Germans signed the terms
of the unconditional surrender of their forces in Italy. One
week later the war in Europe was concluded with complete victory
for the Allies. The Italian campaign had been a bitter one,
lasting 607 days (3 September 1943 to 2 May 1945). Casualties of
the Fifth Army, including all nationalities serving with that
army, totaled 188,546. United States losses were 19,475 killed,
80,530 wounded, and 9,637 missing.]

Appendix A

List of Abbreviations

AA Antiaircraft
AC Air Corps
AT Antitank
cm. Centimeter
DD Duplex drive
DDT Dichloro-Dithenyl-Trichloroethane
Flak Fliegerabwehrkanone (antiaircraft artillery gun)
JU. Junkers (designation of airplane built by company
of that name)
K. Kanone (gun)
Kw. Kraftwagen (motor vehicle)
Kw.K. Kampfwagenkanone (tank gun)
LCI Landing craft, infantry
LCI (L) Landing craft, infantry (large)
LCM Landing craft, mechanized
LCP Landing craft, personnel
LCP (R) Landing craft, personnel (ramp)
LCT Landing craft, tank
LCV Landing craft, vehicle
LCVP Landing craft, vehicle-personnel
le.P.Kw.K.2s Leichter Personen Kraftwagen, K.2, Schwimmend
(light personnel vehicle, K.2, amphibian)
LST Landing ship, tank
LVT Landing vehicle, tracked
mm. Millimeter
Pak. Panzerabwehrkanone (antitank gun)
Pz. Kpfw. Panzerkampfwagen (tank)
SCR Signal Corps Radio
S.F.H. Schwere Feld Haubitze (medium field howitzer)
Sig C Signal Corps
SOC Scout Observation Curtis
SP Self-propelled
Stu. G. Sturmgeschuetz (self-propelled assault gun)
Stu. H. Sturmhaubitze (self-propelled assault howitzer)
Stu. K. Sturmkanone (self-propelled assault gun)
TD Tank destroyer
TNT Trinitrotoluene; trinitrotoluol (high explosive)
WAC Women’s Army Corps
USAFIME U. S. Army Forces in the Middle East
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Appendix B

Acknowledgments

The photographs in this volume came from the Department of Defense. All are from the U. S. Army files except the following:

U. S. Navy: pp. 13, 14, 15, 19, 20b, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30, 77,
107, 116, 122b, 125b, 139, 190, 258, 316, 339, 354.

U. S. Air Forces: pp. 10, 12, 18, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 64, 71,
73, 80, 90, 91, 92, 94, 97a, 101, 109, 111, 157, 162, 164, 165,
166, 167, 168, 173, 182, 185, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 224, 225,
239, 240, 257, 285, 305, 306, 307, 308, 317, 318, 323, 324–25,
326, 327, 328–29, 351, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395.

U. S. Coast Guard: pp. 117, 118, 126, 181, 183a, 315, 333, 334,
336.

Index

Acquafondata, Italy, 216

Acquedolci, Sicily, 140–41

Air attacks. See also Bombardment, aerial.
Allied, 12, 71, 94, 157, 164, 173, 239, 240, 282, 305, 306, 307,
393
German, 37, 118, 181, 185

Airbases. See Airfields.

Aircraft, Allied
bombers, heavy, 12, 47, 91, 92, 93, 100, 109, 157, 193, 195, 210,
393
bombers, light, 46, 168, 240
bombers, medium, 10, 44, 71, 225, 239
cub planes, 22, 238
damaged, 110, 182
fighter-bomber, 209
fighters, P-38, 45, 85, 390
fighters, P-40, 224, 285
fighters, P-47, 351, 391
fighters, P-51, 392
gliders, 82, 83, 162, 318
naval, 14, 21, 22
transport planes, 5, 73, 82, 100, 111, 162, 317

Aircraft carriers, 14, 15, 22
converted LST, 238

Aircraft, German
dive bomber, 42
fighter planes, 43
transports, 71

Aircraft, Italian
seaplanes, 165

Airfields
Bari, Italy, 192
Cagliari, Sardinia, 165
Capodichino, Italy, 191
Comiso, Sicily, 162
Foggia, Italy, 210
Foggia area, Italy, 194
Italy, 193
Pomigliano, Italy, 191
Port-Lyautey, North Africa, 19
Qualeh Morgeh, Tehran, 100
Youks-Les-Bains, Algeria, 39

Airports. See Airfields.

Algiers, Algeria, 36, 37, 88

Ammunition
Allied, 86, 351
loading of, 379
salvage of, 267

Ammunition dumps
on fire, 232
Italy, 416
Sicily, 161

Ammunition ship on fire, 118

Amphibian craft
“Alligators,” 447

Amphibian tanks, duplex-drive, 330, 335

Amphibian trucks, DUKW, 123, 178, 180, 237, 242

Amphibious landings. See Landing operations.

Antiaircraft guns
37-mm., 58
90-mm., 253
British, 400
German, 371
German, 88-mm., 62, 131
Italian, 75-mm., 8
Self-propelled, 244

Antiaircraft tracer fire, 37

Antiaircraft unit, mobile, 220

Antitank ditch, 370

Antitank grenade, 269

Antitank guns
37-mm., 57
57-mm., 287, 445
German, 357
German, 50-mm., 63
German, 75-mm., 63
German, 88-mm., 62, 131
German, self-propelled, 54

Antisubmarine net, 164

“Anzio Annie,” 257. See also Railway guns.

Anzio, Italy, 235, 241

Armored vehicles. See Vehicles.

Army nurse, 190

Army post office, Algeria, 78

Arno River, Italy, 363, 364, 372

Artillery
fire, directing, 135
German, 50, 62, 222, 299
guns, 155-mm., 58, 134, 250, 406
howitzers, 75-mm., 128, 132, 434
howitzers, 105-mm., 11, 52, 133, 207, 361, 362
howitzer, 155-mm., 60
howitzers, 240-mm., 221, 284
Italian, gun, 90-mm., 131
mortars. See Mortars.
observation planes, 22, 238
pack howitzers, 75-mm., 83, 266
positions, camouflaged, 248

Assault guns, German, 54, 278, 357

Bailey bridges, 286, 375
construction of, 400

“Bald Hill,” Tunisia, 68

Barbershop, Anzio, Italy, 273

Bari airbase, Italy, 192

Barracks bag, 107

Barrage balloons, 160, 243, 320, 322

Bathing facilities, Italy, 264, 265

Battleship, French, damaged, 23, 340

Bay of Cavalaire, southern France, 323

Bay of Pampelonne, southern France, 324–25

Bazookas, 296, 314.
See also Rocket launchers.

Beaches. See Invasion beaches.

Bivouac area, Corsica, 166

Bizerte, Tunisia, 74–75

Blood plasma. See Plasma.

Bologna, Italy, 441

Bomb damage
Italy, 226, 282, 287
railroad, 110
repair shop, 167

Bombardment, aerial, 94, 109, 117, 282, 306, 307
See also Air attacks.

Bombers
heavy, B-17, 47, 91, 93, 109, 157, 193, 194, 210
heavy, B-17, damaged, 395
heavy, B-24, 12, 92, 100, 194, 305, 308, 393
heavy, B-24, damaged, 394
light, A-20, 46, 168, 240
medium, B-25, 10, 71, 225
medium, B-26, 44, 239

Bombs, loading of, 224, 225

Bomporto, Italy, 443

“Bouncing Betty,” 66.
See also Mines.

Brazilian troops, 354

Bridges
construction of, 145, 187, 286, 375
destroyed, 187, 286, 307, 374
Highway 7, Italy, 199
Panaro River, Italy, 443
ponton, treadway, 372, 449
railroad, damaged, 446
treadway, 425, 444

Bridging equipment, 425

British troops, 208, 400

Brolo beach, Sicily, 146

Bulldozers, 183, 236, 374.
See also Tractor, diesel.

Cagliari field, Sardinia, 165

Caiazzo, Italy, 198

Cameraman, motion picture, 440

Camino Hill mass, Italy, 200

Camouflage
aircraft, 44, 285
antiaircraft gun, 244
foxhole, 248
howitzers, 207, 221, 266, 284
“Long Tom,” 250
radar, 219
tank destroyer, 255
vehicle, 263

Campoleone, Italy, 280

Campoleone station, Italy, 246

Cannes area, France, 308

Cape Drammont beach, southern France, 328–29

Cape Sardineau beach, southern France, 326

Capodichino air base, Italy, 191

Carbines. See Small arms.

Cargo gliders. See Gliders.

Cargo ships. See Transport planes.

Caronia Valley, Sicily, 143

Casablanca, French Morocco, 18, 28

Caserta, Italy, 196

Cassino, Italy, 282

Casualties, 277, 319, 334, 435
evacuation of, 126, 127, 179, 212, 258, 336, 408, 420
treatment of, 259

Cavalaire beach, southern France, 323

Cerami, Sicily, 129

Cervaro, Italy, 226

Cheylus area, Tunisia, 56

Christmas dinner, Italy, 213

Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 240, 247, 279

Civilians
French, 345
Italian, 245
Sicilian, 139, 149

Clothing, winter, 378, 401

Colli al Volturno, Italy, 204

Comiso air base, Sicily, 162

Communications
repair of, 138
telephone lines, 138, 417, 426
telephone switchboard, 251

Construction
bridges, 145, 187, 286, 375
detour, 374
road, 147

Convoy
en route to North Africa, 13, 17
en route to southern France, 315
motor, 97, 374

Coreglia Antelminelli, Italy, 396

Crane, truck-mounted, 158

Crew
heavy bomber, 92
machine gun, 373
mortar, 229
tank, 40

Cruiser, 21, 116, 124, 316
Italian, 164

Cub planes, 22, 238

Delousing of native labor, 99

Destroyer escort, 14

Detour, 188, 375

Distribution points, gasoline, 355, 405

Djebel Azag, Tunisia, 68

Djebel el Ajred, Tunisia, 68

Djebel Ksaira, Tunisia, 48

Djebel Tahent, Tunisia, 67

Docks
Bandar Shahpur, Iran, 96
Khorramshahr, Iran, 95

“Duck.” See Amphibian trucks.

Dugout, German, 334

DUKW. See Amphibian trucks.

Dump
ammunition, 161, 232, 416
gasoline, 355, 405

Easter service, Italy, 430

Enclosure, prisoner of war, 76

Equipment, German
damaged, 343, 344
on fire, 344

Evacuation of wounded, 126, 127, 212, 336, 420

Evacuation hospital, Italy, 421

Faïd Pass, Tunisia, 48

Fedala harbor, French Morocco, 20

Ferry, Siebel, German, 70

Field bakery, 156

Field hospital. See Hospitals.

Fighter-bomber, A-36, 209

Fighter planes
P-38, 45, 85, 390
P-40, 224, 285
P-47, 351, 391
P-51, 392

First aid, 148, 149, 335

Flooded areas, Italy, 194, 195, 214

Foggia air base, Italy, 210

Formia, Italy, 199

Foxholes, 61, 150, 260, 411, 428
camouflaged, 248

Freighters, 242
Allied, on fire, 88, 185

French colonial troops, goumier, 151, 152, 290, 352, 353

French commandos, Corsica, 352

French train, captured, 34

French troops, 86, 339

Furiano Stream, Sicily, 142

Futa Pass, Italy, 368

Gaeta, Italy, 199

Garet Hadid, Tunisia, 48

Garigliano River, Italy, 199

Gasoline cans, 405

Gela, Sicily, 112–13

Generators, smoke, 262, 263

Genoa, Italy, 305

Gibraltar, 30

Gliders, 82, 83, 162, 318

“Green Hill,” Tunisia, 68

Grenade, antitank, 269

“Grizzly Bear,” 299. See also Artillery, German.

Gulf of Gaeta, Italy, 288–89

Gulf of Salerno, Italy, 174

Gun motor carriages, 57, 59, 129, 298, 362, 398

Gunnery practice, aboard transport, 16

Guns. See also Artillery, Antiaircraft guns, and Assault guns.
37-mm., 230
antitank, 287

German, 339

German, 88-mm., 41, 131

German, 150-mm., 376
naval, 3-inch, 16
railway, German, 257
railway, Italian, 231

Half-tracks, 53, 58, 59, 129, 132

Harbors
Algiers, Algeria, 36
Anzio, Italy, 241
Bizerte, Tunisia, 108
Casablanca, French Morocco, 18
Fedala, French Morocco, 20
Genoa, Italy, 305
Maddalena, Sardinia, 164
Marseille, France, 341
Naples, Italy, 173
Oran, Algeria, 31
Palermo, Sicily, 137, 159
Safi, French Morocco, 20

Hatab River, Tunisia, 51

Headquarters, underground, 251

Heliopolis Ordnance Repair Depot, Egypt, 6, 7

Highway bridge, demolished, 143

Highways. See also Roads.
Albano, Italy, 246
6, Italy, 201, 283, 294
7, Italy, 199, 247, 286
12, Italy, 383
64, Italy, 399, 407, 439
65, Italy, 368, 387, 388, 408, 438
85, Italy, 202
113, Sicily, 140–41, 142, 147
120, Sicily, 130
6524, Italy, 365

“Hill 609,” Tunisia, 67

Hospital, evacuation, Italy, 421

Hospital ship, 258

Hospital train, 212

Hospitals
field, 259
field, damaged, 261

Howitzer motor carriages, 11, 128, 132, 133, 309

Howitzers. See Artillery.

Il Giogo Pass, Italy, 365

Immunization of native, Egypt, 9

Infantry
column, 69, 79, 189, 342, 366, 414, 419, 423, 432
patrol, 343

Infantrymen, 61, 154, 188, 198, 215, 268, 296, 297, 300, 313, 314,
322, 331, 345, 346, 360, 369, 376, 402, 418, 427, 428, 431,
441, 447, 450
debarking, 35, 321
embarking, 107

Invasion beaches
Algeria, North Africa, 31
Anzio, Italy, 235, 236
Brolo, Sicily, 146
Cape Drammont, southern France, 328–29
Cape Sardineau, southern France, 326
Cavalaire, southern France, 323
French Morocco, North Africa, 24, 25
Gela, Sicily, 112–13, 120, 125
Les Andalouses, Algeria, 32
Licata, Sicily, 114
Paestum, Italy, 176–77, 181
Point Anthéor, southern France, 327
Ramatuelle, southern France, 324–25
Scoglitti, Sicily, 115

Invasions, preparations for
Anzio, 233
Elba, 352, 353
southern France, 311, 312, 313, 314

Invasion fleet, for Sicily, 74–75

Jefna area, Tunisia, 68

Kasserine Pass area, Tunisia, 51, 53

Ladder, chain, 321

La Goulette, Tunisia, 72

Lake Carda, Italy, 451

Landing craft
LCI, 108, 122, 190, 236, 237, 331
LCI on fire, 236
LCM, 26, 27, 33, 119, 122
LCP, 26, 35
LCT, 122, 258, 267
LCV, 25, 26, 27, 125
LCVP, 119, 120, 122, 125, 179, 322
LST, 120, 121, 122, 124, 160, 182, 183, 184, 233, 238, 311, 315,
353
LVT, 447

Landing operations
Algeria, North Africa, 33, 35
Anzio, Italy, 236, 237
French Morocco, North Africa, 24, 25, 26, 27
Salerno area, Italy, 179, 180, 183, 184
Sicily, 119, 120, 122, 125
southern France, 322, 331, 332, 333, 334

Leghorn, Italy, 359

Les Andalouses beach, Algeria, 31

Liberty ships, 95

Licata, Sicily, 114

Lifebelts, rubber, 17

Lima River, Italy, 383

Linemen, Signal Corps, 426

Liri Valley area, Italy, 199, 203

Litter bearers, 179, 336, 420.
See also Casualties.
taking cover, 228

Livergnano, Italy, 387, 417, 427

Livergnano area, Italy, 388

Living conditions, Italy, 195, 410, 422

“Long Tom,” 58, 134, 250, 406.
See also Artillery.

Machine guns. See also Small arms.
.30-caliber, 206, 373
.50-caliber, 16, 58, 230, 244
German, 337

Maddalena, Sardinia, 164

Maiori beach, Italy, 175

Malaria control operations, 168, 274

Maps
Anzio area, Italy, 234
Italy, 170
Sicily, 104
southern France area, 302
Tunisia, xii

Marseille, France, 341

Medical aid men, 148, 149, 322, 335, 336, 402, 420, 435

Medical aid station, southern France, 319

Medical inspection, Italy, 402

Mehdia, French Morocco, 19

Mess, 40, 90, 213, 245

Mess kits, sterilization of, 153

Mess line, 39, 153

Messina, Sicily, 157, 163

Mignano, Italy, 201

Mignano Gap area, Italy, 232

Military police, 415

Mines
antipersonnel, German, 66
antitank, 249
detector, SCR, 625, 144, 292, 332
sweeping, 65, 292, 333, 359

Minturno, Italy, 199

Monna Casale, Italy, 202, 203

Monte Cairo, Italy, 201, 203

Monte Camino, Italy, 200, 201, 283

Monte Cannavinelle, Italy, 201

Monte Corno, Italy, 201

Monte della Spe area, Italy, 429

Monte delle Formiche, Italy, 389

Monte Lungo, Italy, 200, 201

Monte Pantano, Italy, 203

Monte Petrella, Italy, 288–89

Monte Porchia, Italy, 200

Monte Ruazzo, Italy, 288–89

Monte Sammucro, Italy, 201, 283

Monte Soprano, Italy, 176–77

Monte Trocchio, Italy, 200, 283

Monte Vigese, Italy, 382

Montecassino, Italy, 200, 203, 239, 281

Mortars
4.2-inch, 218
60-mm., 217
81-mm., 206, 229
crew, 229

Mt. Etna, Sicily, 130

Mt. Vesuvius, eruption of, 285

Mountains. See also Terrain.
Colli Laziali, Italy, 247
northern Apennines, Italy, 382, 391
Tunisia, 48, 68

Mud
Italy, 384, 385, 386, 424
Tunisia, 93

Mussolini Canal, Italy, 248

Naples, Italy, 173, 189, 354

Native laborers, Tehran, Iran, 99

Naval aircraft, 14, 21, 22

Naval fire support, Sicily, 116, 124

Negro troops, 361, 363, 383, 434

Night firing, 433

Nurse, Army, 259
digging foxhole, 260

Observation posts
Italy, 211, 276
Sicily, 135

Obstacle, antitank, 370

Oil tanker, refueling aircraft carrier, 15

Oran, Algeria, 87

Oran harbor, Algeria, 31

Ordnance Repair Depot, Egypt, 7

Pack mules, 154, 155, 379, 384, 424

Pack trains, Italy, 205, 206, 290, 367

Paestum beach, Italy, 176–77

Palace, Caserta, Italy, 196

Palermo, Sicily, 136, 137, 159

Panaro River, Italy, 443

Parachute troops, 80, 81, 111

Partisans
Free French, 338
Italian, 442

Patroling, 401, 431

Pianoro, Italy, 438

Pierced steel planks, 210, 225

Pillboxes, German, 131, 337
cast iron, 293
portable, 293

Pipelines, Italy, 403, 404

Pisa, Italy, 360

Plasma, 149

Ploesti oil refineries, on fire, 12

Po River, Italy, 444, 445, 447, 448, 449

Point Anthéor, southern France, 327

Pomigliano air base, Italy, 191

Ponton causeways, portable, 236, 237

Ponton treadway bridges, 449

Ports. See also Harbors.
Bandar Shahpur, Iran, 96
Khorramshahr, Iran, 95
Lyautey, North Africa, 19

Pozzilli, Italy, 202

Prato, Italy, 432

“Priest,” 11, 133, 309, 362.
See also Vehicles armored.

Prisoners of war
French, 33, 38
German, 76, 254, 437, 452, 453
Italian, 123

Pumping station, pipeline, Italy, 403

Pyramids, Egypt, 5

Quarters
aboard transport ship, 77
Italy, 410

Querceta, Italy, 436

Radar
SCR 268, 29
SCR 547, 219
SCR 584, 252

Railroads
Iran, 95, 96, 98
Italy, 199
North Africa, 34
Sicily, 110

Railroad bridges
demolished, Sicily, 143
Italy, 446

Railroad station, Iran, 98

Railroad yards
on fire, 173
Italy, 94
Sicily, 137

Railway guns
German, 280-mm., 257
Italian, 231

Ramatuelle, southern France, 324–25

Ramatuelle beach, southern France, 324–25

Ramp, ponton, sectional, 121, 182, 184

Rapido River area, Italy, 227

Ration depot, Anzio, Italy, 270

Recreation
concert, 272
sight-seeing, 412

Red Cross worker, Italy, 421

Refueling of aircraft carrier, 15

Reno River, Italy, 429, 440

Repair of aircraft, 91

Repair depot, Italy, 223

Repair shop, electrical, 167

Rhone River, France, 307

Rifles. See also Small arms.
.30-caliber Garand M1, 427
.30-caliber M1903A 4, 198
Browning automatic, 296

River crossings, Italy, 363, 440, 446, 448

Rivers
France, 307
French Morocco, 19
Italy, 197, 199, 202, 214, 363, 364, 372, 383, 429, 440, 444,
445, 447, 448, 449
Tunisia, 51

Roads. See also Highways.
Iran, 97
Italy, 204, 228, 384, 386, 415, 423, 432, 439
Sicily, 114, 128
Tunisia, 48, 69

Rocket gun, German, 150-mm., 64

Rocket launchers, 314, 351, 413

Rocket ship, converted LCT, 320

Rome, Italy, 94, 295, 298, 299, 412
outskirts of, 297

Russian pilots, 101

Russian troops, Iran, 100

Safi harbor, French Morocco, 20

Salerno, Italy, 187

Salvage depot, Italy, 377

Salvage of shell cases, 267

San Fratello ridge, Sicily, 140–41, 142

San Pietro Infine, Italy, 201, 283

Santa Maria Infante, Italy, 287

Scoglitti, Sicily, 115

Scout observation plane, 21

Seaplane base, Sardinia, 165

Searchlight for radar, 29

Sebou River, French Morocco, 19

Semaphore flags, 26

Shell, German, explosion of, 409

Shell fire, German, 216

Small arms, 198, 206, 268, 296, 419, 427

Smoke pots, 227

Smoke screens, 159, 211, 263, 332, 381

Snowplow, 407

Staging area, Italy, 310

Submachine gun, .45-caliber, 268

Submarine base, Toulon, France, 306

Supply depot, 87

Supply operations
aerial drop, 209, 317
Italy, 242, 369, 418, 423

Tank destroyers, 57, 59, 255, 397, 436, 451
damaged, 278
German, 357

Tank recovery vehicles, 278, 293, 399.
See also Tanks.

Tanks
damaged, 7, 377
German, heavy, 41, 256, 356
German, medium, 50, 54, 357
Italian, medium, 55
light, 28, 56, 290, 291, 434
maintenance of, 223
medium, 40, 49, 53, 69, 85, 136, 184, 275, 291, 364, 380, 398,
425, 439, 440
medium with “Scorpion” attachment, 65
medium, waterproofed, 84, 330, 335
on fire, 295
rubber, dummy, 275
turret, German, 337

Tarascon, France, 307

Telephone lines. See Communications.

Terracina beach, Italy, 292

Terrain
Camino Hill mass area, Italy, 200
Campoleone area, Italy, 280
Cassino area, Italy, 283
Futa Pass area, Italy, 368
Garigliano area, Italy, 199
Gothic Line area, Italy, 365, 366, 367
Gulf of Gaeta, Italy, 288–89
Gulf of Salerno, Italy, 174, 175
Middle East, 97
Mignano Gap area, Italy, 201
Monna Casale area, Italy, 203
Monte Belvedere area, Italy, 419
Monte della Spe area, Italy, 429
Monte del le Formiche area, Italy, 389
Montecassino area, Italy, 281
North Africa, 48, 51, 67, 68, 69, 79
northern Apennines, Italy, 382, 391
Paestum area, Italy, 176–77
Pianoro area, Italy, 438
Salerno area, Italy, 186
Serchio Valley area, Italy, 396
Sicily, 130, 140–41, 142, 143, 146, 152
southern France, 318, 323, 324–25, 328–29
Volturno Valley area, Italy, 202

Toulon, France, 306, 339

Tractors, diesel, 236, 374
with angledozer, 125

Traffic control point, Italy, 415

Trains
freight, Iran, 98
French, captured, 34
hospital, 212

Training
Italy, 217, 309
North Africa, 79, 80, 81, 84
of British, 6
of French, 86

Transport planes
C-47, 5, 82, 100, 111, 162, 317
C-54, 73

Transport ships, 16
en route to French Morocco, 17

Troina, Sicily, 130

Tufo, Italy, 199

Tunis, Tunisia, 72

Unloading operations, 33, 85, 121, 158, 242
Lend-lease, 85, 95

Valmontone, Italy, 294

Vehicles, 310, 384
ambulances, 212, 408
amphibian. See Amphibian trucks.
armored, 230, 362, 433.
See also Howitzer motor carriages and Gun motor carriages.
armored, waterproofed, 309
bogged down, 214
bulldozer, 183. See also Tractors, diesel.
cargo carriers, 385, 423
caterpillar, 58
German, 50, 358
half-tracks. See Half-tracks.
jeep, waterproofed, 27
jeeps, 53, 213, 383, 386, 415
snowplow, 407
tank destroyers. See Tank destroyers,
tank recovery, 278, 293, 399.
See also Tanks,
tanks. See Tanks,
tractors. See Tractors, diesel.
trucks, 97, 121, 184, 381, 386, 409
truck, waterproofed, 334
truck, wrecked, 367

Velletri, Italy, 247

Venafro, Italy, 201

Vicenza, Italy, 450

Volturno River, Italy, 197, 202, 214

“Weasel,” 385, 423.
See also Vehicles, cargo carriers.

Women
Army nurses, 190, 259, 260
Red Cross worker, 421

Wac’s, North Africa, 89

Wounded. See Casualties.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1988 0-194-423: QL 3

PIN: 039020-000

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See George F. Howe, Operations in Northwest Africa, 1941–1943, in the series U. S. ARMY IN WORLD WAR II; and T. H. Vail Motter, The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia, Washington, 1951, in the same series.

Transcriber’s Note:

Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.