| 22 January 1944 Anglo-American Landing at Anzio |
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| While Allied military planners had decided in December
that Italy was to take a backseat to the intended invasion of France, they did agree to an additional
amphibious operation to try to undermine German defenses. Operation Shingle, which took place on
January 22, was the landing of three divisions—two American and one British—at the coastal town
of Anzio. As Anzio was well behind the Gustav Line, it was hoped that the Germans would pull back
from their defensive positions, allowing the now-stalled Allied advance to resume.
Unlike the Salerno landings of September, the invasion of Anzio took the Germans by surprise, allowing a beachhead to be established quickly. However, the American commander’s orders were unclear, and he did not press the attack, allowing the Germans to rush several divisions of reinforcements to the area. The Anzio beachhead was contained, and the Allies continued to encounter stiff resistance along the Gustav Line. History: Campaign Maps: Personal Accounts: |
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