Operation Shingle - the Anzio landings

The 22nd January marks the 79th anniversary of the landings at Anzio, one of the most important World War Two anniversaries in Italy.

DUKW amphibious vehicles loaded with troops and equipment come ashore at Anzio. Photo: © IWM NA11019

In September 1943, the Allies landed on the Italian mainland at Salerno, Reggio Calabria and Taranto, linking up and advancing northwards. With the fall of Mussolini and Italy declaring an armistice, German troops staged a fighting withdrawal to the Gustav Line 87 miles south of Rome which stretched across the Italian peninsula. The most prominent point on the line was Monte Cassino controlling access to the main highway to Rome. It was here the Allied advance ground to a halt.

Operation Shingle was devised to break the deadlock using an amphibious force to land further up the coast at Anzio and Nettuno, 30 miles south of Rome. The aim was to draw German forces from Monte Cassino allowing a breakthrough and advance towards Rome, relieving Anzio on the way.

The operation was initially cancelled in December 1943 but was reinstated by Churchill. One of the problems encountered was the availability of landing ships which were required for the forthcoming D-Day landings later that year with only enough ships available to land two divisions of troops.

The landings took place on the 22nd January 1944 at three points:

‘Peter’ beach north of Anzio by the British 1st Infantry Division

A US Ranger force attacking the port of Anzio

‘X-Ray’ beach east of Nettuno/Anzio by the US 3rd Infantry Division

A British Bren gun crew keep watch in a trench at Anzio. Photo: © IWM NA12887

Encountering light resistance, the Allies strengthened their bridgehead, but didn't immediately move out into the nearby hills as intended. Unfortunately German units in transit to strengthen the Gustav line which was attacked on the 16th January were redeployed to Anzio to engage the Allied bridgehead along with units from Rome.

Anzio turned into a series of artillery barrages, attacks, counter attacks and skirmishes on both sides’ muddy trenches resembling more of First World War engagements on the Western Front. There was an additional problem of Malaria from the mosquitos in the reclaimed marshland occupied by the Allies, helped by the German forces disabling the drainage system, flooding the area with salt water.

Fighting and conditions reminiscient of World War One. Photos: © IWM NA12623, © IWM NA12732

It was not until Operation Diadem on the 11th May that the situation improved for the Allies with a breakthrough at Cassino drawing German troops from Anzio in an attempt to shore up the Gustav line. The link up of the US VI corps and US 85th Division formally brought Anzio to an end on the 25th May 1944. The Allies then advanced to the German ‘Cesar line’ just south of Rome, achieving a breakthrough on 2 June and entering Rome on the 4th June.

The landings at Anzio meant five German divisions had to remain in Italy instead of being moved to north-western Europe benefitting the Allied operations on D-Day just two days after the fall of Rome. Although the spotlight now fell on D-Day and the subsequent drive to Berlin, the Italian campaign ground on until the German armies in Italy finally surrendered on 2nd May 1945.

Among the many British and Commonwealth forces lost during the Italian Campaign, over 3,300 Anzio fallen are commemorated by the CWGC at the Anzio War Cemetery and the Beach Head War Cemetery.