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9 Sept. 1943: The Allies launched Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Salerno in southern Italy.
The operation, overseen by Fifth Army commander Lt. Gen. Mark Clark, was executed by a force comprised of the U.S. VI and British X Corps with eight divisions, and the U.S. 82d Abn. Div. in reserve. Their mission was to seize Naples so as to facilitate resupply operations and drive through to Italy’s east coast in order to trap enemy units to the south and prevent their escape.
The British Eighth Army also conducted supporting operations at Taranto (on the heel) and Calabria (under the toe) on the Italian boot.
In all, some 189,000 Allied troops participated in the landings, with more than 2,000 killed, more than 3,500 missing and presumed dead, and more than 7,000 wounded. The defending Germans and Italians lost about 3,500 men, including more than 600 dead.
For details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_invasion_of_Italy
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) The British submarine Shakespeare acts as a boundary marker for British ships landing at Salerno. (2) U.S. engineers carry equipment inland after landing at Salerno.
The operation, overseen by Fifth Army commander Lt. Gen. Mark Clark, was executed by a force comprised of the U.S. VI and British X Corps with eight divisions, and the U.S. 82d Abn. Div. in reserve. Their mission was to seize Naples so as to facilitate resupply operations and drive through to Italy’s east coast in order to trap enemy units to the south and prevent their escape.
The British Eighth Army also conducted supporting operations at Taranto (on the heel) and Calabria (under the toe) on the Italian boot.
In all, some 189,000 Allied troops participated in the landings, with more than 2,000 killed, more than 3,500 missing and presumed dead, and more than 7,000 wounded. The defending Germans and Italians lost about 3,500 men, including more than 600 dead.
For details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_invasion_of_Italy
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) The British submarine Shakespeare acts as a boundary marker for British ships landing at Salerno. (2) U.S. engineers carry equipment inland after landing at Salerno.
WWII World War Two
Military History
Italy
Edited 11 d ago
Posted 11 d ago
Responses: 5
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Lt Col Charlie Brown GySgt Jack Wallace
My dad was in southern Italy with the 34th "Red Bull" ID attached to the British 8th Army during that campaign.
My dad was in southern Italy with the 34th "Red Bull" ID attached to the British 8th Army during that campaign.
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