22 January 1944
Anglo-American Landing at Anzio
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:
Anzio

Campaign Maps:
Operations at Anzio and Cassino, January – February 1944
Operations at Anzio and Cassino, May 1944

Personal Accounts:
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with George Mickett
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Benjamin B. Roth
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Walter H. Berger