Though the British succeeded in penetrating the line and capturing Ortona in late December, heavy snows prevented them from pushing west along Route 5 to reach Rome. Slowly falling back through the fall, the Germans sought to buy time to complete the Winter Line south of Rome. Allied efforts were slowed by poor weather, rough terrain, and a tenacious German defense. Due to the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of Italy, Alexander's forces advanced on two fronts with the Lieutenant General Mark Clark's US Fifth Army on the east and Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army on the west. Landing in Italy in September 1943, Allied forces under General Sir Harold Alexander began pushing up the peninsula. Colonel-General Heinrich von Vietinghoff.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |