May 1944

Italy

The Allied Armies in Italy (AAI) is preparing fo a major effort: the British 8th Army against the Hitler Line, and the US 5th Army to effect a junction between the VI and II Corps.

The US 5th Army revokes the order to the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion and directs it to be prepared to drop in the mountains above the Pontine Marshes to facilitate the drive of the II Corps on Terracina. This does not become necessary. The 36th Division closes in on the Anzio beachhead. In the II Corps area, the 337th Infantry, 85th Division, recovers part of Monte San Croce under enemy fire from Terracina. The 338th Infantry, attacking to block Highway 7 behind Terracina, is diverted by lively action at the railroad tunnel. The 350th Infantry, 88th Division, pushes from Monte Calvo toward Roccasecca. The 349th Infantry secures Monte Monsicardi while the 351st move toward Monte Chiavino.

In the FEC area, the Hitler Line collapses. One Mountain Corps group seizes Lanola and links its left flank with the US II Corps. The 7th Infantry, Algerian 3rd Division, and another group of the Mountain Corps converge on Pico and clear it.

In the British 8th Army area, as a preliminary to the main offensive, the Canadian 1st Division of the Canadian I Corps tries unsuccessfully to outflank the enemy from the left in a limited attack.