This Week in Guard History
May 22, 1944: Anzio, Italy - Allied forces, including elements of the National Guard's 34th, 36th and 45th divisions, begin their final push to break out after the Nazis h[e]ld them just south of Rome for four months.
The original intent was to land behind the German Gustav Line, which ran across Italy about 100 miles south of Rome, and capture Rome before the Nazis could react.
But poor leadership slowed the Allied advance allowing the enemy to seal them at the Anzio beachhead with constant shelling and aerial bombardment. After four months and thousands of casualties, the Allies made some headway by May 25, and they completed the breakout May 31. On June 5, the Allies enter a liberated Rome.
The original intent was to land behind the German Gustav Line, which ran across Italy about 100 miles south of Rome, and capture Rome before the Nazis could react.
But poor leadership slowed the Allied advance allowing the enemy to seal them at the Anzio beachhead with constant shelling and aerial bombardment. After four months and thousands of casualties, the Allies made some headway by May 25, and they completed the breakout May 31. On June 5, the Allies enter a liberated Rome.
posted by Rosemary Welch at 5/25/2007 11:06:00 AM
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