June 1944

Italy

Gen Alexander issues new orders for pursuit of the enemy. The US 5th Army is to advance to the general area Pisa-Lucca-Pistoia, while the British 8th Army is to push toward the line Florence-Bibbiena-Arezzo as rapidly as possible. The V Corps is to remain on the defensive in the Adriatic coastal sector. The Polish II Corps will be committed only if the enemy cannot be cleared from Ancona.

In the US 5th Army's VI Corps area, the 168th Infantry of the 34th Division, advancing through the night of the 6th, seizes Civitavecchia and its port, 40 miles northwest of Rome. This port, although damaged, soon becomes valuable in supplying the assault forces.

In the British 8th Army area, the XIII Corps shifts its axis of advance from north to northwest. The South African 6th Armored Division, followed by the 78th Division, turns toward Orvieto, an important road center, on the Viterbo-Bagnoregio road. East of the Tiber, the British 6th Armored Division swings toward Terni instead of Rieti.