1944

JANUARY

1st

General Mark Clark takes over the U.S. Seventh Army in addition to the command of the U.S. Fifth Army.

3rd

The US Fifth Army begins an offensive against the German forces in Italy who are entrenched in the Gustav Line along the Rapido river, with its centre at Cassino. 5^th Div joins 5^th Army

8th

The trial of Count Ciano and 18 other Fascists responsible for Mussolinis downfall opens at Castel Vecchio, in Verona.

9th

Countess Ciano escapes to Switzerland and is interned.

10th

All but one of the Fascist ex-ministers on trial are sentenced to death at Castel Vecchio.

11th

Ciano and 17 others are shot by firing squad.

12th

Heavy air attacks on German airfields and lines of communications precede the battle. Later, the Moroccan 2nd Infantry Division attacks north of the Colli-Atina road. The Algerian 3rd Infantry Division, after a short artillery barrage, advances against Monte Casal and eventually captures Aquafondata and Sant Elia.

14th

5^th Div cross River Garigliano

15th

The U.S. Fifth Army gains Monte Trocchio, overlooking Rapido River as the Germans withdraw across it. French troops under General Juin capture Monte Santa Croce.

16th

The Algerians reach the Rapido, but are hard pressed to capture Monte San Croce. The 8th, 115th, and the 578th Grenadier Regiments refuse to budge

17th

At 9 pm, the British X Corps, reinforced by the 5th Division, attacks on the Garigliano after the German 94th Infantry Division receives a pounding from Allied artillery. The British attack drives the 94th's advance outposts across the Garigliano on the first attempt. Meanwhile, the British land an amphibious battle group behind the German lines near Minturno. The amphibious operation is only partially successful because some of the troops lose their sense of direction and land behind the British lines, instead of the enemy's. However, the Germans are forced back across the Garigliano.

18th

The British X Corps captures Minturno and Tufo and approaches the Ausente Valley. By evening, however, the British attack stalls and all attempts to cross the Garigliano fail.

20th

Kesselring sends the Headquarters I Parachute Corps to the Garigliano and puts the 29th and 90th Panzer Grenadier and the 94th Infantry under its' command. The 29th counter attacks via the Ausonia-Coreno and the British 56th Division, tired and depleted, is driven back through Castelforte. One brigehead on the Garigliano, however, remains in Allied hands.The U.S. 36th Division (known as the "Texans") attacks the 15th Panzer Grenadier on the Rapido and the Gari. Caught in a vicious crossfire, the Texans lose 1,700 men and fail to reach their objective. The original strategy was to draw the German reserves away from the proposed Anzio beach head, which was scheduled to happen January 22nd. The Texans lose most of their rafts, assault boats, and bridge sections to German artillery. Only two companies manage to cross the Rapido successfully and they come under fire from the German 104th Regiment.

21st

The rest of the American battalion is forced to retreat eastwards away from the Rapido, leaving two companies stranded on the opposite shore. General Keyes decides to make a second attempt to cross the Rapido further north and relieve his stranded troops. An American attack is launched at 6 pm. The 3rd Battalion crosses the Gari, but is stopped by the 129th Panzer Grenadier Regiment (supported by artillery). The Texans retreat back across the Gari and the Germans capture a large number of prisoners.

22nd

The U.S. Fifth Army lands  the U.S. VI Corps, (36,034 men and 3,069 vehicles) commanded by General Lucas, Anzio. The Germans respond by sending the Headquarters and the I Parachute Corps to contain the beach head and the Garigliano sector (now stabilized) is handed back to XIV Corps.The German 104th Panzer Grenadiers launch an attack, which pushes the U.S. 36th back across the Rapido. The Texans lose 143 dead, 663 wounded, and 875 missing during the three day battle. The 36th Division's attack has failed to draw any German reserves away from the Anzio sector because XIV Corps was able to crush the attack alone and without outside assistance.

23rd

A Royal Navy destroyer, Janus is lost as the fighting rages around the Anzio beachhead. 5^th Div advance to Minturno Ridge

24th

Hitler orders that German troops in Italy hold the Gustav Line at all costs. The French attack to the North of Cassino. Allied patrols from Anzio beachhead are halted but the Germans. General Clark assigns the French Expeditionary Corps the task of capturing Monte Cairo. In the evening, the French, with the Tunisian 4th Rifle Regiment acting as a spearhead, attack Monte Cifalco, which dominates the Secco Valley and the Sant Elia area. The Tunisians capture the forward positions of Height 470, but cannot dislodge the Germans from the mountain itself. Meanwhile, the Tunisians on the left flank cross the Rapido and knock the 131st Regiment off balance and gain a foothold on the eastern slope of Monte Belvedere. German artillery, directed from Monte Cifalco, causes heavy Tunisian casualties.

27th

The Germans counter-attack the French at Cassino.

29th

5^th Div attack point 156

30th

A U.S. Ranger battalion is wiped out at Anzio.

31st

The U.S. 34th Division crosses the Rapido.

FEBRUARY

1st

78^th move back to the coastal sector

3rd

An attempt to breakout of the Anzio Beachhead ends after an advance of just three miles in three days. The German begin their first counterattacks against Anzio.

5th

U.S. troops reach the outskirts of Cassino, but are repulsed.

7th

The Germans begin a full-scale counter-attack against the Anzio Beachhead.

9th

The Germans capture Aprilia in the Anzio beachhead.

10th

The allies announce that southern Italy is to be handed over to Italian government jurisdiction.

11th

Indian and New Zealand forces relieve Americans troops at Cassino. The allies are pushed back to final defence line at Anzio.

13th

The allies halt the German attack around Cassino. The Italians in Cassino Monastery are warned that it will be bombed.

15th

Monte Cassino is devastated by 422 tons of bombs as the Indian and New Zealanders begin their offensive to capture the monastery which is now occupied and defended by paratroopers (the Green Devils) of 1st Fallschirmjäger Division.

16th

Kesselring launches seven divisions in a second major attack against the US 5th Army's bridgehead at Anzio.

18th

Renewed allied attacks at Cassino are broken off. The Germans make further gains at Anzio but are repulsed by allied artillery and warships.

23rd

General Lucas is sacked from the Anzio command and is replaced by Major General Truscott. German counter-attacks drives the Anzio beachhead back further.

29th

The Germans launch their third major offensive at Anzio.

MARCH

3rd

German attacks cease at Anzio after loss of 3,500 men and 30 Panzer's in four days. 5^th Div move into Anzio beachhead.

15th

The allies pound Cassino, dropping 1,250 tons of bombs dropped and firing 195,969 in 7 and a half hours, but the troops make slow headway.

16th

The British Eighth Army continues to batter itself against Monte Cassino.

17th

New Zealand troops take Cassino railway station.

18th

A New Zealand tank attack on Monte Cassino is repulsed, with the loss of all 17 tanks.

19th

The RAF launch Operation Strangle, aimed at German communications in Italy.

22nd

Alexander halts the frontal attacks on Cassino.

24th

The US Fifth Army's bridgehead at Anzio is bombarded by German heavy long-range guns and Luftwaffe aircraft using guided bombs, causing severe casualties in men, ships, and equipment. Persistent US and British attacks against the Gustav Line at Cassino are repulsed by the German defenders. In response to the killing of 35 German soldiers in Rome by the Italian resistance, SS Colonel Herbert Kappler orders the execution of 335 Italians, at least 255 of whom are civilians in reprisal. All are shot by German troops in the Fosse Ardeantine caves outside of Rome.78^th move into line at Cassino

APRIL

21st

78^th leave Cassino

27th

5^th Div moves into the Fortress sector of the Anzio beachhead

MAY

9th

5^th Div crosses the River Moletta

11th

The British Eighth and U.S. Fifth Armies begin an attack on Gustav Line in central Italy with a 2,200-gun bombardment.

12th

Fierce German counter-attacks are put in by the German defenders at Monte Cassino.

13th

The allies take Sant Angelo and Castelforte, thereby opening the way to Rome.

14th

French troops in Italy break through the Gustav Line.78^th assault the Gustav line.

15th

The Germans begin a withdrawal from the Gustav Line to new positions, called the Adolf Hitler or Dora Line, some 30 miles to the South of Rome.

17th

Kesselring orders the evacuation of Cassino. The French breakthrough is now 25 miles deep.

18th

Polish troops finally capture the town of Cassino.78^th begin advance on Rome

19th

British troops capture Aquino airfield in the Liri valley, to the South East of Rome.

20th

The U.S. Fifth Army captures Gaeta to the South of Rome.

23rd

The U.S. Fifth Army begins an offensive from the Anzio bridgehead toward Rome. Canadian troops breach the Adolf Hitler Line to the South West of Monte Cassino.

24th

U.S. troops take Terracina in Italy. The retreating Germans are subjected to heavy air-attacks.

25th

The U.S. Fifth Army make first contact with troops from the Anzio beachhead. German airborne troops attack Tito's Partisan HQ at Drvar in Bosnia on Titos 52nd birthday. Tito and Churchills son Randolph, both manage to escape in to the mountains.

26th

U.S. troops from Anzio take Cori, 22 miles inland. Mark Clark makes a decision to direct four divisions on Rome, but only one to Valmontone on Highway 6 to cut German retreat.

29th

The British reach the factory, 10 miles North of Anzio.

30th

The Eighth Army captures Arce, 15 miles Northwest of Cassino, en route to Rome.

JUNE

1st

The British Eighth Army captures Frosinone to the South East of Rome. 5^th Div advances on Rome

2nd

U.S. troops are now only 20 miles from Rome. The Bulgarian government seeks terms of surrender from the western allies.

3rd

Hitler allows Kesselring to withdraw from Rome, which has now been declared an 'Open City'.

4th

The U.S. Fifth Army enters Rome.

6th

The French take Tivoli in Italy.

7th

The Americans take Civitavecchia on the western coast of Italy.

8th

The U.S. Fifth Army continues its drive North in Italy, taking Civita Castellana.78^th arrive at Rome

9th

The U.S. Fifth Army is now 50 miles Northwest of Rome.

14th

The allies take Orvieto, 65 miles Northwest of Rome.

16th

The Eighth Army captures Foligno and Spoleto, east of Orvieto and approach Perugia.

17th

German troops evacuate the island of Elba off the west coast of Italy.78^th capture Montegabbioni

18th

The Eighth Army take Assisi.

20th

Eighth Army take Perugia as its advance North continues.

JULY

2nd

German troops evacuate Siena. 5^th Div leave for Egypt and Middle East

3rd

French troops take Siena, only 30 miles South of Florence.

4th

78^th leave Italy for rest in Egypt.

6th

The British Eighth Army captures Osimo 20 miles South of Ancona.

16th

The Eighth Army captures Arezzo and reaches the Arno river.

18th

The Polish II Corps takes Antona in Italy.

19th

The U.S. 34th Division captures Livorno on the Italian coast.

20th

French troops begin their withdrawal from the Italian front, ready for the  invasion of Southern France.

23rd

The U.S. 34th Division takes Pisa.

AUGUST

4th

Florence is evacuated by German forces.

27th

The British 8th Army renews its offensive North on Italy's eastern coast. Slowed by rain and mud, the British attack toward the Gothic Line at Pesaro, just north of the Foglia river.

30th

Canadian Armoured forces with the British 8th Army attack west of Pesaro. Without supporting artillery, they are beaten back by the Germans, who destroy or badly damage 32 of the 50 tanks engaged in the attack. German troops withdraw from Bulgaria.

31st

The U.S. Fifth Army crosses the Arno while the Eighth Army attacks the Gothic Line in Italy.

SEPTEMBER

10th

The U.S. Fifth Army launches an assault against the Gothic Line.

13th

The Canadians take Coriano Ridge in the Gothic Line.

15th

78^th return to Italy, landing at Taranto

17th

Monte Altuzzo finally falls to the U.S. 85th Division.

19th

The Eighth Army occupies the Republic of San Marino, in Italy.

20th

A British tank breakout attempt through the Gothic Line is defeated by the tenacious defence.

24th

The British XIII Corps captures Marradi in Italy.

26th

The Eighth Army crosses the Rubicon in north-eastern Italy.

OCTOBER

7th

The Eighth Army resumes its attacks on the Gothic Line.

13^th-15th

78^th attack Monte le Pieve

21^st-29th

78^th attack Monte Spadero. Hold the line until 13^th Feb

DECEMBER

5th

The British Eighth Army takes Ravenna in and cuts the rail link to Bologna.

1945

FEBRUARY

13th

78^th commence rest and training until 25^th March

15th

5^th Div return to Italy, landing at Taranto

22nd

After a heavy four-day battle, the U.S Fifth Army takes the Upper Reno Valley in northern Italy between Bologna and Florence.

MARCH

6th

5^th Div leave Italy to join 21^st Army Group in N.W. Eurpoe

8th

Beginning of secret negotiations at Bern, Switzerland, between representatives of the American OSS (Allan Dulles) and the German High Command in Italy (General von Vietinghoff and SS General Wolff) for an early surrender of German forces in Italy.

APRIL

9th

The British Eighth Army launches its final offensive in Italy with a 1,800-plane and 1,500-gun bombardment of the German positions East of Bologna. The U.S. Fifth Army begins its offensive toward Bologna and the Po river valley. Army Group E is now completely isolated from the main German forces, but continues its struggle against Titos partisan forces in Yugoslavia.

14th

The British Eighth Army captures Bastia bridge intact, while Hitler rejects an appeal for a German withdrawal to the Po river.

16th

78^th begin battle of Argenta Gap

20th

The U.S. Fifth Army reaches the Po river Plain in northern Italy as a German retreat to river ordered.

21st

The 2nd Polish Corps which is fighting with the British Eighth Army captures Bologna in co-ordination with the U.S. 34th Division, of the U.S. Fifth Army.

23rd

The U.S. Fifth and British Eighth Armies reach the Po, to the North of Bologna.

24th

The Eighth Army captures Ferrara, 30 miles to the Northeast of Bologna and crosses the Po after fierce fighting. The U.S. Fifth Army takes Spezia on the Gulf of Genoa and Modern.

25th

The U.S. Fifth Army enters Mantua, 60 miles Northwest of Bologna and continues its drive up coast, while the British Eighth Army crosses the Po river and captures Parma.

26th

Italian Partisans take Genoa and stage revolt in Milan. The U.S. Fifth Army captures Verona, 20 miles Northeast of Mantua.

27th

The U.S. Fifth Army enters Genoa.

28th

The U.S. Fifth Army take Brescia, 30 miles East of Milan. The British Eighth Army reaches Venice. Italian Partisans capture Mussolini, his mistress Clara Petacci and 12 of his cabinet members in a German convoy trying to reach Switzerland. All are shot in nearby village.

29th

The bodies of Mussolini and Clara Petacci are brought to Milan and hung upside down from lamp-posts in the square where 15 Partisans were executed a year ago. The bodies are shot and spat upon. The Germans armies in Italy sign surrender terms at The Royal Palace, Caserta, but German officers do not guarantee acceptance, the ceremony takes only 17 minutes. The British Eighth Army secures Venice and advances towards Trieste. The U.S. Fifth Army enters Milan and makes contact with the Eighth Army at Padua.78^th end of battle for Argenta Gap

30th

The U.S. Fifth Army in Northwest Italy, links up with French troops on the French/Italian border.

MAY

1st

The cessation of hostilities and surrender of all German forces in Italy is announced. This is as a result of unauthorised and secret negotiations with the allies by the German C-in-C, General von Vietinghoff. and SS General Wolff. New Zealand troops capture Udine, 60 miles Northeast of Venice and makes contact with Titos partisans in the Trieste area. The situation is now desperate for the surrounded Germans of Army Group E in Yugoslavia as Titos partisans reach the river Isonzo near Monfalcone.

2nd

The German Army in Italy abides by the Caserta agreement and surrenders to the allies, with hostilities ceasing at 12 noon GMT.

4th

The U.S. Fifth Army reaches the Brenner Pass.

6th

The U.S. Fifth Army enters Austria from Italy.

7th

The British Eighth Army crosses the Italian/Austrian border.