Luca Stefano Cristini

The battle of Anzio Luca Stefano Cristini

The Battle of Anzio also called Operation Shingle was the most important Allied amphibious landing of the Italian Campaign of World War II that took place from January 22, 1944 (beginning with the Allied amphibious landing) to June 5, 1944 (ending with the capture of Rome).

The operation was opposed by German forces in the coastal area of Anzio and Nettuno, some 30 miles south of Rome.

Although resistance had been expected, as seen at Salerno during 1943, the initial landings were essentially unopposed, with the exception of poor air attacks operated by the Luftwaffe German air force. By midnight of the same day about 36,000 soldiers and 3,200 vehicles had landed on the two principal beaches of Anzio and Nettuno. The Allied lost thirteen troops (killed), and 97 wounded; about 200 Germans had been taken as war prisoners.

The 1st Division penetrated 3 km inland, the Rangers captured Anzio's port, the 509th PIB captured Nettuno, and the 3rd Division penetrated just to 5 km inland. In the first days of operations, the command of the Italian resistance movement had a meeting with the Allied General Headquarters: it offered to guide the Allied Force in the Alban Hills territory, but the Allied Command refused the proposal.

The operation was initially commanded by......