Tiger at Bay MTO (id:#62743)

(View From the Trenches # 95-97 ID: V23)   [next]   [previous]

Cisterna, Italy 1944-05-23 (5 others)

Overview:

It took the Allies a week to destroy the German defenses at Cassino. On May 23rd the offensive also began on the Anzio front. The VI U.S. Corps attacked towards Cisterna with nothing less than three whole divisions in an attempt to cut off the German 10th Army that was retreating back towards Rome. The 2nd Company of the X-MAS ‘Barbarigo’ Battalion had only recently been withdrawn from the Anzio front and was in reserve at Cisterna, precisely the point of the major enemy drive. The recently arrived 2nd Italian SS ‘Vendetta’ Battalion, Sturmbrigade Italienische Freiwilligen Legion was holding the location along with the German 1028th Grenadier Regiment. The defense line ran along the Mussolini Canal. It was vital for the Axis forces to keep the important road junction on Route Nr. 7 (‘Appia’) open in order to allow Axis forces south of Cisterna a line of retreat if necessary. This position was considered important enough that the 508th Heavy Tank Battalion sent one of their Tiger tanks to bolster the defense.

Defender: Axis (Decima Mas, SS Vendetta, 1028 Grenadier Regiment, 508 Heavy Tank Battalion)  

Errata (source)