June 1944

Italy

Gen Alexander orders a vigorous pursuit of the enemy to the line Rimini-Pisa. 5th Army on the west, is to seize Viterbo airfield and the port of Civitavecchia, then advance on Leghorn. British 8th Army is to advance astride the Tiber to clear Terni and Rieti.

US 5th Army gets most of its assault forces acrosss the Tiber and pursues the enemy as rapidly as possible, VI Corps using Hiwghway 1 and II Corps, Highway 2. 5th Army takes control of the 3rd Division for garrison duty within Rome. In the VI Corps area, the British 5th and 1st Divisions in the coastal sector get advance elements to the lower Tiber, where bridges must be built. The 1st Armored Division's CCB spearheads the advance of the 36th Division and CCA, tha of the 34th Division. II Corps employs the 85th Diviion on the left and the 88th on the right as it speeds northward. The 91st and 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons provide flank protection. The FEC crosses the Aniene and drives to the Tiber, then suspends forward movement until the South African 6th Armored Division of the British 8th Army can cross its front.

In the British 8th Army's XIII Corps area, the South African 6th Armored Division concentrates east of Rome in preparation for pursuing the enemy northward along Route 3 (Via Flaminia) west of the Tiber. The British 6th Armored Division, advancing along Route 4 (Via Salaria) east of the river, makes contact with enemy outposts north of Rome. The X Corps, which is initially to advance on Rieti, takes command ot the Indian 8th Division.