SicilyBecause they are behind schedule, Col Baade and Commander von Liebenstein decide to ferry troops back during daylight hours this day, in spite of Hube's original instructions. Instead of attacking the embarkation points, American aircraft attack Rome. By the evening a total of 15,000 German troops, 1300 vehicles, 21 panzers and 22 assault guns have been evacuated to the mainland, including the entire 15th Panzer Grenadier Division. Patton brings back the 1st Infantry Division into line and pushes forward with 3 divisions, the 1st, 3rd and 9th. The 30th RCT of the 3rd Division continues eastward toward Patti despite a formidable roadblock at Capo Calava. Truscott finds that at Cape Calava, where the coastal road goes through a tunnel, the tunnel and the road have been destroyed by the Germans. Infantry can pass on an engineer-constructed footbridge, everything else will have to be ferried by landing craft. The 15th RCT and the 3rd Ranger Battalion are clearing pockets southwest of Patti. In the 9th Division sector, the 39th RCT enters Randazzo without opposition and is passed through by the 47th RCT, which continues eastward, as does the 60th RCT to the north.On this day Montgomery launches a 2-pronged attack with the 5th and 50th Infantry Divisions, but they make little progress against the remaining elements of the Herman Göring and 1st Parachute Divisions. Because of mines and booby traps the Brits will not reach Taormina for two more days. |
| [ August 12th - August 14th] |