| BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO - PHASE ONE JANUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 11, 1944 |
On January 17, the British X Corps, under Lt. General McCreery initiated intense bombardment on Geman positions across the lower Garigliano, supported by artillery fire from the HMS Orion and HMS Spartan. Allied forces were supposed to land at the Bay of Gaeta, behind German lines, but the assault troops landed behind British lines by mistake. Under heavy German fire, the X Corps made it across the Garigliano and held the bridgehead outside Castelforte (at the base of Mt. Faito). The Germans XIV Panzer Corps was under threat of total collapse. The Germans depended on a swift counter-attack to dispel the Allied advance, and were able to do so because of the arrival of more German reinforements to the area. On January 17 to 18, the US 141st Regiment, under the command of First-Lieutenant Navarette, penetrated 800m (850 yards) west of the Rapido on a reconnaissance mission to gauge German defenses. When his men had approached the opposite riverbank, the Germans opened fire. Within twenty minutes almost all the Americans were either dead or lay wounded. A few survivors were able to return to their units. None were able to detect the German positions, so well camoflaged. The entire Cassino front was fiercely defended by the German 44th Infantry Division. The Gustav Line spread out along the course of the Rapido River posed a formidable obstacle due to the torrential flow of the river and its vertical slopes at every point. Irregardless, the Allied plan was to cross the river north and west of Sant'Angelo - but from higher ground. The crossing was disastrous. The wooden boats were not easily maneuverable in the quick current, while the rubber dinghies were vulnerable to gunfire. The US II Corps did make it across the Rapido River and was positioned to invade the Liri Valley, while the French Expeditionary Corps advanced to the mountains on its' right flank. In total darkness and silence, the men of the 36th Texas Division carried heavy boats, weapons and equipment over the slippery terrain. The order was given to cross the Rapido and surround Sant'Angelo 8 km (5 miles) south of Cassino. They were to precede the US 1st Armored Division in order to prepare for their breakthrough into the Liri Valley. On January 20, the 141st and 143rd Regiments struggled to make their way to the bank of the Rapido, carrying their boats. Due to artificial flooding and torrential rain, the meadow between Allied positions were a virtual swamp. Orientation was hampered by dense mist. The Allies were under heavy fire in the open terrain and suffered heavy casualties from mine-fields. The Allies eventually were able to reach the Rapido but could not initiate gunfire. Some of their boats were caught by enemy fire and sank, while others capsized and were swept away in the torrent. Only a few boat crews managed to reach the opposite river bank. To allow reinforcements to reach them from other Allied positions, the engineers constructed an emergency footbridge using the remains of bridges that had been blown up. Only two companies had time to cross over before the Germans hit them with artillery, cutting off all communications and radio contact betwen the Allies. At daybreak the Germans had a clear view of the American positions, and were able to attack the bridgehead. The commanding officer of the 143rd Regiment, in order to save his men, ordered them to abandon positions. The US 34th Infantry Division, positioned north of Cassino succeeded in crossing the Rapido and was able to maintain its position there. An Allied invasion, code named Operation Shingle set out on January 21 from Naples, heading towards Anzio and Nettuno. The armada, 243 vessels in all, under the joint command of Rear-Admiral Troubridge (RN) and Rear-Adminiral Lowry (US Navy) carried 50,000 troops and 5,000 military vehicules. Their objective was to land the US VI Corps behind German lines. Major General Walker ordered the 141st Regiment to cross the Rapido under a smokescreen but it was several hours before they would be able to do so. Meanwhile the 143rd Regiment failed in its second attempt to establilsh another bridgehead and had to retreat. The Germans took 857 prisoners of the 141st Regiment, reducing the size to only 40 men. The US 36th Texas Division lost 2,066 men. General Juin, Commander of the French Expeditionary Corps received orders to alter the plan of attack. His men were to take Monte Belvedere first, then veer south to join the Americans. By so doing, the French could attack the enemy from the rear. It meant having to cross the Rapido and Rio Secco, ascend two hazardous mountain ranges, and make one descent - all under Germans observation. Enemy artillery was aimed on all footpaths and ravines. The mission was especially hazardous because the region was completely treeless. Again the 143rd Regiment launched an attack on the German line but was forced to back down. The Germans took over 500 prisoners. Despite the losses, the Allies succeeded in at least pinning down German forces. On January 22, the US and British divisions crossed the Alban Hills and landed at Anzio, 96 km ( 60 miles) behind the Gustav Line. The objective was to bomb Highways 6 and 7, upon which the Germans relied for supplies and communication. The landing was relatively easy as only 200 Germans were in position and completely unaware of an impending attack. The Allies did not realize then, but Rome was practically undefended and could have been easily captured. Instead they focused on establishing a beach-head. On January 22, the Allies landed at Anzio, numbering 36,000 men and 3,100 tanks. German gunfire failed to prevent Allied buildup of the area even by the launching of its radio-controlled glider bombs, the FX 1400 and Hs293). The American destroyers, Woolsey, Frederick C. Davis, and Herbert C. Jones, were able to emit strong radio signals to jam the remote controls of the glider bombs though a few succeeded in reaching their targets. The British destroyer Jervis was hit by a Hs 293 bomb and despite the damage made it back to Naples. By evening the bridgehead at Anzio and Nettuno was heavily fortified by Allied men and materiel. The German position was in jeopardy as 50,000 Allies had landed at Anzio-Nettuno on January 25. German Field Marshal Kesselring drew his reserves from units already fighting along the vital Cassino front, and sent them to attack the bridgehead to prevent further Allied landings. January 24. The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division of the French Expeditionary Corps, under the command of Major- General de Goisland de Monsabert were able to pin down German positions on the Cassino front and rear. They targeted Mt. Belvedere, Colle Abate and the village of Terelle. Meanwhile the US 34th Division was fighting in the Rapido Valley, and the French Corps attacked German flank positions a few miles north. Tunisian infantrymen stormed Monte Cifalco but failed in their attempt, by strong enemy resistance. Other battalions of the Tunisian 4th Rifle Regiment crossed the Rapido and while ascending Monte Belvedere, they came under heavy fire from the Germans positioned on the adjacent Monte Cifalco. |