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.
Not exactly. The German divisions that were operating in that theatre were NOT operating in Russia. That was the main plan. Hitler paid too much attention to Italy. He could have kept the Allies at bay with fewer divisions by not counterattacking. Losing those divisions on the Eastern Front was devastating to the Germans
The big discussion for the Allies was whether to go in at Anzio or south France or maybe Yugoslavia. It was agreed that taking Rome would help the war the most.
I’m now reading a book called Backwater war : the Allied campaign in Italy, 1943-1945 by Edwin P. Hoyt