By: Katie FulmerHour 1

Anzio Landing

Summary• The Allies wanted to break

the standstill at the Cassino Line, capture Rome, and weaken Germany’s grip on Europe.

• In 1944, Allied troops decided to land thousands of troops in a small fishing village in Anzio, Italy.

• The goal was to surprise the Germans, secure the beachhead, and advance to Rome.

Allies Attack Plan

German Counterattack

Troops

Allied Troops- 61,000

German Troops- 135,000

Allied Leaders• Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark- plan

for attacking Anzio• General Eisenhower- revived

Anzio plan• General Sir Henry M. Wilson-

commander or Allied troops in Mediterranean

• Maj. Gen. John P. Lucas- US Army commander of Fifth Army’s VI Corps

• Col. William O. Darby- led 3rd Division and three Ranger Battalions to attack at Cisterna

How it Happened• 0200 Jan 22, 1944: Allied forces surprise

attack the German troops onshore and take the Anzio beach by noon.

• Over the Next Few Days: Allies will push 7 miles inland against increasing German resistance

• Jan 23: Allies move towards Campoleone and capture the town of Aprilia

• Jan 24-25: Allies make some progress going towards Cisterna and Littoria.

How it Happened Continued

• Jan 26-29: Allied forces regroup and reorganize themselves

• Jan. 30: Col. Darby makes an attack on Cisterna

• Feb. 3-4: Germany makes their first counterattack in several waves

• Mar. 4: Germany makes their final attack• March-May: Allies get bombarded with air

raids and constant cannon firing.

Results• May 23: Allied forces drive to the Anzio

beachhead and breached the German line• June 4: General Clark’s forces captured Rome

Although the Allies succeeded in capturing Rome, it took awhile to breach the line, and things didn’t go according to plan.

Long Term Effects• The landing at Anzio

helped to distract the Germans and divert their attention long enough so that landing in Normandy, occurring 4 days after the capture of Rome, was possible.

Casualties• Allies- 29,200 combat causalities 4,400 killed 18,00 wounded 6,800 prisoners or missing• Axis- 27,500 combat causalities 5,500 killed 17,500 wounded 4,500 prisoners or missing

Time PeriodJanuary 22nd, 1944 - June 4th, 1944

Pictures