Description
From the shores of Sicily to the heights of the Apennine Mountains, Eyewitness WWII: Invasion Italy follows the stories of those who experienced the harrowing campaign.
Following a major victory in North Africa, the Allies turned their attention to the Mediterranean in 1943 and launched a successful invasion of the island of Sicily, which forced the German troops to retreat. The Allied victory provided a staging ground for their next target, mainland Italy, where Allied troops again landed and began to advance inland. During this push the Allies faced fierce resistance, and by the end of the year their progress was stalled by the German Gustav Line.
To circumvent the heavily defended position, the Allies landed troops south of Rome at the town of Anzio. While heavy fighting ensued, the battle eventually resulted in the Germans abandoning their defensive positions along the Gustav Line and the capture of Rome by Allied forces. However, the fight for Italy continued as the Germans regrouped to form a final defensive position along the Apennine Mountains, known as the Gothic Line.
By April of 1945, the Allies had broken the line and began to pursue the retreating German army. After nearly two years of fighting, on May 2, 1945, the battle for Italy finally ended. The Allies earned a hard-fought victory in a crucial yet overlooked campaign.