[bd476]

Operation SHINGLE and Major General John P. Lucas

Operation SHINGLE, the World War II amphibious turning movement at Anzio, placed VI Corps of the Allied 5th Army seventy miles behind the German Gustav Line defenses in central Italy.

The operation's objective of cutting German lines of communication and thereby turning German defenses on the Gustav Line would force a German retreat that would liberate Rome was a failure.



The American commander, Major General John P. Lucas, has been frequently maligned for failing to use greater initiative in quickly seizing the Alban Hills as soon as the Allies landed at Anzio.

The assault on his military skills is not justified. Had General Lucas seized the Alban Hills, as the plan intended, he would likely have lost his entire Corps to German counterattack.

This paper addresses the strategic and operational facets of the plan to seize the Alban Hills. General Lucas was probably not the best choice to lead the Anzio landing.

Nevertheless, he took what would prove the best course of action to deal with the circumstances in which he found himself and VI Corps at Anzio.

Commander Roger W. Sassman
United States Naval Reserve

Colonel Brian Moore, USMC (Ret)
Project Advisor

---

THE ANZIO LANDING was virtually unopposed. These scenes, photographed at Yellow Beach soon after down on 22 January, show troops of the 3d Division (above) as they waded the last few yards to shore and (below) a line of vehicles moving inland. White tape indicates boundary of the path to which vehicles were confined by soft ground in the area.

LT. GEN. MARK W. CLARK, Commanding General of the Fifth Army, arriving at the beachhead on D Day morning in a Navy PT boat. He is shown reading radio dispatches on the battle's progress with a Fifth Army Staff officer.



ADVANCING TOWARD THE MUSSOLINI CANAL, elements Of the 504th Parachute Infantry on D Plus 2 moved in small groups and then only when protected by smoke screens. The canal is just beyond the smoke on the horizon, about 1,000 yards from the building in the foreground.

Ibiblio.org American Forces in Action: Anzio

---

Melvin C. Shaffer Collection at Southern Methodist University
Used under Fair Use definition for such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Farmhouse near Anzio, after the battle of Anzio Beach, early Summer 1944

Located in the midst of a fertile agricultural area near Cassino 1, this farmhouse was taken over by German forces and used as a concealment for tanks. When discovered, it suffered severe damage from Allied artillery. The family trapped inside ultimately escaped -- as in fact did the German tanks. [M.C.S.]

[bluefish]

Cool Post. Bookmarked! Thanks.

[indcons]

To all: please ping me to threads that are relevant to the MilHist list (and/or) please add the keyword "MilHist" to the appropriate thread. Thanks in advance.

Please FREEPMAIL indcons if you want on or off the "Military History (MilHist)" ping list.

[bd476]

From Our British Allies:

The Battle of Anzio

Anzio Day – 11 May – The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

(53rd/85th Regiments of Foot)

The Regimental Day of the 1st Battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Anzio Day, was chosen to mark the grueling four months battle at Anzio in 1944 before the allied breakout to crush the enemy in Italy.

Anzio, is situated on the west coast of Italy with Rome only a few miles away to the north; it was decided that this small town was the best place to put a fighting force ashore which would outflank the axis powers, and thus break the deadlock that paralysed the Italian front in the latter half of 1943. To this effect a British American force, consisting of a division apiece was landed upon the beaches of Anzio on January 22nd in the early hours of the morning.

Amongst the first troops ashore was the 1st Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry. The landings were carried out so flawlessly and German resistance was so light that British and American units gained their first day's objectives by noon, moving three to four miles inland by nightfall...

More:

Light Infantry Major Battles Anzio 1944

[Eagles6]

Very interesting to us of the historical persuasion. Thanks.

[John Robie]

Thanks for posting this. The Italian campaign is too often ignored.

[RSmithOpt]

Thanks for the post. I never forget those men and women from that generation. The greatest generation ever in my book. We paid a hefty price at Anzio and dang near didn’t make the toe hold.

[Fiji Hill]

Anzio has the dubious distinction of being the birthplace of the Roman emperor Nero.

[Lancey Howard]

My boss’s father was in this Anzio invasion. I talked to him about it last year.
He’s still sharp as a tack.

Thanks for posting this.

[Mr. Silverback]

My grandfather was there. I’m very proud of him.

[rlmorel]

Excellent post!!!!

We must remember the sacrifice of those men...in a nasty, nasty campaign.

[Eternal_Bear]

One of the British dead was the Duke of Wellington serving as a common foot soldier.

[Domangart]

The VP before Truman bl abed the plan to a German spy. Another nail that got rid of him.

[hinckley buzzard]

Yep. Anzio was seriously F*ed up. I talked to guys who had been pinned down on the Anzio beachhead. Couldn't even move enough to take a leak for two-three days.

Anzio was the classic example of how the best plan in the world goes to shit as soon as the shooting starts, no reflection on the valor of the men who fought and died there.

[Thunder 6]

Rock of the Marne, bump!

Regards,