FIFTH ARMY AT THE WINTER LINE
15 November 1943 - 15 January 1944
CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990
First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action series, 1945
CMH Pub 100-9
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
Foreword to CMH Edition
Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944) is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originally published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional historians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary of some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers. The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, many of which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importance to military historians. The careful analysis of key operations provides numerous lessons for today's military students.
I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available. I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by our military forebears.
Washington, D.C.
15 September 1989
HAROLD W. NELSON
Colonel, FA
Chief of Military History
Foreword
In the thick of battle, the soldier is busy doing his job. He has the knowledge and confidence that his job is part of a unified plan to defeat the enemy, but he does not have time to survey a campaign from a fox hole. If he should he wounded and removed behind the lines, he may have even less opportunity to learn what place he and his unit had in the larger fight.
AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION is a series prepared by the War Department especially for the information of wounded men. It will show these soldiers, who have served their country so well, the part they and their comrades played in achievements which do honor to the record of the United States Army.
WAR DEPARTMENT
Military Intelligence Division
Washington 25, D. C.
14 June 1945
Fifth Army at the Winter Line is a sequel to From the Volturno to the Winter Line. The actions of the United States II and VI Corps are told here in detail. They were aided by other Allied units under Fifth Army: British 10 Corps on the left flank, and the French Expeditionary Corps, for the last two weeks of the period, on the right flank. The actions of these units and of the British Eighth Army on the Adriatic coast are summarized briefly.
This study is the sixth of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION, designed exclusively for military personnel. No part of this narrative may be republished without the consent of the A. C. of S., G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D. C.
The Winter Line is based on the best military records now available. The manuscript was prepared in the field by the Fifth Army Historical Section. The oblique terrain photographs (pp. 10, 11, 13, 19, 20, 39, 46, 4.7, 74, 80, 95, 99, 111) are by the Joint Intelligence Collecting Agency; all others are by the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Readers are urged to send directly to the Historical Branch, G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments, criticisms, and additional information which may be of value in the preparation of a complete and definitive history of this operation.
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Page
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PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK |
1
|
Allied Decisions |
1
|
The Drive to the Winter Line |
1
|
At the Winter Line |
4
|
Fifth Army's Problem |
7
|
PHASE I: OPERATION RAINCOAT |
15
|
Plans for the Attack |
17
|
Preparations for Operation Raincoat |
19
|
Capture of the Main Camino Peaks |
23
|
Mount Maggiore |
25
|
PHASE I: THE RIGHT FLANK (29 November-9 December) |
29
|
Hill 769 |
31
|
Mount Pantano |
36
|
PHASE II: THE BATTLES FOR SAN PIETRO |
45
|
Italian Attack on Mount Lungo |
48
|
Gaining a Foothold on Mount Sammucro |
48
|
The 143d Infantry Batters at San Pietro |
52
|
Plans for Further Attack |
54
|
Fighting West From Mount Sammucro |
54
|
The Second Battle for San Pietro |
56
|
Capture of Mount Lungo |
62
|
The Germans Pull Out of San Pietro |
64
|
ATTACK BY VI CORPS (15-21 December) |
69
|
Advance in the Lagone Area |
71
|
The 157th Applies Pressure |
73
|
The Enemy Withdraws to New Positions |
76
|
END OF PHASE II |
79
|
II Corps Tries for San Vittore |
79
|
Probing Along the VI Corps Front |
83
|
"Mud, Mules, and Mountains" |
87
|
Regrouping |
90
|
vii
Page
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DRIVE UP TO THE GUSTAV LINE |
93
|
Plans for the Opening Attack |
94
|
Capture of the Mount Majo Hills |
96
|
The 168th Outflanks Mount la Chiaia |
100
|
San Vittore and Mount la Chiaia |
103
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Mount Porchia and Cedro Hill |
104
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The Final Advance: Cervaro and Mount Trocchio |
107
|
CONCLUSION |
113
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Illustrations
viii
Page
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The 1st Special Service Force |
98
|
Ridges Rise Steeply Toward Mount Majo |
99
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Smoke Laid by A-36's |
102
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A Patrol Enters Cervaro |
111
|
The Ground Won by II Corps |
111
|
Insignia |
114
|
Maps
ix
page created 20 July 2001