May 1944

Italy

Tha Allied Armies in Italy open the drive on Rome at 2300 with a tremendous artillery bombardment of the Gustav Line with weapons of the US 5th and British 8th Armies. While the V Corps, under direct control of the AAI, contains the Adriatic coastal sector, the US 5th Army's II US Corps and the FEC and the British 8th Army's XIII and Polish II Corps attack during the night. Tactical surprise is achieved, but the enemy rallies quickly.

The US 5th Army jumps off first, moving forward under the cover of an artillery bombardment. The US II Corps, in the Gulf of Gaeta coastal sector, attacks with the 85th Division on the left and the 88th on the right. The 85th Division's 339th Infantry makes limited progress above Scauri. Elements secure positions on the slopes of Monte dei Pensieri and on part of San Martino Hill, but others make no progress against the San Domenico Ridge, southwest of Tremensuoli. The 338th Infantry, coordinating its attack for South Ridge--so called because of its shape--which extends southwest from Tamo to Solacciano, with that of the 88th Division's 351st Infantry toward San Maria Infante, is unable to take Solacciano or advance up the draw between South Ridge and the San Maria Ridge. Pushing northward along San Maria Ridge from the Minturno area, the 351st Infantry gets forward elements to Hills 146 and 150. The 350th Infantry, 88th Division, in cooperation with the FEC to its right, attacks hills southwest of Castelforte and clears 3--413, 316, and Ceracoli. On the left flank of the FEC, the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division attacks toward Castelforte in conjunction with left flank elements of the II Corps. To the right, the 2nd Moroccan Divisin overruns Monte Fairo and Cerasola Hill.

In the British 8th Army area, the XIII Corps attacks across the Rapido in force in the region between the Liri and Cassino, employing the 4th Division on the north and the Indian 8th Division on the south. The Germans vigorously oppose the crossings but a bridgehead is established. The Polish II Corps beigins an attack in the Cassino area to the right of the XIII Corps at 0100, on the 12th. The X Corps, on the extreme fight of the 8th Army, secures the right flank of the assault forces and demonstrates to mislead the enemy.