Italy timeline
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Third Day of the 'Four Days of Naples'
On the third day of fierce clashes in the streets of Naples, the organization dell'insurrezione was still left to individual capipopolo... Read more
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Fourth Day of the 'Four Days of Naples'
While the German troops had already begun the evacuation of the city for the arrival of Anglo-American forces from Nocera Inferiore, in the city is... Read more
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Naples Liberated from German Occupation by Allied Forces
On October 1 at 9:30 of the first Allied tanks entered the city, while at the end of the day, the German command in Italy, to the mouth of Marshal... Read more
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Battle of Kos
The main prize, the island of Rhodes, fell to a swift attack by a German armoured brigade. Nevertheless, British forces landed on several islands,... Read more
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British Surrender to Germany at Leros
On the morning of 16 November it became apparent to the British commander, Brigadier Tilney, that their situation was untenable and he surrendered.... Read more
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Bari Air Raid
The Air Raid on Bari was an air attack on Allied forces and shipping in Bari, Italy by Nazi German bombers on December 2, 1943. In the attack, 105... Read more
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Canadian Allied Forces Capture the Villa Rogatti
The task of taking Villa Rogatti, the westernmost crossing point, was given to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Having... Read more
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Battle of San Pietro Infine
The direct attack on the German positions in and around San Pietro began on December 8 by II Corps of the Fifth Army. The positions were defended... Read more
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German Forces Fall Back from San Leandro Following Successful Ally Crossing of Moro River
By the morning of 9 December, the RCE had completed the bridge across the Moro River, enabling the tanks of the King's Own Calgary Regiment... Read more
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Largest Allied Assault on 'The Gully' is Abandoned after Devastating German Retaliation
On 18 December, Vokes planned what would be the largest assault on The Gully during the campaign. Beginning at 0800, Canadian artillery would... Read more
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Battle of Ortona
The Canadians faced elements of the renowned German 1st Parachute Division. These soldiers were battle-hardened after many years of war, and were... Read more
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First Assault in the Battle of Monte Cassino
The first assault was made on January 17. Near the coast, British X Corps (56th and 5th Divisions) forced a crossing of the Garigliano (followed... Read more
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Main Attack of the Battle of Monte Cassino
The central thrust by U.S. 36th Division commenced three hours after sunset on January 20. The lack of time to prepare meant that the approach to... Read more
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Initial Allied Landings at Anzio and Cassino in Operation Shingle
The landings began on January 22, 1944. Although resistance had been expected, as seen at Salerno during 1943, the initial landings were... Read more
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American Forces Withdraw from Cassino
On February 11, after a final unsuccessful 3 day assault on Monastery Hill and Cassino town, the Americans were withdrawn. U.S. II Corps, after two... Read more
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Abbey of Monte Cassino is Pulverized by Allied Bombs
Increasingly, the opinions of certain Allied officers were fixed on the great abbey of Monte Cassino: in their view it was the abbey—and its... Read more
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Main Assault Following the Destruction of the Monte Cassino Abbey
On the night of February 17 the main assault took place. The 4/6th Rajputana Rifles would take on the assault of point 593 with the depleted Sussex... Read more
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Balvano Train Disaster
Rescuers rushed to the tunnel in a locomotive. From inside came the sound of the stalled engines still puffing slowly; bodies were sprawled beside... Read more
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Third Battle of the Battle of Monte Cassino
Few people today realize that British and American soldiers fought in a battle that compares to Stalingrad for human suffering. The Battle of Monte... Read more
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Allied Forces Launch Operation Diadem to Break German Defenses on the Winter Line
Operation Diadem, also referred to as the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino was an offensive operation undertaken by the Allies (U.S. Fifth and... Read more
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Polish Reconnaissance Mission Discovers Monte Cassino Abbey to have been Abandoned by Axis Forces, Officially Marking the End of the Battle
On May 15 British 78 Division came into the XIII Corps line from reserve passing through the bridgehead divisions to execute the turning move to... Read more
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Liberation of Rome
The people of Rome have crowded onto the streets to welcome the victorious Allied troops. The first American soldiers, members of the 5th Army,... Read more
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Battle of Ancona
The Battle of Ancona was a battle involving forces from Poland serving as part of the British Army and German forces that took place between 16... Read more
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Gothic Line Offensive
The Gothic Line (Italian: Linea Gotica) formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II... Read more
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Operation Bowler
By early 1945 northern Italy's rail and road network had undergone severe damage, forcing the Germans to resort to shipping goods into Venice and... Read more