anzio (operation shingle)
TRANSCRIPT
ANZIO (Operation Shingle)
RTO Trainer – 1/180th INF BN, OKARNG
1st Platoon, BNCOC Class 07-408
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ANZIO UNCLASSIFIED Information Briefing Scope:
A description of the events and major personalities involved with the Allied landing at Anzio, Italy during WWII.
Also, an explanation of the strategic importance of the landing, its intent vs. the result.
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Outline Order of Battle – Allies Order of Battle – Axis Key Leaders Sequence of Major Events Medal of Honor Recipients The Big Picture Questions? Conclusion
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Order of Battle – Allies (UK) British 1st Infantry Division 46th Royal Tank Regiment 2 Special Service Brigade (partial) No.9 Commando No.43 Commando (RM) British 56th Infantry Division
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Order of Battle – Allies (US) 1st Ranger Battalion 3rd Ranger Battalion 4th Ranger Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) 3rd Infantry Division 1st Armored Division 45th Infantry Division 34th Infantry Division 1st Special Service Force (US-Canadian) Task Force 81 (Navy – Multinational)
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Order of Battle -- Axis 4th Parachute Division Hermann Goering Division 3rd Panzergrenadier 71st Infantry Division 3 Division Equivalents (Germany, 65th Infantry Division 715th Motorized Infantry Division 114th Light Infantry Division 362d Infantry Division 26th Panzer Division 29th Panzergrenadier 16th SS Panzergrenadier LXXVI Panzer Corps Fourteenth Army
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Key Leaders (Allies) Field Marshall Harold Alexander
British—Overall Commander, Operation Shingle
General Mark W. Clark US—5th Army Commander
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Key Leaders (Allies) Lieutenant General John P. Lucas
US—VI Corps Commander
Major General Lucian Truscott US—3rd ID Commander—
Replaced Lucas 23 February 1944
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Key Leaders (Axis) Field Marshall Albert Kesslering
Germany – Commander in Chief Southwest (All German forces in Italy)
General Eberhard von Mackensen Germany – Commander Fourteenth Army – Given
command of Anzio containment 24 January 1944
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Sequence of Major Events October 1943
Germans establish a new defensive The Winter Line Eisenhower obtains landing craft for two divisions Allies will attempt an “end run”
Intent: Break the Winter Line Cut or threaten Axis lines of communication
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) GEN Mark Clark selects VI Corps
Chooses MG Lucas to lead Corps 22 January, 1944
VI Corps lands, unopposed at Anzio All 1st Day’s objectives achieved by noon Advanced 3 – 4 miles inland
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) Success breeds
hesitation Germans totally
surprised Lucas fails to order
units forward Routes to Rome clear
of resistance
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) German Field Marshal
Kesselring reacts Rushes reserve units to
Anzio Establishes
containment of beachhead
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) 16 February 1944 –
German counterattack! Major fighting in 45th
Division and 3rd Division sectors
The Factory
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) 11 May 1944 – The Winter Line
Major offensive unhinges German resistance 5th Army and 8th Army advance up Liri Valley
25 – 26 May 1944 --VI Corps attack Breakout toward Rome
4 June 1944 – VI Corps enters Rome 6 June 1944 – Operation Overlord
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Sequence of Major Events (cont) The Breakout
45th, 36th, 3rd, 1st Armor, all advance
Contact with II Corps advancing from North made on 25th
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Medal of Honor Recipients Sgt. Sylvester Antolak - 3rd Div. T/Sgt. Van T. Barfoot - 45th Div. Pvt. Herbert F. Christian - 3rd Div. T/Sgt. Ernest H. Dervishian - 34th
Div. PFC John W. Dutko - 3rd Div. PFC Lloyd C. Hawks - 3rd Div. 2nd LT. Thomas W. Fowler - 1st
Armor Capt. William W. Gault - 34th Div. T/5 Eric Gibson - 3rd Div. S/Sgt. George J. Hall - 34th Div. Cpl. Paul B. Huff - 509th Para. Inf.
Bn.
Pvt. Elden H. Johnson - 3rd Div. PFC William H. Johnson - 45th Div. PFC Patrick L. Kessler - 3rd Div. PFC Alton W. Knappenberger - 3rd
Div. Pvt. James H. Mills - 3rd Div. 1st LT. Jack C. Montgomery - 45th
Div. 1st LT. Beryl R. Newman - 34th Div. Sgt. Truman O. Olson - 3rd Div. PFC Henry Schauer - 3rd Div. Pvt. Furman L. Smith - 34th Div. PFC John C. Squires - 3rd Div.
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The Big Picture – D-Day Anzio Landings failed it’s intent Still a strategic success
Forced German commitment of reserve units Between Anzio and Winter Line, tied down 26
German divisions
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ANZIO
QUESTIONS?
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Conclusion Failed the intent
"I had hoped we were hurling a wildcat into the shore, but all we got was a stranded whale.“
– Winston Churchill Enabled D-Day success
“You’d better keep putting ammunition and supplies on the beach behind us, because the 45th is staying.” –Major General Troy Middleton, on being offered a chance to withdraw
Tied down 26 German divisions