May 1944

Italy

In the US 5th Army area, after offering stiff resistance throughout the day, the Germans begin withdrawing to their next delaying position during the night of the 13th. In the II Corps area, efforts of Company f of the 339th Infantry, 85th Division, to break through the enemy encirclement fail. The 2nd Battalion, 338th Infantry, clears Cave d'Argillan and Hill 60, in the region north of San Martino Hill, while the 1st Battalion pushes from Solacciano toward Hill 126 on South Ridge. The 351st Infantry, 88th Division, continues toward Santa Maria Infante. Renewing their attack from the right flank of the II Corps, the 350th Infantry's 1st Battalion seizes Monte Rotondo, Monte Feuci and Monte Majo in the center of the corps zone. Exploiting this success, the 1st Motorized Division speeds forward on the right flank to San Apollinare while the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division, on the left flank, clears the opposition about Monte Ceschito, north of the road to Coreno, in a skillful enveloping attack. Over 1,000 prisoners are taken. The Mountain Corps, upon moving forward from Castelforte to positions north of Monte Rotondo, halts until the opposition can be cleared from Ceschito. The Mountain Corps is organized into 3 groups. One pushes northward toward Ausonia and the other 2 drive westward toward Spigno during the night.

In the British 8th Army area, the XIII expands the Rapido bridgehead. A bridge is completed in the sector of the 4th Division.