- --- - -- -- RG f Entry J Box I 6' .. .. • .- .... t_ '"" "'"' .. M (.I ·· t: i:. JUL 19 66 UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II The Mediterranean Theater of Operations SALERNO TO CASSINO PREFACE - CLEARED / fOR OPEN PUBLICATIOIC 2 6 JlJL 1966 6 by OIR CTO!IAI L ' "'' "-"""'.t lifVIEW (OASH.{ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Martin Blumenson Draft Manuscript not to be re- produced in any form without permission from the Office of The Chief of Military History OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY Stack f, Department of the Army Washington 25, D.C. Row I I' Comp Shelf 3· Copy __ _ Folder of Copies --- 599 4 Color Control Patches Green YeHow Red Magenta White " ' .. '
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2 6 JlJL 1966 6 by OIR CTO!IAI L ' "'' "-"""'.t lifVIEW (OASH.{
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Martin Blumenson
Draft Manuscript not to be reproduced in any form without permission from the Office of The Chief of Military History
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY
Stack f,
Department of the Army
Washington 25, D.C.
Row I I'
Comp Shelf 3·
Copy __ _
Folder
of Copies ---
5994
Color Control Patches Green YeHow Red Magenta White
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.. PREFACE
Salerno to Cassino tells the story of the first eight months of
the Italian campaien, from the Allied invasion of the Italian mainland
in September, 1943, through the battles of the autumn and winter of
1943-44, to the eve oi the Allied spring offensive launched in !1ay,
1944. The period wau grim, not only for the Allies but also for the
Germans, for difficult terrain, bad weather, and chronic shortages of
resources hampered both opponents. What the Allies had hoped would ba
a swift advance fr . Naples to Rome and beyond became a l-lar of posi-
tion, static warfar0 at its lvorst, 'Whic: led directly to the risky
amphibious operation at Anzio and to the climactic struggle :L""J. the
shadow of Monte Cassino.
The focns of the Recount is tactical, specifically on the opera-
tions of the Fifth U.S. Army, though a strategic framework has been
provided to give meaning to the battlefield. The German point of view
has also been presented. For the same reason, the activities of the
Allied ground forces ~""ld of the naval and air forces have been sketched.
Many persons have helped in preparing this book, and my thanks
go to them. I wish I could list them all by name. Those whose assis-
tance 't·Tas vital and transcended the nor:nal bounds of duty include :t-rr.
RalphS. Mavrogord· to, who gave me the benefit of his research in the
German records; ·Miss Hary Ann Bacon, Chief of the Editorial Branch,
who edited the book; Mr. Billy C. Mossman, who drew the maps; Mrs. Lois
Aldridge and Sgt. ___ -----
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who helped provide the do~uments; Mrs. Constance Parham, who typed
the manuscript; and, most of all, Mr. Charles B. MacDonald, Chief of
the General History Branch, whose generous assistance at every stage
of this project has been a major source of inspiration.
For all errors of fact and interpretation, I alone am responsible .
Washingt . ,
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MARTIN BLUHENSON
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Chapter
CONTENTS
PART ONE
Background
I. THE ORIGJNS The Strategic Background Toward a Decision
ll. THE CHOICE The Concept The Decision The Place
III. THE PREPARATIONS Forces Lift
IV. THE START The Plans The Preliminarys
V. THE OPPOSITION: THE GERI·fANS IN ITALY
PART TIJO
Salerno
VI. THE LANDINGS The Last Few Miles of Sea "Zum Heil 11
The Initial American Haves The American Beaches The Results of the First Day SLAPSTICK
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Chapter VII: THE BEACHHEAD
Gern.an Build-up The Beachhead Developed The German Attack
VIII: THE BATTLE AT SALERNO Allied Build-up Stand-off The Avellino Mission
IX: THE END OF THE BATTLE The Crisis Resolved The Eighth Army Role Summary
X: BEYOND SALERNO Problems and Plans The Flanking M·arch The Main Effort Naples and Foggia -XI: THE STRATEGY Allied Intentions
.The German Decision Allied Problems
XII: THE VOLTURNO CROSSING The Immediate Situation The Attack Down the Calore Valley The Main Crossings The Crossing on the Right Flank The Crossings on the Left
XIII: INTO THE HINTER LINE Beyond the Volturno
. !(ountain l 1arfare The Second Volturno Crossing The Upper Volturno Valley The Coastal Zone More Mountain Warfare The Third Volturno Crossing The Germans at the BERNHARD Line Into the BERNHARD Line
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Chapter Xrf • THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
Allied Reappraisal Hitler's Decision The Cairo and Tehran Conferences The Lull
XV. JN THE WINTER LINE The Sangre Front Plans to Breach the Hignano Barrier Camino-Difensa-Maggiore
XVI. SAN PIETRO The Cor>.ditions The First Attack The Second Attack The Aftermath The Other Fronts
PART FOUR
Anzio and Cassino
XVII. THE DECISION FOR ANZIO
XVIII.- THE PRELJMINARIES FOR ANZIO
XIX. T".tiE RAPIDO RIVER CROSSINGS
XX.- THE ANZIO LANDING Preparations The Landing German Reaction
XXI. THE ATTACKS ON CASSINO
XXII. THE OPENING BATTLES AT ANZIO The Allied Attack The Initial German Counterattack
..
XXIII. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE ABBEY OF MONTE CASSmO
XXIV. THE TEST AT ANZIO The Major German Attack Change of Command The Last German Attack
XXV. THE BOMBING OF CASSINO
XXVI. RESULTS AND PROSPECTS
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APPENDIX B
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross
All pertinent Army records have baen scrutinized in an effort t o
include in the follouing list the name of ever.r soldier '\-Iho received
the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the operations
recounted in this volume . Inasmuch as no complete listing of DSC
awards is malllta ined in any single Army file, it is possible that some
names may inadverte nt ly have been omitted.
Note: (P) indicates a posthumous a•:ard; * indicat.es a member of
the French Expeditionary Corps; # indicates a merrtber of the Canadian
Army.
f.1aj. Robert B. Acheson
Capt. Hersel R. Adams (P)
Maj. John E. Adams (Missing)
Capt. Carlos C. Alden, Jr.
Tech . Sgt. Robert 0. Alexander
Tech. Sgt . Rudolph F. Alexander
2d Lt. George A. Allen (P)
Sgt . James H. Archer
PFC Robert L. Arnett (P)
Capt. William P. Athas
1st Lt. Frederick Blake Atto #
Pvt. Masao Awakuni
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Sgt. Hike Bc.ranc k ~
PFC Ed-:.1ard F. Barker (}1issing)
1st Lt. i.lilliaM R. Barker
Capt. Charle3 M. Beacham
Pvt. Niles R. Backstrom
2d Lt. Alf~ed Belander (P)
Capt. Henri de Bel&~nce * Sgt. Jack G. Berry
2d Lt. Thomas F. Berteau
2d Lt. Herbert E. BilJman
S/Sgt. Oliver R. Birkner (Nissing)
2d Lt. Arnold C. Bjorklund
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S/ Sgt . Jack l<l. Bloomer
1st Lt. Wayne E. Boyce (P)
2d Lt. Randolph Bracey (P)
Cpl. Roy A. Braden
PFC Marvin H. Broach
Sgt. Harry L. Bromley
T/Sgt. Charles H. Bussey
Capt. Benjamin J. Butler
Col. Frederick B. Butler
S/Sgt. Robert A. Campagna
Pvt. Arthur C. Cato
Sgt. 'Robert L. Chudej
Tech 5th Gr. Carl R. Clegg
Cpl. Boggs G. Collins
Cpl. Thomas W. Corcoran
Pvt. William J. Crawford
Pvt. Melvin E. Danhaus
1st Lt. Jesse L. Davis
PFC Leslie B. Davis (Missing)
S/Sgt. Royce C. Davis
Lt. Col . Lyle J. Deffenbaugh
Maj. Don B. Dunham (P)
Lt~ Col. Ray J. Ericksen (P)
Capt. James G. Evans
Sgt. Carroll E. Fairclo
Pvt. Richard Ferris (P)
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Sgt. Edgar ~· Fines # (P)
Capt. Ralph c. Fisher (P)
PFC Chester W. Floyd
Sgt. vlilliam J. Fox
PFC Orlin A. Franklin
8
Brig. Gen. Robert T. Frederick
PFC Walter A. Galary
Sgt. Fortunate Garcia (Hissing)
Pvt. Paul C. Gerlich (P)
Pvt. Francis H. Gisborne
PFC Joe P. Gomez
Sgt. Manuel S. Gonzales
2d Lt. David 0. Gorgol
2d Lt. Edlrin F. Gould
Lt. Col. Samuel S. Graham
Sgt. Charles I. Grant
PFC William Green
PFC Lloyd C. Greer (Hissing)
Sgt. Bennie L. Guffey
Pvt. Thomas S. Gugliuzza (P)
Pvt. Fred Guttilla
Sgt. Arlie J. Haines
Pvt. Charles R. Hanes (P)
1st Lt. Roy M. Hanna
2d Lt. Herbert A. Hansen (P)
PFC Harry C. Harpel (P)
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2d Lt. Vernon C. Harris (P)
Capt. Leroy A. Haselwood (P)
Pvt. Mikio Hasemoto (P)
Capt. Richard B. Hawk
Pvt. Shizuya Hayashi
T/Sgt. Robert H. Healer
lst Lt. Paul F. Heath
1st Lt. Robert T. Heflin
Sgt. Robert F. Heiser (P)
2d Lt. Max R. Hendon
Pvt. Edwin C. Hicks
1st Lt. William Hi ggins, Jr.
Sgt. Glen 0 Hiller
Chaplain (Capt.) Albert J. Hoffman
1st Lt. George E. Hodgdon
Cpl. Jesse D. Hollemon, Jr. (P)
Sgt. Burk B. Hunt (P)
1st Lt. Sylvester J. Hunter
Capt. Milton Jarr old
S/Sgt. Charles R. Johnsen
Sgt. Steward R. Johnson
2d Lt. Delmer C. Keck (Missing)
1st Lt. i-Jilliam C. Kellogg
Capt. John T. Kershner (P)
S/Sgt. Charles W. Keyser
Capt. Joe H. Kimble
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1st Lt. Dona~d E. Knowlton
PFC Henry C • Kranz
2d Lt . John T. Lamb
Capt. Alden S. Lance
1st Lt. Will iam J. Langston (P)
1st Lt. Stanley S. Lemon (P)
Sgt . George Lenkalis (P)
12
2d Lt. John A. Liebenstein (Mi ssing)
2d Lt . Hot~rd R. Lieurance (P)
2d Lt . Hichael Ligus , Jr . (P)
Tech 5th Gr . Marvin B. Lindley
1st Lt. Hartin Luke
Pvt. Clement S. Mackowiak
Capt. Jack L. l1arinelli
Capt. Carl P. Hatney
S/Sgt. Richard E. McCaffrey
Capt. George N. NcCall
Capt. Clifton A. HcClain, Jr. (P)
Sgt. John H. Mcinnis #
1st Lt. James F. Hc}fahon
S/Sgt. Quillian H. HcMichen (P)
Sgt. Hugh H. Merritt (P)
Pvt. Andrew J. Mileham
Pvt. William F. Hiller
S/Sgt. Daniel W. Minton (P)
Maj. Merle M. Mitchell
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2d Lt. Orva F. Morris
Cpl. Burt G. Moulton
1st Lt. Orville 0. Mun~on
PFC :Hax L. Nebus, Jr. (P)
S/Sgt. Carroll T. 0 1Donald (P)
1st Lt. Howard W. O'Donnell (P)
S/Sgt. Allan M. Ohata
PFC Omar Page (P)
PFC William Page
PFC Howard E. Palmer
S/Sgt. ~oJ'illiam F. Parro t.t
Sgt. George S. Paudel
PFC Dallas D. Prather (P)
Sgt. John A. Rich
S/Sgt. John C. Ritso (P)
2d Lt. George T. Robi~son (P)
Lt. Col. William B. ~osson
1st Lt. Henry F. G. Rouse
T/Sgt. James A. Rutlec ,.e
Tech 5th Gr. Ben Santjer (P)
1st Lt. Bernard T. Schaefer
S/Sgt. Harold L. Schorg
PFC Leonard J. Schneider (P)
Sgt . Martin N. Schreck
Capt. Emile G. Schuster
Col. Harry B. Sherman
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1st Lt. James N. Sherrick (Missing)
T/Sgt. Sylvester D. Singlestad
Maj. James F. Skells
Cpl. James D. Slaton
Sgt. Willie B. Slaughter
T/Sgt. Walter G. Sleezer
Capt. Walker B. Sorrell
T/Sgt. Rolfe A. Spahr
2d Lt. William o. Sporbert
Capt. Harry J. Stons
Capt. Richard M. Strong
Cpl. Masaru Suehiro
PFC Richard M. Slvanson
Sgt. Ralph W. Suisher
Sgt-Chef Dominique Taddei * Sgt. Shigeo J. Takata (P)
2d Lt. Harry M. Thames
Pvt. Merwin A. Tobias
Capt. Charles D. Tool
Sgt. Fred Trotter (P)
Sgt. Anthony D. Trumpaitis
Col. Reuben H. Tucker
Sgt. Leslie Van Dine
Pvt. Carson L. Varner
Sgt. Gaither w. Vaughn
2d Lt. Thomas E. Vierheller (P)
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Sgt. Fred Vincent (P)
PFC John A. vlakefield
PFC Robert E. Watson
PFC Charles E. Wheeler (P)
2d Lt. Melvin F. Wiggins
S/Sgt. Harold D. Wilson (Missing)
Capt. James W. Wilson
PFC Thow.as I. Yamanaga ( P)
PFC Theodore Yuhasz
1st Lt. Thomas Zabski
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BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
I JUL 1966
15
The main source of documentation for Salerno to Cassino is the
body of official records of the U.S. Army in the Mediterranean
theater, the files of reports, letters, and messages contained for
the most part in the Federal Records Center, Alexandria, Va., and
also in the Kansas City Records Center. Incidental files maintained
by the Gemral Reference Branch of OCHH were also helpful. Because
the bulk and extent of the official records impose the problem of
selection on the historian, it is necessary to add that the major
research was carried out in the files of the Operations (G-3) Sections
of the pertinent headquarters.
Compared to the records maintained later in the war and particu-
larly by those engaged in the European theater, the official records
of the Nediterranean theater are impersonal even though they are
copious. Telephone journals, which reveal not only the personalities
of commanders but their methods of operation, for example, are entirely
lacking. In their place are found occasional memorandums of record,
lmich may or may not disclose the significant details that permit
human characterization to be added to a narrative. All the major head-
quarters and units in the theater prepared monthly after action reports
supported by journals and journal files, in which are found directives,
operations instructions, periodic reports, messages, and the like.
The narrative reports vary in quality, that is, in the perception they
offer. The after action reports of the 3d, 34th, and 45th Divisions
concentrate on the movements of regiments and battalions and are