Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AND ITALY
Will Fowler
NORTH AFRICA
AND ITALY
1942 - 1944
HBBi
mmmmmm
NORTH AFRICA
CONTENTS
E L ALAMEIN
6-27
T
he Second Battle of Alamein began on ripped up barbed wire and minefields. The
the night of October 23, 1942, when 8th Army u n d e r G e n e r a l B e r n a r d
the darkness was ripped apart by a Montgomery then moved off to attack the
bombardment of 1,000 British guns. The joint German and Italian forces under Field
shellfire and attacks by the Desert Air Force Marshal Erwin Rommel at 21.50.
smashed German and Italian positions and Rommel's positions were anchored on the
ABOVE: A British soldier armed with an SMLE rifle moves f o r w a r d cautiously on a ridgeline.
6
BLITZKRIEG
LEFT: Ammunition is broken out of its wicker ABOVE: A dummy 2 5 Pounder position constructed
containers and brought f o r w a r d by an Afrika by the 8th Army. Both sides used deception
Korps 15cm sFH 18 howitzer crew. schemes to conceal their positions and movements.
BLITZKRIEG
the veteran 21st Panzer and Ariete Divs. Operation Lightfoot, the infantry of the 9th
In the darkness of October 23 the British Australian, 51st Highland, New Zealand and
XXX Corps under General Oliver Leese and 1st South African Divs were to make the
the X Corps under General Lumsden began initial break in through the deep defences.
to fight through these formidable minefields This would allow the 1st Armoured and 10th
and defences. In the first phase of the attack, Armoured Divs to exploit westwards through
CAPTIVE SHERMAN
the 8th Army to hook right into position ABOVE: A captured 8.8cm Flak with its shield
behind the Axis forces in the north. To sustain showing the "kills" it had scored against a variety
this impression dummy depots had been of targets including a ship.
constructed along with fake tanks and guns.
This ploy would ensure that the 21st Panzer
and the Italian Ariete Divs would remain in
the south for a critical seven days during the
battle.
Rommel, who was suffering from jaundice
and other ailments caused by life in the
desert, had flown to Germany on sick leave
on September 25 and was due to return to
Africa on October 25. Command of German
and Italian forces in Africa was therefore
delegated to General Georg Stumme.
On the second day of the battle, Stumme
driving to the front came under heavy fire
and as his driver took evasive action the ABOVE: A German soldier takes cover behind a
general was thrown from the vehicle, stone sangar. Though some positions were d u g ,
suffered a heart attack and died. (For further
BLITZKRIEG
FIELDM A R S H A LB E R N A R D MONTGOMERY
ABOVE: The superb tan and b r o w n camouflage on beaten off. On November 2 Montgomery
a Luftwaffe Bf1 0 9 (trop) fighter matches the sand launched Supercharge just south of the
and scrub as it flies low across the N o r t h A f r i c a n Australian salient and Rommel contacted
desert. Hitler requesting permission for a limited
withdrawal. As on the Eastern Front, the
information on Stumme see Blitzkrieg 5.) order from the Fuhrer was to "stand fast".
The battle soon became a grim slogging By November 4, when he was down to 30
m a t c h as the s u p e r i o r forces u n d e r tanks, Rommel was forced to retreat.
Montgomery attempted to break through the Montgomery did not press the Afrika Korps
thick defences. On October 25 Rommel was as it withdrew despite detailed ULTRA infor-
back in command and realised that the 9th mation about its weakened state. The
Australian Div was clawing its way into the German withdrawal was like a roll call of
Axis defences. He committed the 15th Panzer former battles, but this time there would be
Div against the Australians on October 26. no return match. On November 7 Mersa
Montgomery called a halt to operations. Matruh fell after two days of heavy rain that
There was heavy fighting at the Miteririya had i m p e d e d m o v e m e n t . Bardia was
and Kidney Ridges where Axis attacks were captured on November 11, Tobruk two days
BLITZKRIEG
later and Gazala on November 13. Benghazi 23 the British entered Tripoli and that day
fell on November 20. Rommel held the line Rommel pulled back into Tunisia.
at El Agheila from November 24 to December The Battle of Alamein had cost the Axis
13 and withdrew before being outflanked and approximately 50,000 casualties of whom
pushed back to Sirte on Christmas Day. 30,000 were prisoners, largely Italians who
Mussolini demanded that Rommel should lacked the transport to escape. British losses
hold Buerat to the last. The Afrika Korps and were 13,560. Rommel, who had previously
Italian forces held it from December 26 to admired and respected Hitler, now felt that
January 13 before withdrawing in the face of his loyalties were now to Germany and no
a planned attack by the 8th Army. On January longer the Fuhrer.
Armament: n/a
Armour: n/a
Crew: 3
Weight: 1,200kg (1 ton)
Hull length: 2.74m (8ft 11 in)
Width: 1m (3ft 3in)
Height: 1.01m (3ft 3in)
Engine: One Opel Olympia
38 petrol engine
developing 36hp
Road speed: 80km/h (49.7mph)
Range: 100km (62.5miles)
ABOVE: The battle of El Alamein was a tough fight even though
General Bernard Montgomery and the 8th Army had the
advantage of superior forces and ULTRA intelligence.
BLITZKRIEG
RIGHT: Morose US
soldiers captured at
Kasserine in the
Afrika Korps' final
counter attack in
Tunisia are
marched to the
rear.
Type:
M E 3 2 3 E - 2GIGANT(GIANT) Crew/Accommodation:
Power Plant:
Type:
HAWKER HURRICANE M K IID
Crew:
With fresh troops new equipment and By late January, with the 1st Army pushing
inspired leadership the Germans held out into Tunisia, von Arnim and Rommel were
until May 11, 1943 and on February 19, in his pressing Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, the
final throw in North Africa, Rommel would Oberbefehlshaber Sud (OB) Commander-in-
defeat US forces at Kasserine Pass. This Chief South, for permission to counter attack.
counter attack was not on the scale of the Rommel, ever ambitious, wanted to launch a
Blitzkrieg battles of 1939-42, but like the decisive thrust through Tebessa and into the
fighting in Sicily and at Anzio on the Italian rear of the 1st Army, while von Arnim, aware
mainland saw German tanks and infantry of the poor supply situation, favoured spoiling
working in concert. In the Mediterranean attacks to buy time. Kesselring allowed both
theatre, as in the USSR, German forces knew commanders to launch their own operations.
the value of counter attacks to recover lost To the east the Afrika Korps was in a position
territory or buy time during withdrawals. to delay the 8th Army on the Mareth Line.
The exception would be the small-scale
actions fought in the autumn of 1943 at the BELOW: A British M i l i t a r y Policeman at a junction
Aegean islands of Kos and Leros - a German directs traffic in Tunisia. In the background
victory but merely a distraction for the Allies. despatch riders w a i t by their motorcycles.
BLITZKRIEG
Armament:
90/53 SEMOVENTE
Armour:
Hull length:
mance of the Model 41 as equivalent to the German Width:
8.8cm Flak 1 8. Only 24 were built and these were Height:
Engine:
destroyed in the fighting in Sicily. The size of the gun
made it necessary to mount it in the open, which
exposed the crew. Another drawback was the limited
load of six rounds that could be carried. Road speed:
Range:
BLITZKRIEG
Fredenhall. Von Arnim, using a double envel- from the mountains into western Tunisia. On
opment manoeuvre, quickly captured Sidi the same day Rommel seized Kasserine Pass,
Bou Zid. Rommel seized Gafsa and advanced albeit after two days of heavy fighting. British
to Feriana while von Arnim made for Sbeitla. reinforcements began to arrive to cover the
On February 17 the Afrika Korps under Thala-Kasserine road.
Rommel seized Feriana and drove for the Following the defeat at Kasserine the
Kasserine Pass. The 5th Panzerarmee German multi-lingual propaganda magazine
captured Sbeitla on February 18 and sent a Signal featured photographs of the shocked
force north-east to Fondouk. and tired faces of US soldiers as they were
On February 19 the Anglo-American forces marched into captivity. In a cruel pun on the
received a much needed tonic when General title of John Ford's 1941 Hollywood triumph
Sir Harold Alexander took command of the How Green Was My Valley, a film about a
newly created 18th Army Group that Welsh coal mining community, British
consisted of the 1st and 8th Armies. He veterans of the 8th Army quipped: "How
ordered Lt General Kenneth Anderson green are our Allies".
commanding the 1st Army to hold all the exits On February 20 Rommel was rebuffed at
BLITZKRIEG
Sbiba and swung towards Thala but was was replaced by von Arnim as Commander-
halted there. He realised that Morning Wind in-Chief of the Axis forces on March 9. If the
had run its course. The Commando Supremo "Desert Fox" had been obliged to surrender,
General Ambrosio ordered him to turn south German morale, seriously battered, would
the stop the 8th Army. Von Arnim was to have been even more badly hurt.
distract the 1st Army with attacks code named Montgomery attacked the Mareth line on
Ox Head as Rommel launched Operation March 20. The Italians and German forces
Capri against Medenine. Montgomery, were fighting with ferocious tenacity, but the
alerted by ULTRA, had already anticipated firepower and n u m b e r s of the Anglo-
the German attacks as von Arnim launched American armies, who had been joined by
a series of attacks from the coast south to Bou the French, squeezed the Axis northwards
Arada. What became known as the Battle of into Tunisia towards Cape Bon. On May 7 the
Medenine took place on March 6 and in it the port of Bizerta and the capital Tunis were
8th Army halted the Afrika Korps. On the captured, and on May 11 the 10th Panzer
same day that Montgomery won the Battle of Division fought its last battle against the
Medenine, in which the Axis lost 55 tanks and British 6th Armoured Division on Cape Bon.
500 dead, on Eisenhower's orders, General The OKW reported that a Luftwaffe Flak divi-
Patton replaced Fredenhall in command of II sion used its last remaining shells in an
Corps. It would be the first indication that action that destroyed 37 Allied tanks. These
though Eisenhower might be genial and brave reports, however, could not disguise
diplomatic, he could also be very firm if
subordinates failed him and the US Army. BELOW: American and French officers and
Following this success at Kasserine, which dignitaries take the salute as men of the French
was to be his last victory in World War II, Foreign Legion p a r a d e in Algiers. French troops
Rommel, who was suffering from ill health, from A l g e r i a w o u l d fight from 1 9 4 3 - 4 5 .
BLITZKRIEG
T
he weight of the defence of Italy fell wife that he thought that Kesselring had been
on the capable shoulders of Albert given the command because he had shown
Kesselring, a Luftwaffe Field Marshal, more optimism about holding Italy.
who became an able land commander. Under Kesselring the Germans fought a
Rommel had commented in a letter to his series of actions on defence lines across the
Performance:
oneassaultStormo and two Gruppi, it
opposed the 'Allied landings in 1943. By Weights:
thetimeof the Armistice only 16 aircraft
Dimensions:
were still flying. It was subsequently used in
smaII numbers by both the Aeronautica
Nazionale Republicana in the north and Armament:
the Italian Co-belligerent Air Force. The
Luftwaffe also used them in anti-partisan
LOCKHEED P-38F
LOCKHEED P-38F LIGHTNING
LIGHTNING Type:
Crew:
FIELDMARSHALALBERTKESSELRING
Italian peninsula. Hitler had ordered that a ABOVE: Hitler and Mussolini watch as Jodl
line should be held south of Rome and on the displays maps with Keitel in the b a c k g r o u n d .
Gustav Line that incorporated the River
Garigliano, the Apennines and the monastery
of Monte Cassino. The Germans would hold
the Allies from January to May 1944.
Kesselring realised that the longer he
delayed the Allies south of Rome, the longer
he prevented USAAF and RAF bombers from
operating from bases in Italy where they
could strike targets in Austria and southern
Germany. Work on the Gustav Line began as
soon as the Allies landed at Salerno and
Kesselring ordered his troops to conduct a
fighting withdrawal through the autumn.
An indicator of the weight of Allied
airpower that would be deployed in Italy
Operation
Avalanche, the
Allied landings
at Salerno, had
been contained
by German
forces. It was
Operations
Baytown and
Slapstick,
the
landings to the
south, that
broke into Italy.
Pushing north
through
Calabria, the
8th Army
reached the
Salerno
perimeter and
German forces
pulled back to
the formidable
Gothic Line
A USAAF Curtiss P-40 W a r h a w k flies over M t The superb N o r t h American P-51D Mustang that
Etna on Sicily. provided long-range escorts for USAAF bombers.
BLITZKRIEG
PARTY JOKES
came on May 20, 1943 when airfields in Sicily On May 28, 1943 the 2nd Special Air Service
and Sardinia were attacked. In 48 hours at (SAS) Regiment u n d e r t o o k Operation
least 186 Axis aircraft were destroyed. The Snapdragon, the reconnaissance of the forti-
most spectacular attack was against Grosseto fied island of Pantalleria. The Duce, Benito
airfield, 144km (90 miles) north of Rome, Mussolini, had boasted that the tiny 5l.5sq km
where USAAF B-17 Flying Fortresses attacked (32sq mile) heavily fortified island would be
leaving buildings wrecked and 58 Italian a second Malta, resisting the Allied landings.
aircraft destroyed. The team which had been landed by subma-
34
BLITZKRIEG
SMART BOMBS
flew off to tell the US and Royal Navies that and was a jumping off point for an attack on
the island wished to surrender. the Italian peninsula.
The surrender of Linosa, Lampedusa and On the night of July 9-10, 1943 British and
Pantelleria cleared the way for Operation American airborne forces landed on Sicily.
Husky, the invasion of Sicily. They were the advance guard for the US 7th
Sicily was defended by the Italian 6th Army, Army and British 8th Army. Of the 157 gliders
a force of about 230,000 men under General released some 69 landed in the sea, and
Guzzoni with his HQ at Enna. There were though the amphibious invasion force
coastal batteries covering likely invasion managed to rescue some of the soldiers about
beaches and airfields along the southern and
eastern shore. In addition to the Italian
garrison the island had part of the 15th
Panzer Grenadier Div and t h e elite
Panzerdivision Hermann Goring. The key to
the island was the port of Messina on the
straits between Sicily and the Italian main-
land. Held by the German and Italians, it
allowed the island to be reinforced or evac-
uated, in Allied hands it secured the island
36
LEFT: W i t h a Browning 9mm automatic pistol at
the ready, a British sergeant moves cautiously
f o r w a r d as he stalks a German sniper. The
Browning was made by Inglis of C a n a d a .
greeted Mussolini with a cry of: ''Duce, the took off from an improvised landing strip
Fuhrer has sent me. You are free!" and the close to the hotel.
deposed Italian leader replied: "I knew my On September 13 Mussolini was reunited
friend Adolf Hitler would not leave me in the with his wife and Hitler in Bavaria and on
lurch." Paratroops had seized the funicular September 25 he declared a new Italian
railway, but Skorzeny and the Duce made Socialist Republic at Gargnano on Lake
their exit in a hazardous flight in a Fieseler Garda in northern Italy. (For details of
Storch observation and liaison aircraft that Mussolini's career see Blitzkrieg 4.)
AEGEAN VICTORY
/ had fought in Russia and had always been told that in this war the British
troops were poor fighters, but I never want to meet the British in a fight again.
I had a belly full in Leros and would rather fight the Russians anyday.
F
ollowing the withdrawal of Italy from part of a larger plan in which the island of
the Axis alliance, on September 12 Rhodes would be attacked and occupied. The
1943 the British attempted to establish island had a reported garrison of 35,000 Italians
their presence in the southern Aegean with and 7,000 Germans and if, with British assis-
landings on the Italian-held Dodecanese tance, the Italians attacked the Germans the
islands of Kos, Samos and Leros off the operation would enjoy a high possibility of
Turkish coast. success. As a jumping off point for the attack
For the British Prime Minister Winston Kos, Leros and Samos would be occupied.
Churchill operations in the Dodecanese were The British felt that military success in the
BLITZKRIEG
point is a ridgeline about 955m (3,068 ft) high. RIGHT: Fitted with drop tanks, Bf109 fighters on
On the north are a number of sandy beaches, patrol. The Luftwaffe achieved air supremacy over
but the south has a rocky coastline. There are the eastern Aegean because RAF aircraft were at
two airfields at the towns of Marmari and the limit of their range.
Lambia.
After the SBS had completed its reconnais-
sance, Spitfires from No 7 Squadron South TRAITORS OR ALLIES
African Air Force arrived and during the
night a company of 11th Bn The Parachute
Rgt landed and joined the now co-belligerent
Italian garrison of 5,000.
O n October 13, 1943 Marshal Pietro
Badoglio, the first premier of post
Fascist Italy, had declared war on
The 1st Bn the Durham Light Infantry Germany and announced the formation
(DLI) commanded by Lt Col R. F. Kirby began of an Italian Army fighting alongside US
to arrive from Syria from the 18th by air, and British forces in Italy. In his Order of
however by now Ju88s and Messerschmitt the Day he told them: "You represent the
109s were becoming a threat and attacked true Italy. It is your destiny to liberate our
Dakotas and temporarily neutralised the country and drive the aggressor from our
main airfield with anti-personnel bombs. The homeland. Show yourselves worthy of the
DLI were unable to bring heavy weapons and great task that lies before you. We are
equipment ashore because shipping was not proud of you." In a letter to General
available. Eisenhower he wrote: "By this act, all ties
with the dreadful past are broken, and
BELOW: A ferry carrying artillery, destined for the my government will be proud to be able
Dodecanese. The Germans achieved the critical to march with you on to the inevitable
concentration of force in time and space. victory."
To the Germans their former allies
were now turncoats and traitors and
many soldiers who were captured were
shot. By late October a resistance
organisation was beginning to grow
within northern Italy, particularly as the
Germans conscripted able-bodied men
for forced labour. Where attacks were
launched the Germans shot ten hostages
for every German killed.
Badoglio had served with distinction in
World War I, taking command after the
disaster at Caporetto in 1917. He was
put in charge after the failure of the
Italian Army in its pre-war campaign in
Ethiopia. He resigned in protest against
Mussolini's plans to attack Greece in the
winter of 1940.
BLITZKRIEG
FALLSCHIRMJAGERGERGEWEHR FG42
ABOVE: O n l y light Kriegsmarine ships were able to Leros is an island about 15km (9.5 miles)
deploy in the Mediterranean, so U-Boats made the long with two bays on the west coast and one,
hazardous trip through the Straits of Gibraltar. Alinda Bay, on the east where the capital
Leros is located. The key to the island is Rachi
Ridge, high ground between Alinda Bay and
Gurna Bay on the east. The island is about 7
km (4.35 miles) wide at its widest point and
has a central spine of hills reaching up to
180m (590.6ft).
On the island the Italians had built 24 naval
batteries with a total of 100 guns of different
calibres - however most of these were in open
gun pits. The garrison consisted of 5,500 men,
half of whom were administrative staff. There
was only one infantry battalion of 1,000 men
with obsolescent weapons and equipment.
The British deployed three battalions on
ABOVE: Germans soldiers disembark from Leros, the 4th Bn Royal West Rents (Buffs),
pneumatic assault boats, having p a d d l e d from 2nd Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers (RIF) and 1st Bn
ships offshore during the landings on Kos on Rings Own Royal Rgt (KORR). In support was
October 3, 1 9 4 3 . a troop of 25 Pounders — they were in fact
BLITZKRIEG
guns that had been captured by the Germans ABOVE: In close formation the tough and reliable
earlier in the war and fitted with German Ju52 transport aircraft c a r r y paratroops a n d
sights and ranging aids. Twelve 40mm Bofors supplies to the islands of the Dodecanese.
guns of the 5rd Light AA Battery Royal
Artillery (RA) provided air defence. They had had to operate at, meant that they had limited
rejected the idea of committing parachute fuel for operations in the Dodecanese. The
troops because they thought the island was anti-aircraft defences on Kos, now strength-
too rocky, in this assessment they were partly ened by 40mm Bofors guns, were unable to
right. prevent the Luftwaffe from neutralising the
Urged by Hitler to counter these moves, the airfields and island-based fighters. The local
Germans withdrew aircraft from southern superiority of the Luftwaffe meant that the
France, Italy, Corsica and even southern Royal Navy could only operate in the area at
Russia. By October 1 they had 362 aircraft in night which gave them little opportunity for
theatre consisting of 90 Ju88s and He111s, 50 intercepting the German invasion convoys
Bfl09s and 65 Ju87s. The Allies attempted to moving towards Kos.
stop this build up with air attacks on airfields The first German landings on Kos began at
in Crete, Rhodes and Greece by Liberator, dawn on October 3. Some 1,200 troops
Halifax, Wellington and Hudson bombers of commanded by Lt Gen Muller landed under
No 240 Wing and No 21 Group. The British cover of a massive air bombardment at
were at a disadvantage because the ranges Marmari. An Italian 75mm artillery battery
of 565.3km (350 miles) that aircraft and ships opened fire against them and a platoon of the
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE: A w o u n d e d British prisoner glances up at to escape into the hills and continue resis-
the photographer as a German soldier guards tance as guerrillas. The withdrawal was
him in the cover of a ditch. A G e r m a n patrol covered by small groups, like the DLI Mortar
moves off d o w n the r o a d . Platoon that fought until it was overwhelmed.
Some 105 troops were evacuated with the
DLI went forward to investigate. The assistance of the SBS, however, 900 Allied
Germans also landed in the south of the troops and 3,000 Italians surrendered. Many
island and at Camare Bay forced an Italian Italians had taken no part in the fighting on
battery back into the hills. At Antimachia a either side, but despite this, 90 officers were
company of paratroops from 1Bn FJR 2 executed by the SS.
landed and despite suffering casualties from There was now a pause and Allied planners
small arms fire and the harsh terrain was realised that though it made strategic sense
able to establish a lodgement. The Germans to evacuate Leros, the cost in shipping and
were well supported by the Luftwaffe and had aircraft might be very high. As the Germans
been able to land light artillery and armoured regrouped for the attack, a troop-carrying
cars. The Germans broke up the Allied convoy was intercepted on October 6 by the
defenders into smaller groups and Colonel Royal Navy, probably on the basis of ULTRA
L.R.F. Kenyon, the garrison commander, decrypts, and 400 men and a battalion's worth
decided that the British troops should attempt of equipment were lost.
50
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE: British soldiers captured on Kos are 500 men of 1Bn FJR 2 on the narrow neck of
marched into captivity. N o t until Arnhem in land between Gurna and Alinda Bays. A
September 1 9 4 4 w o u l d the British suffer such a combination of strong winds and accurate
comprehensive defeat. fire from SBS and other Special Forces
detachments as well the RIF and Royal West
The anticipated attack came at about 04.50 Rents caused 60% casualties, but under cover
on November 12 with a convoy making for of Luftwaffe strikes the survivors dug in.
Palma, Grifo and Pendelli Bays. Italian coastal They had effectively split the island and
batteries and British 25 Pounders and Bofors seized Rachi Ridge.
guns opened fire and six German landing The Germans and British fought a succes-
craft were sunk. In the north at Palma the sion of actions to capture or recapture
Germans were thrown back by a counter dominant features on the island. In the second
attack by D Coy The Buffs. However, at Grifo major British counter attack on the 15th, the
Bay, two companies landed and moved Germans holding the Appetici feature and
rapidly inland. They seized the rugged Rachi Ridge were seriously pressed, so
heights of Mount Clidi, destroyed the Italian General Muller considered evacuating the
coastal battery near its summit and dug in. island. The British attack was ill co-ordi-
Subsequent British counter attacks failed to nated and not in sufficient strength, and
dislodge them. daylight Luftwaffe ground support saved the
During the afternoon of November 12 12 day for the Germans flying between 400 and
waves of Ju52 transports flew in and dropped 500 sorties. In this action the gallant Colonel
BLITZKRIEG
ill
French was killed leading his battalion. ABOVE: British, Indian and Italian PoWs a w a i t
At 17.30 on the 16th with the Germans now evacuation from Port Laki, Leros, with the G e r m a n
controlling key areas of the island the British destroyer TA-16 tied up in the b a c k g r o u n d .
garrison commander formally surrendered.
The Italians, whom the Germans now called BELOW: General F. Muller (left) confers with
"guerrilla partisans", surrendered at 18.50. Brigadier Tilney f o l l o w e d the British surrender on
For the Germans victory in the Dodecanese Leros. A n officer interpreter stands between them.
was a major propaganda coup and with the
exception of Arnhem in 1944 would be the
last time they took British prisoners in any
numbers.
Samos was evacuated by the SBS during the
night of November 19-20.
British and Greek naval losses were six
destroyers, two submarines and ten coastal
craft sunk; the RAF lost 115 aircraft; and
army casualties amounted to 4,800, most of
whom were captured.
The German losses were 12 merchant ships
and 20 landing craft sunk and 4,000 casual-
ties of whom the bulk were drowned.
BLITZKRI EG
T H E GUSTAV LINE
It is not sufficient to give clear and tactically correct orders. All officers and
men of the Army, the Air Force and the Naval forces must be penetrated by a
fanatical will to end the battle victoriously, and never to relax until the last
enemy soldier has been destroyed or thrown back into the sea. The battle
must be fought in a spirit of holy hatred.
I
n Italy the Germans withdrew to the 10th Army. The battle for the Gustav Line and
Gustav, or Winter, Line that had been built its key position, the sixth-century mountain-
in the Apennines, running from the top Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino,
mouth of the Garigliano, through Monte became an epic of endurance by the German
Cassino to a point south of Ortona. The line paratroopers, Fallschirmjager, who held the
was held for by 15 divisions of the German position.
ABOVE: Fallschirmjager shelter in an Italian farm. They w o u l d prove f o r m i d a b l e opponents for the Allies.
BLITZKRIEG
On October 9 the 5th Army closed on the On November 15 Alexander ordered Clark
River Volturno but skilful German demolitions to halt his attacks south of the Garigliano.
and the rain delayed the US forces who were The men of the 5th Army were exhausted and
unable to advance until October 24. Between had suffered heavy casualties. Five days later
November 5 and 14, troops of the British 56th the 8th Army crossed the Sangro and on
and US 3rd Infantry Divisions closed up to the November 28 began the assault on the Gustav
Bernhard Line in front of the Gustav Line and Line. Though the V Corps overran it at its
fought a tough battle to seize Monte Camino eastern end, casualties mounted and the
that dominated the River Garigliano. On the advance slowed.
eastern side of the Italian peninsula the 8th On December 2 Clark resumed his attacks
Army under Montgomery had reached the and in four days' heavy fighting the British
River Sangro on November 8. 56th Division captured Monte Camino, and
L M A R KW.CLARK
ABOVE: W i t h
moments to go
before they move
out on another
fighting p a t r o l ,
Fallschirmjager stow
Stielgranate - stick
grenades - in their
belts. The stick
g r e n a d e had a four-
second delay fuze.
RIGHT: A mule
convoy carries
rations and
ammunition to
French troops high
in the mountains.
two days later the US II Corps seized Monte drive German forces from the Italian town of
la Difensa and Monte Maggiore. Opposite San Pietro. Some 100 Panzergrenadiere
them the German 10th Army withdrew to the caused 1,500 US casualties. It was a pointer
Gustav Line. From December 6 to December of what was to come in street fighting in Italy.
17 the US 143rd Infantry Regiment fought to Two days after Christmas the 1st Canadian
BLITZKRIEG
ANZIO ANNIE
MONTE CASSINO
60
BLITZKRIEG
63
BLITZKRIEG
BELOW: Paratroops c a r r y a w o u n d e d
comrade through a wrecked Italian city.
Evacuating men w o u n d e d in street
fighting was extremely difficult since
ambulance vehicles could not move
through streets c l o g g e d with rubble.
Cassino. The 36th Division was repulsed as central Italy, the USAAF attacked the
it attempted to cross the swollen river and monastery of Monte Cassino. In a daylight
suffered heavy casualties. raid 142 B-17s, B-125s and B-26s dumped
The Anzio landings took place on January 436,900kg (453 tons) of bombs onto the build-
22, but did not manage to unhinge the Gustav ings. The Allies were convinced that the
Line. Two days later the North African troops Germans w e r e at the least using the
of the French Expeditionary Force attacked commanding position of the building for
across the Rapido north of Monte Cassino but artillery observation posts and at worst had
were stopped short of Monte Cassino by fortified it. Once the building had been
fierce German counter attacks. reduced to ruins the paratroops moved in and
On Tuesday February 15 at the urging of fortified them. Their stubborn defence
General Freyberg, the commanding general earned them a unique tribute from Hitler
of the II New Zealand Corps fighting in who asserted that they were harder than the
BLITZKRIEG
Armament: n/a
DUKW Armour: n/a
Crew: 2
Hull length:
9,097kg
(6.64 tons)
9.75m (37ft)
Width: 2.51m (8ft 2in)
designing ocean racing yachts. The US Army was initially Height: 2.69m (8ft 10in)
Engine: GMC Model
resistant to the concept of an amphibious truck, but the rescue of
270 91 hp
Coast Guard cutter during a storm off the US coast Road speed: 80km/h
convinced them of its utility. From 1942 it would become a key (50mph)
Water speed: 9.7km/h
ions in Europe and the Far East
(6mph)
it before the end of the war. Range: 120km
(75miles)
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE: Exhausted and w o u n d e d British soldiers in BELOW: A picture of British soldiers, which
a crude trench at A n z i o . Though sandy soil was although p r o b a b l y posed for p r o p a g a n d a
easy to d i g , it was also poor protection from purposes, captures the confusion a n d violence of
artillery fire. the street f i g h t i n g .
BLITZKRIEG
UNIVERSAL CARRIER
68
BLITZKRIEG
Almost a month later attacks by the 4th Rifles were to hang on there under German
Indian Division and the New Zealand 6th fire, supplied only by night until they were
Infantry Brigade were preceded by four hours finally evacuated on March 25.
of b o m b a r d m e n t . Some 755 b o m b e r s The fighting had cost the 2nd New Zealand
attacked - two aircraft for every 350 German Division 63 officers and over 800 men killed,
paratroopers or five tons of high explosive for wounded or missing from an all-volunteer
each soldier. The air attacks were backed by army drawn from a small island community.
an artillery bombardment in which 195,969 The 4th Indian Division had lost 1,000 men
shells were fired into the town and defences and 65 officers.
of the monastery. Incredibly, the Germans Kesselring's tactical genius was amply
hung on, though Gurkha soldiers achieved demonstrated when in Operation Shingle, an
the deepest penetration, reaching the attempt to outflank the Gustav Line, the US VI
exposed position of Point 435 or "Hangman's Corps composed of the US 3rd and British 1st
Hill" only 402m (440yds) from the monastery. Infantry Divs landed on a 24.1km (15-mile)
The Gurkhas, Essex Regiment and Rajput stretch of Italian beach near the pre-war
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE: A bulldozer
leads a convoy of US
trucks off a causeway
constructed for Landing
Ship Tanks (LST) off the
beach at A n z i o .
70
BLITZKRIEG
71
BLITZKRIEG
STURMPANZER IV BRUMMBAR
attacks were held by the German 14th Army.
Two days later US Rangers waded 6.4km (4
Between 1943-44 the Vomag factory at miles) at night through flooded drainage
Plauen produced 313 StuPz43 or ditches to attack the village of Cisterna but
Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar - Growly Bear, were detected at the last moment and only
or Sturmhaubitze 4 3 L / 1 2 auf Fgst PzKpfw six men survived the fire from tanks and
IV (Sf) SdKfzl 6 6 . This was a distinctively infantry.
different vehicle with a high silhouette and On the night of January 29-30 the British
a box-like fighting compartment. The main 24 Guards Brigade attacked the village of
armament, the 15cm Sturmhaubitze L/12, Carroceto where the 29th Panzergrenadier
was in a ball mounting and the vehicle Regiment was dug in and in the fighting
carried 38 rounds. It used the PzKpfw IV F, suffered heavy casualties.
G, H and J chassis. The sides were On February 5 the Germans counter
protected by Schurzen. The vehicle armour attacked, hitting the British 1st Division and
arrangement changed in later models driving it back in nine days of savage fighting.
consisting of two plates at the front instead The Germans were, however, exhausted and
of one. The Brummbar was first used in had suffered heavy casualties, and paused for
action at Kursk in 1943 and over 3 0 0 four days.
vehicles were produced by the Deutsche On February 16 the I Fallschirm Corps
under General Schlemm and the LXXVI
Panzer Corps General Herr with total of ten
Armament: divisions, among which was the elite
Armour: Panzerdivision Hermann Goring, had been
Crew:
Weight:
assembled around the "Anzio abscess" as
Hull length: Hitler called the besieged beachhead where
Width: five Allied divisions were trapped. Von
Height:
Engine:
Mackensen launched a fierce attack against
the battered British sector. Yelling the battle
Road speed: cries of the victory years of World War II,
Range:
infantry supported by tanks crashed into the
72
BLITZKRIEG
Type:
REPUBLIC P-47D THUNDERBOLT Crew:
Power Plant:
1st Division and there was a real danger that ABOVE: W i t h bayonets fixed on their SMLE rifles
the beachhead would be split in two. Only the Polish soldiers make their w a y through the ruins
massive firepower of ships, artillery and of the monastery. The " s w o r d " bayonet was an
bombers halted the attack at Carroceto intimidating extension to the rifle, however very
Creek. few men were killed by bayonets in the war.
In North West Europe the operation was
followed closely by the Germans since it was
a testing ground for tactics that might be
employed when the Allies launched the
Second Front. An aggressive counter attack
of the beach head that would be favoured by
Rommel appeared to have failed.
On February 22 Lucas was replaced by the
more combative General Lucian "Old Gravel
Guts" Truscott as commander at Anzio. A
week later he received a baptism of fire when
the US 3rd Division came under attack by
four divisions. Once again air power and
artillery saved the Allies and on March 3 von
Mackensen called a halt to attacks.
On May 23, following stalemate and siege,
the US VI Corps broke out of the Anzio
beachhead. German resistance was fierce
but a day later the Allies cut Highway 7
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE A N D LEFT: N o t long creating a wedge between the 10th and 14th
after capture, Armies. On May 25 the US II and VI Corps
Fallschirmjager prisoners linked up on Highway 7and this marked the
are escorted to the lea of an end of the four months' isolation of the Anzio
M 4 Sherman. Though beachhead that had in places become similar
disarmed they outnumber to the trenches of World War I.
their N e w Z e a l a n d captors During the four months of the Anzio
w h o have sensibly Campaign the Allied VI Corps suffered over
concentrated them in an 29,200 combat casualties (4,400 killed, 18,000
area where the tank and wounded, 6,800 prisoners or missing) and
hillside provide barriers on 57,000 noncombat casualties. Two-thirds of
two sides. As the G e r m a n these losses, amounting to 17 percent of VI
paratroopers are assembled Corps' effective strength, were inflicted
they look far from c o w e d between the initial landings and the end of
and a p p e a r to be sizing up the German counter offensive on March 4.
their chances of German combat losses, suffered wholly by
overwhelming their captors the 14th, were estimated at 27,500 (5,500
a n d making a break. killed, 17,500 wounded, and 4,500 prisoners
BLITZKRIEG
I
n the dusty dawn of August 25, 1944 - based on the mountain chain of the
British, Canadian and Polish troops Apennines, and to the east, the River Foglia
launched the first probing attacks on the and Pesaro. It was not until September 12 that
Gothic Line - the German defences in Italy the battle would begin in earnest.
BLITZKRIEG
79
BLITZKRIEG
82
BLITZKRIEG
BLITZKRIEG
FIELDMARSHALHAROLDALEXANDEROFTUNIS
ABOVE: Biretta meets Beretta. A n a r m e d Italian delaying tactics of demolitions, booby traps
priest with a British-equipped and-supplied partisan and minefields, but they had to contend with
group operating in mountains in northern Italy. Allied air attacks and the constant threat of
a m b u s h by p a r t i s a n s . While m e d i u m
to Arezo. North of these positions they also bombers struck road and rail communica-
established the Arno Line along the valley of tions, fighters attacked convoys and vehicles.
the River Arno. In Florence German engi- Night-time was not cover against the parti-
neers blew up every bridge across the river sans who based themselves in the Apennines
Arno, but spared the historic Ponte Vecchio: and attacked isolated vehicles and small
the Germans fired charges that cratered its groups of troops. The local resistance also
approaches and then planted S Minen - anti- gave invaluable help recovering Allied
personnel mines - in the rubble. aircrew whose aircraft had been shot down
The Germans might be masters of the behind enemy lines.
BLITZKRIEG
BLITZKRIEG
D-DAY DODGERS
On our way to Florence, we had a We hear the boys in France are going
lovely time, home on leave,
We drove a bus from Rimini, right After six months' service, such a
through the Gothic Line, shame they're not relieved,
Then on to Bologna we did go, And we're told to carry on a few more
And went bathing in the River Po, years
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, the Because our wives don't shed no
lads that D-day dodged. tears.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, out in
sunny Italy.
ABOVE: Men of the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers rest during the push on Ferraro.
89
B L I T Z K R l E G
prevented reinforcements moving to the 8th Army front the Greek Brigade took Rimini
mountains. In the Apennines the Americans and the Canadians crossed the Marecchia
became involved in a desperate fight for the River. The next obstacle was the River Po
two peaks, Montecelli and Monte Altuzzo, about 100km (62.1miles) to the north, but
that dominated II Giogo Pass. The features there were nine rivers to be assaulted before
were not secured until September 17. the 8th Army reached this obstacle.
On the coast the British 8th Army resumed On September 24 the forces of General
its attacks, and on the night of the 12/15, Clark advanced towards Bologna. The
captured Cariano and looked close to a major German Army had fought hard but by
breakthrough. The heavy autumn rains, September 27 it appeared that the Allies were
however, prevented tanks from being through the Gothic Line.
brought forward and the advance was not By October 7 the 8th Army began to attack
resumed until a day later. A week of hard towards the River Rubicon and in five days
fighting followed and the Germans were were across this symbolic river. General Sir
forced back to the Rimini Line.
Up in the mountains American troops BELOW: US Military Police guard a group of
captured Fiorenzuola on September 21 which German PoWs. One soldier, a Panzergrenadier,
presented Kesselring with the threat that wears a uniform made from Italian camouflaged
they might break through to Route 9. On the material similar to that shown on page 76.
BLITZKRIEG
91
BLITZKRIEG
BLITZKRIEG
ABOVE: G e r m a n engineers
chisel a w a y flag stones to
make holes for Teller anti-
tank mines in a n a r r o w street
in Florence.
93
ABOVE: General M a r k Clark savours his moment of fame in Rome in June 1 9 4 4 . However, all g l o r y is
fleeting a n d within days D-Day had become the front p a g e news.
INDEX Battalion 1st Durham Light Corps XX, 7 Dolbe, Major, 45
Infantry, 45, 50 Corps XXI, 7 Duce, 43
Adriatic, 77, 79, 88 Battalion 1st Rings Own Corps XXX, 10, 38 DUKW, 65
Aegean, 22, 44, 46 Royal Regiment, 48, 51 Corps LXXVI Panzer, 72 Dunkirk, 15, 85
Afrika Korps, 4, 7, 10,11, 13, Battalion 2nd Royal Irish Corsica, 49 DSO, 13
15, 16, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, Fusiliers, 48, 51, 52 Crete, 17, 49
30, 70 Battalion 4th Royal West Eastern Front, 30, 39
Air Force, 12th, 29, 81 Rents, 48, 51, 52 Darlan, Admiral F, 21 Egret, HMS, 55
Air Force, 15th, 30 Battalion 11th The Darmstadt, 42 Eisenhower, General D, 26,
Alban Hills, 70 Parachute Regiment, 45 Dawley, General E, 40 46, 85
Albert Line, 79, 81 Battery 3rd Light RA, 49 DC3, Douglas Dakota, 46 El Agheila, 16
Alexander, General H, 11, Baytown, Operation, 32, 40 D-Day, 13, 88, 95 El Alamein, 4, 6, 8, 13, 16,
18, 19, 25, 37, 55, 57, 66, Bavaria, 29, 43 D-Day Dodgers, 88 17
73, 78, 85, 91, 93 Beaufighter, T.F. Mk X, Dempsey, General M, 38 El Aouina, 21
Algeria, 19, 26 Bristol, 21 DFS 230, 41 Essex Regiment, 69
Algiers, 21, 26 Berlin, 10, 93 Diadem, Operation, 76 Ethiopia, 46
Alinda Bay, 48, 52 Bernhard Line, 55 Diamere, Abbot G, 58, 66
Alps, 91, 93 Bersaglieri, 27 Division 1st, 33, 38, 69, 70, Fallschirmjager, 41, 54, 56,
Ambrosio, General, 26 Bfl09, Messerschmitt, 14, 72, 74, 85 57, 58, 62, 73, 75, 79
Anders, General W, 76 15, 38, 46, 49 Division 1st Airborne, 40, 41 Farran, Major R, 86
Anderson, General K, 25 Bizerta, 26, 27 Division 1st Armoured, 10 Feriana, 25
Ansaldo 90/53 Semovente, Bofors 40mm, 49, 52 Division 1st Canadian, 57 FG 42, 47
24 Bou Arada, 26 Division 1st Fieseler Storch, 43
Anzio, 4, 22, 41, 60, 62, 64, Bradley, General O, 37 Fallschirmjager, 63, 73 Fiorenzuola, 90
65, 67, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76 Bren Gun carrier, 45, 68 Division 1st South African, FJR 3, 37
Anzio Annie, 57 Brigade, 1st Airlanding, 37 10 FJR 4, 37
Appenines, 31, 41, 42, 54, Brigade 6th New Zealand, Division 3rd, 13, 39, 55, 69, Flail tank, 8
76, 78, 88, 90 69 70, 74 Flak 8.8-cm, 12, 24
Appetici, 52 Brigade, 18th Coastal, 37 Division 4th, 66, 76 Flak 2-cm, 79
Arnim, General J von, 21, Brigade Greek, 90 Division 4th Indian, 69 Flanders, 29
22, 23, 25, 26 Brigade 24th Guards, 72 Division 6th Armoured, 26 Florence, 86
Arno, 81, 86 Brittorous, Maj General F, Division 8th Indian, 76 Foggia, 78
Army Italian, 7, 46 51 Division 9th Australian, 10, Foglia, 78, 88
Army Panzer 1st, 60 15 Fondouk, 25
Army US 1st, 13, 22, 25, 26 Camare Bay, 50 Division 10th Armoured, 10 Foreign Legion, 26
Army British 2nd, 13 Campioni, Admiral, 45 Division 10th Panzer, 26 France, 49
Army US 3rd, 16 Canadian forces, 40, 78, 88 Division, 15th Panzer, 9, 15 Fredenhall, General F, 19,
Army US 5th, 25, 55, 60, 76, Cape Bon, 26 Division, 15th 25,26
91 Caporetto, 46 Panzergrenadier, 35 French, Lt Colonel M, 51,
Army Panzer 5th, 21, 25 Capri, Operation, 26 Division 16th Panzer, 40 52
Army Italian 6th, 35 Carden-Loyd, 68 Division 21st Panzer, 10, 12 French Expeditionary
Army US 6th, 55 Cariano, 90 Division 29th Force, 64, 76
Army US 7th, 28, 35, 37 Carroceto, 72, 74 Panzergrenadier, 40 Freyberg, General, 64
Army 8th, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12,13, Castle Hill, 68 Division 34th, 60 Fuhrer, 15, 16, 43
16, 19, 25, 26, 32, 35, 38, Catania, 37 Division 36th, 64
39, 40, 41, 55, 60, 90, 93 Cattolica, 77 Division 51st Highland, 10 Gafsa, 23, 25
Army 10th German, 40, 54, Chienti, 79 Division 56th, 55 Garda, Lake, 43
56, 75, 88 Churchill, 4, 5, 18, 19, 27, Division 71st, 76 Gargnano, 43
Army 14th German, 60, 70, 44, 70, 78 Division 82nd Airborne, 41 Garigliano, 51, 54, 55, 60
75,88 Cisterna, 72 Division 90th Light, 9 Gazala, 9, 16
Army 18th, 25 Clark, General M, 40, 41, Division 90th Gebirgsjager, 79, 82
Army US 15th, 16 55, 70, 76, 77, 90, 91, 95 Panzergrenadier, 63 Gela, 37, 38
Army Group C, 93 Clemente, 88 Division 164th, 9 Gibraltar, 48
Army Group 15th, 37, 91 Clidi Bay, 52 Division 204 Coastal, 38 Gioda, General, 7
Army Group 21st, 13 Clidi Mount, 52 Division 207 Coastal, 37 Giorgo Pass, 88, 90
Astor, Lady, 88 Cohen, Jack, 34 Division, Ariete, 10, 12 Gothic Line, 77, 78, 80,. 81,
Atlantic, 30 Comacchio, 93 Division, Bologna, 9 88, 90
Austria, 16, 31, 55, 91 Commandos, 40 Division Brescia, 9 Goumiers, 76
Avalanche, Operation, 32, 40 Conca, 88 Division Waffen-SS Das Gran Sasso, 41, 42
Axis, 5, 12, 16, 26 Corps I Fallschirm, 72 Reich, 42 Greif, Operation, 42
Axis Sally, 88 Corps I Canadian, 88 Division, Folgore, 9, 11 Grifo Bay, 52
B-17, Boeing, 33, 64 Corps II, 23, 26, 37, 56, 60, Division, Hermann Goring, Grosseto, 79
B-24 Liberator, 91 75,88 35, 38, 66 Gurna bay, 52
B-26 Martin Marauder, 64, Corps II New Zealand, 64 Division, Littorio, 9 Gustav Line, 51, 41, 54, 55,
81 Corps II Polish, 76, 88 Division, Nembo, 32 56, 64, 69, 76
Corps IV, 88 Division, New Zealand, 10, Guzzoni, General, 35
B-125, 64 Corps V, 55, 88 69
Baade, General, 63 Corps VI, 40, 69, 70, 74, 75 Division, Pavia, 9 Halifax, Handley Page, 49
Badoglio, Marshal P, 41, 46 Corps X, 10, 40, 60 Division, Trento, 9 Hamman Lif, 27
Battalion 1st FJR 2, 50 Corps XIII, 11,38,41,88 Dodecanese, 44, 45, 46, 49, Hangman's Hill, 69
Corps XIV Panzer, 38 53 Helll,Heinkel, 49
Heidrich, General, 63 Mackensen, General E von, Primasole, 37 Stalingrad, 76
Herr, General, 72 60,74 PzKpfw III, 38 Staghound, 68
Heydrich, Reinhard, 45 Maitland Wilson, General PzKpfw IV, 37, 38 Stalingrad, 27
Highway 7, 74 Sir H, 90 PzKpfw V, Panther, 39, 93 StuG III, 60, 61
Himmler, Heinrich, 45 Mareth Line, 22, 23, 26 Stumme, General G, 12, 15
Hitler, Adolf, 6, 15, 31, 43, Marshall, General G, 55 Rachi Ridge, 48, 52 Sturmpanzer IV, 72
49, 54, 64, 72, 93 Malta, 32, 35 Rapido, 60, 62, 76 Supercharge, Operation, 11,
Hitler Line, 77 Marecchia, 90 RAF, 31,33, 46 15
Horrocks, General B, 11 Matilda tank, 8 Rajput Rifles, 69
Horthy, Admiral M, 42 McCreery, General R, 40, 60 Ramcke Fallschirmbrigade, TA-16, 55
HS-293, Henschel, 35 Me321, Messerschmitt, 20 9 Tank destroyer, 69
Hudson, Lockheed, 49 Me323, Messerschmitt, Rangers, 40, 72 Task Force Centre, 19, 21
Hurricane Mk IID, Hawker, Gigant, 20, 21 Re 2002, Ariete, 29 Task Force, Eastern, 19, 21
20 Mediterranean, 16, 20, 22, Regiment 29th Task Force, Western, 19
Husky, Operation, 28, 35 29,41 Panzergrenadier, 72 Tebourba, 25
Messina, 28, 35, 37, 38, 39 Regiment US 143rd, 56 Thala, 26
Italy, 5, 28, 30, 31, 49, 85 Mersa Matruh, 15 Rhine, 16, 93 Tiger Tank, 21, 58
MG34, 82 Rhodes, 44, 45, 49 Tobruk, 15
Jeep, 35, 84, 85 MG42, 58, 76, 82 Richard, Operation, 70 Tombola, Operation, 86
Jellicoe, Major Earl, 45 Military Police, 22, 27, 41 Ridgeway, General M, 41 Torch, Operation, 19
Jodl, General, 28 Mines, 8, 22, 57, 86, 93 Rimini Line, 90 Trasimene Lake, 79
Ju52, Junkers, 21, 51, 52 Miterirya Ridge, 7,15 Roma, 35 Tripoli, 16, 41
Ju87, Junkers, 49 Monte Cassino, 5, 31, 54, Rome, 5, 28, 32, 41, 76, 81, Truscot, General L, 57, 74,
Ju88, Junkers, 46, 49 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 85,95 91
Jul88, Junkers, 41 66,76 Rommel, Field Marshal E, 6 Tunis, 26, 85
July Plot, 42 Montgomery, General B, 6, 9,11, 12, 15,22,25,26, Tunisia, 10, 16, 16, 2l, 23,
9, 12, 15, 17, 28, 38, 39, 28,30 27
R5E, 57 55,60 Route 6, 76 Turkey, 5, 45
R18, 25 Morning Wind, Operation, Route 9, 90 Typhoon, Hawker, 73
Kaltenbrunner, Ernst, 45 23, 25, 26 Royal Engineers, 8
Kasserine Pass, 22, 25, 26 Morser 18, 7, 51 Royal Navy, 55, 50 U-Boat, 21, 48
Keitel, Field Marshal, 31 Mortar, 79, 84, 86 RSAH, 45 Uganda, HMS, 55
Kenyon, Col L.R., 50 Morocco, 16, 19 Rubicon, 90, 91 ULTRA, 4, 9, 15, 15, 21, 26,
Kesselring, Field Marshal A, MP 40, 82 Ruweisat Ridge, 7, 9 50,70
5, 22, 28, 30, 33, 38, 54, Mules, 31, 56 Ryder, General C, 19 United Nations, 55
65, 70, 76, 79, 88, 90, 91, Muller, Lt General, 49, 52, Universal Carrier, 68
93 53 SAAF, 46 USAAF, 18, 21, 50, 51, 54,
Kidney Ridge, 7, 15 Mussolini, 16, 30, 31, 33, 38, Salerno, 32, 40, 41, 59, 65 64,75
"Kiel", Battle Group, 9 41, 42, 46 Samos, 44, 55 US Army, 42
Knight's Cross, 18, 30 Sangro, 55 US Navy, 55
Kos, 22, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52 Naples, 40, 41, 59 Sardinia, 32, 35 USSR, 45
Kriegsmarine, 48 Navarrini, General, 7 SAS, 2nd, 55, 86
KRIPO, 45 Nazi Party, 42, 45 Sbeitla, 25 Vaerst, General G von, 27
Nehring, General, 27 Sbiba, 26 Valetta, 55
Lampedusa, 34, 35 Nettuno, 70 SBS, 45, 46, 50, 52, 55 Vallo di Lucania, 41
Lancashire Fusiliers, 89 New Zealand, 75 Schlegel, Lt Colonel J, 66 Vickers MMG, 86
Leese, General O, 10, 38, 60 Normandy, 16, 77 Schlemm, General, 72 Victor Emmanuel, Ring, 41
Lehrgang, Operation, 39 North Africa, 20, 21, 22 Schupos, 45 Vietinghoff, General H von,
Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf SD-1400, Ruhrstahl, 55 40
Hitler", 42 OKW, 45 SdKfz 2, 17 Volturno, 55
LeGI 18, 82 Olive, Operation, 88 Senger und Etterlin,
LeIG 18,13 Ortona, 54, 57 General von, 58 Wadi Akarit, 25
Leros, 22, 44, 48 Overlord, Operation, 60,77 Senio, 95 Waffen-SS, 42, 45, 66
Liberator, Lockheed, 45, 49 Sfax, 10 Warspite, HMS, 55
Licata, 37 P-38 Lockheed Lightning, SFH 18, 9 Wellington, Vickers, 49
Lightfoot, Operation, 10 18,21,29 Shingle, Operation, 69 Western Front, 29, 64
Lili Marlene, 88 P-40, Curtiss Warhawk, 32 Sicherheitsdienst, 45 Winter Line, 54
Linosa, 35 P-47 Republic Thunderbolt, Sicily, 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 50, World War I, 13,16, 29, 46,
Liri, 76 73 52, 55, 57, 59, 65 60, 64, 75, 85
Longstop Hill, 23 P-51, North American Sidi Bou Zid, 25, 25 World War II, 16, 55, 60, 72
Lucas, General J, 41, 70, 71, Mustang, 32, 81 Skorzeny,
74 Pak36 (r), 11 Obersturmbannfuhrer O,
Luftflotte I, 30 Pantalleria, 35 41
Luftwaffe, 7, 26, 28, 29, 30, Panzergrenadiere, 56 Slapstick, Operation, 52
33, 35, 40, 47, 49, 50, 52 Patton, General G, 16, 19, SMLE, 6, 8, 74
26, 28, 37, 39 Snapdragon, Operation, 55
M3 Stuart, 10 Paulus, Alexander, 76 Spain, 55, 42
M4 Sherman, 10, 34, 37, 70 Pesaro, 77, 78 Spitfire, Supermarine, 14, 45
M10 Tank Destroyer, 35, 69 Po, 90, 93 Spring Wind, Operation, 25,
M60, 47 Point 435, 69 25
Ponte Vecchio, 86 SS, 50
ISBN 0-7110-2948-2