Operation Avalanche: The Invasion of Southern Italy
On September 9th, 1943, the British 8th Army landed on the Southern heel of Italy and started the move toward Rome. Seven days later on the 16th of September 1943 the British X Corp. with the US II Corp. of the American 5th Army consisting of the US 34th Infantry, 36th Infantry, and 82nd Airborne Divisions. Italy was ready to capitulate and join the allies in the fight. However, the defense in and around the landing beaches at Salerno near Naples was heavily defended. The beachhead was fought for bitterly between the allied and axis units almost till a stalemate. However, on the 18th of September the US VI Corp. of the American 5th Army landed three more divisions, the US 3rd Infantry, 45th Infantry, and 1st Armored Divisions futher to the south near Paestum and Battipaglia. By the 20th of September the US VI Corp. had made more head way than the US II Corp. in the area. These three divisions became the lead divisions. The US 3rd Infantry Division's, US 30th Infantry captured Acerno by the advance of the bayonet by the 22nd of September. In the process the Hermman Goring Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion narrowly escaped total destruction. During their retreat, the bridges to the north of Acerno were blown and the US 10th Engineers came forward and constructed foot bridges for the Infantry to continue the advance. Hill by hill the 30th Infantry advanced toward Rome.
The next objective was Avellino and from there they quickly moved northward through the hills. They took them one by one. However, their first major trial by fire came at the Triflisco Gap near Capua. During their push northward the British X Corp. with the American 5th Army had by this time taken Naples(which by this time was now a rest area for the frontline units)and quickly advanced northward securing the US 3rd Divisions left flank while the US 34th Division secured the right flank. The Triflisco Gap proved daunting, since all the bridges crossing the Voltuno River were blown. So, if there was going to be an attack it was going to be made across the Volturno. There was no hope of flanking in the US 3rd Divisions sector because the gap had to be taken and the only way to take the hill to their front was only by frontal assault. Consecutive attacks by the British X Corp. near Capua to the west and by the Americans in their sectors had all failed to capture the primary objectives. On October 13th a new assault began, the US 7th and 15th Infantry were the lead elements with the 30th Infantry in reserve. This attack was to be continous once it began. As the leading elements opened a slot in the German defenses the 30th Infantry pushed through and advance on to take the primary objective. Once on top of the main objective in the Triflisco Gap the Germans quickly captiulated, they pulled back, leaving in the process small units within small towns and cities to fight a defensive retreat to buy time for the main body of the German Army in the region to pull back to their next line of defenses the "Barbara Line." The 30th Infantry became the lead element of the US 3rd Division on the way to the next objective in Southern Italy.
With the 30th Infantry in the lead, on the 16th of October, the town of Formicola fell quickly and they began the process of again taking each hill one at a time. The next objective was Pietravairano on the 26th of October the 30th Infantry moved around and attacked Mount St. Nicola to the east of Pietravairano took the town of Pietravairano. However, the town could not be occupied on the 27th of October for the entire town was heavily booby trapped by the retreating German Army. It wasn't till the 28th of October the the town was secured. On Novemebr 1st, a patrol was sent out to the town of Presenzano, once in position, they radioed back troop positions and movements to the leading elements of the 30th Infantry heading toward Presenzano. On November 3rd with the Germans quickly pulling back, the lead elements set up a base of operations within the town of Presenzano, the town had fallen largely due to the bravery of those in the patrol.
The next objective was to be Mignano, a key city guarding the road to Cassino and eventually Rome. However, a couple of obstacles had to be neutralized before any attempt on Mignano could be made. The first objective would be on a small mountain top village called Cannavinelle and the coinsiding Mt. Rotundo which was heavily fortified. Visualizing a frontal attack failure Col. Bernard of the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry suggested an attack from the rear. All of the ground to the south and east of Mt. Rotundo was coverd by mines, barb wire, and machine-gun fire. On the evening of November 6th, the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry moved out moving around and behind Mt. Cesima which was quickly secured by the 15th Infantry in the early stages of the attack. The 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry encountered some small skirmishes but, they moved forward toward Cannavinelle the small number of German troops in Cannavinelle were quickly overrun. Once at the top the 1st Battalion secured their position and held their ground. Now the 2nd Battalion with support on their right from the 3rd Battalion would sweep down the hill and take Mt. Rotundo. Sweeping down the hill the 2nd Battalion made progress but, with mounting casualties due to all of the obstacles the 2nd Battalion pulled back. The next day the 2nd Battalion would try again. The 2nd Battalion tried again in the early moring hours but, was repulsed due to decreased man power. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions tried the attack together in a coordinated attack later that day and succeeded. However, shortly after reaching the top they come under heavy German counter-attacks of 20 and 30 man rushes and, they held. During the actions of November 8th the 1st Battalion was counter-attacked three times that day in their positions. For the next three days elements of the 30th Infantry fought off continued German counter-attacks until the Germans pulled back and gave up the town of Mignano for good. From November 14th-17th the US 30th Infantry continued patrolling the area around Mignano until they were relieved by elements US 143rd Infantry of the US 36th Infantry Division.
The casualties sustained by the U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment during Operation Avalanche: The Invasion of Southern Italy are as follows:
Casualties: 975
Killed: 256 (including 13 Officers)
Wounded: 644 Enlisted, 31 Officers
Missing In Action: 44 Enlisted
Operation Shingle: The Invasion of Anzio/Nettuno
After two months off the line in and around the Naples area for rest and recuperation. The 30th Infanty was ready for their next assignment. This assignment, which was to be an "end run" to cutoff the retreating German forces from the Gustav Line and eventually capture Rome, would turn out to be their longest and toughest of the war. While off the line the 30th Infantry acquired new uniforms and new recruits to teach and take to war. On January 22nd, 1944 Operation "Shingle" commenced. It was under the command of Gen. John P. Lucas commander of the VI Corp. under the US 5th Army. Landing beside them were the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions with the 1st Special Service Force, the British 1st Infantry Division was to land beyond them on the left flank of the invasion forces north of Anzio/Nettuno. Once on the beachhead, the landing forces moved quickly in land. However, Gen. Lucas ordered all units to halt their advance and the order to consolidate the beachhead was given. The allied landing forces had clearly caught the Germans off guard in the region with this behind the lines landing. However, Gen. Lucas's delay gave the Germans time to consolidate a ring of concealed entrenchments around the beachhead. At the same time the landings were to take place the US 5th Army was going to breakthrough the Gustav Line and proceed to the Anzio/Nettuno beachhead and link up for the drive onto Rome, 40 miles to the north of Anzio. However, the attempt to break through failed and the beachhead had been compromised.
On the 29th of January the 1st, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions would advance under the cover of darkness to the town of Cisterna di Loritta. US Army Intelligence had reported only a small defensive force in the town. However, unbeknownst to the Rangers, there was a German parachute regiment inside of the town with full artillery and armored support. During the same time the 30th Infantry to rear of the Rangers had a picturesque view of their advance the 15th Infantry would attack on the left and the 30th Infantry would attack on the right. As the Rangers advanced the 1st and 3rd Battalions attacked to the front with the 4th Battalion advancing on their right and to the rear but, as the Ranger reached 800 yards or so from the town they came under machine gun fire and at 400 yards they were encircled quickly by forces of the 362nd, 1st Para, 71st Infantrie Divisions. Also on the 29th of January the 15th Infantry had advanced with the Rangers during the attack which they were not permitted to do. During the ensuing fiasco two companies of the 504th Parachute Infanty came forward and gave supressing fire for the 4th Ranger Battalion to allow them to retreat successfully. On the 30th of January the 4th Rangers tried to breakthrough to the other Ranger Battalions but, was stopped by the armored forces in the area. The 15th Infantry pushed through the 4th Rangers and moved forward to capture a key crossroads but, with casualties mounting they too were halted by the same armored force shortly thereafter. Later that afternoon the last vestages of the 1st and 3rd Rangers were mopped up by the encircling German forces and all but, six became POW's.
On the 31st of January the attack on Cisterna continued however, stiff resistance stopped the 3rd Battalion 30th Infantry, the forward most element in the attack. Around Cisterna during the engagement were a host of units from 71st Infanterie, 114th Jager, 356th Infanterie, and Herrman Goring Divisions. The 30th Infantry consolidated it positions near Cisterna and held their ground until ordered back within the 3rd Divisions defensive perimeter. On February 16th, elements, mainly those of the Herrman Goring Division attempted to push through the US 3rd Divisions sector and reach the beachhead. This attack was a grave mistake on the Germans part, as they felt that the Americans in their positions knew they were in a hopeless position and the Germans believed they would give up. However, they should have known better with the 3rd Infantry Division to their front. Also by this time the beachheads face had changed. The British 1st Division after suffering numerous casualties on their front, were relieved by the British 5th Division, also, the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and US 45th Infantry Division had been brought ashore to reinforce the American side of the beachhead. As the Germans attacked within the division's sector they went head-to-head with the US 3rd Division all along their front at one point briefly breaching the divisions perimeter between elements of the 15th Infantry and 504th Parachute Infantry. However, by 4 p.m. that day they had reestablished the perimeter between the two units by bringing up into the line the 3rd Battalion 15th Infantry.
The Germans would attempt again on the 29th of February to try and breakthrough the US 3rd Divisions sector to reach their headquarter at Le Ferriere. During the attack the following units were to take part, 29th Panzer Grenadier, 114th Jager, 362nd Infanterie(a new division), 715th Infanterie(a new division) and the Herrman Goring Divisions. The Herrman Goring was to be the main thrusting force in the attack. On both ends of the engagement the casualties mounted this being the fiercest engagement within the US 3rd Divisions sector since they landed. however, by March 3rd the US 3rd Infantry Division including the 30th Infantry had held the line and refused the Germans the beachhead and destroyed a large quantity of their armored forces surrounding the beachhead. With this loss, Gen. Kesselring lost his chance forever, to destroy the Anzio beachhead. From March 4th to April 23rd, the beachhead fell into a stalemate. On April 23-24th, the 30th Infantry launched two operations to gain ground in their area for field artillery observation purposes. They were nicknamed Operation "Mr. Black and Mr. Green." The 1st Battalion would be the assault force for operation "Mr. Black" and the 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry the assault force for operation "Mr. Green." Both were successful achieving their intended objectives. During Operation "Mr. Black" a young Pfc. John Squires went above and beyond the call of duty to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement. Pfc. John C. Squires held off three German counterattacks using an assortment of German and American weapons. Unfortunately during a subsequent action Pfc. John Squires was killed in action before he could receive his Congressional Medal of Honor.
The situation on the beachhead continued with light actions, poking and probing for weaknesses in the German defenses. Finally after over five months on the beachhead, the time to break out had arrived. The numbers had turned in favor of the allies, Along with the British 5th Division, US 3rd and 45th Divisions, the US 85th, 88th Infantry, and 1st Armored Divisions had been landed. The breakout began with allied air forces carpet bombing the positions to the divisions front. The 30th Infantry Regiment quickly moved through the German defenses to the west of Cisterna and moved on to capture Cori on the May 25th. The 30th Infantry continued on and in the next couple of days had captured the towns of Roccamassima and Guiglianello. By June 3rd the 30th Infantry had moved forwad in the center leading the way to capture to other towns of Lariano, Valmontone, and Cava. From there the 30th Infantry turned toward Rome. The 7th Infantry was the first element into the city supported by the 1st Special Service Force. On June 5th, 1944 the city of Rome was captured by the allied armies in Italy. However, the very next day, Operation "Overlord" overshadowed this achievement and it faded into history as just another accomplishment of World War II. The U.S. 30th Infantry until August 8th would garrison and continue patrols to the north of Rome until they were relieved and moved back to Naples.
The casualties sustained by the U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment during Operation Shingle: The Invasion of Anzio/Nettuno are as follows:
Casualties: 2,851
Killed: 679 Enlisted, 32 Officers
Wounded: 1,875 Enlisted, 83 Officers
Missing In Action: 173 Enlisted, 9 Officers
During the time span between January 22nd to June 5th, 1944, six Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded; accounting for half of all U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment Congressional Medal of Honor recipents.