The Winter Campaign in Italy 1943

A gripping tale of three crucial battles fought at the end of 1943 as Allied forces approached the Gustav Line in Italy. After repulsing the German counter-attack at Salerno in September 1943, the US Fifth Army and British Eighth Army advanced up the Italian Peninsula. By October, the Allied armies had reached the Volturno Line, forcing a critical decision in German strategy: a prolonged defence would be conducted in southern Italy, contesting the Allied advance using the complex terrain features. By mid-November, the two Allied armies were approaching the German defensive lines along the Garigliano and the Sangro rivers. Here, US 5th Army would attack through the Mignano gap towards San Pietro Infine, while British Eighth Army would seize Ortona on the Adriatic coast and Orsogna. A brutal struggle ensued, with the German defenders attempting to hold their positions. The fighting at Ortona in particular (labelled a 'mini Stalingrad') would be particularly grueling for the Canadian forces involved. This fascinating work focuses on several little-known battles fought in Italy following the German withdrawal from the Salerno bridgehead and from Taranto. Maps and diagrams present an easy to follow overview of the multiple operations of this complex campaign. The forces of the opposing sides (including American, German, Canadian, New Zealand and British troops), and the three decisive battles fought in late 1943, are brought vividly to life in period photos and superb battlescene artworks.

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in military history at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he works both in Italy and abroad writing titles and essays on military history subjects. He is a contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office and has written numerous books for Osprey.

ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Allied Axis OPPOSING FORCES Allied Axis Orders of battle OPPOSING PLANS Allied Axis THE CAMPAIGN Approaching the Winter Line US Fifth Army approaches the Winter Line The first battle of San Pietro The second battle of San Pietro BR Eighth Army's crossing of the Sangro NZ 2nd Division's first attempts against Orsona The battle of Orsona: Operation Torso Outflanking Orsona: Operation Florence Stalemate The advance from the Moro River Ortona: the first phase Fighting into Ortona AFTERMATH THE BATTLEFIELDS TODAY FURTHER READING INDEX