| October 1943 – January 1944 Allied Attacks on the Gustav Line |
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| After joining forces in mid-September, the combined
Anglo-American force began a slow northward advance through the Italian peninsula. On 1 October
the Americans captured the city of Naples, while the British took Foggia, which would soon be converted
into a massive base for air operations against Germany. However, the mountainous terrain of central
Italy made further advance more difficult, especially as the Germans dug for the winter in a series
of defenses that they called the Gustav Line. From here they fought a successful delaying action
for several months, forcing the Allies to pay dearly for every village and mountain peak. As the
Anglo-American offensive slowed to a crawl, Allied military planners grew disillusioned with the
Italian campaign, and in December resolved that the upcoming invasion of France—Operation Overlord—should
be given priority over further operations in Italy.
History: Campaign Map: |
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