Author : Mathias Knorr
Release : 1984
Genre :
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : /5 ( reviews)
Book Synopsis Battle Analysis: Rapido River Crossing, Offensive, Deliberate Attack, River Crossing, January 1944 by : Mathias Knorr
Download or read book Battle Analysis: Rapido River Crossing, Offensive, Deliberate Attack, River Crossing, January 1944 written by Mathias Knorr. This book was released on 1984. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The crossing of the Rapido River in southern Italy and the assault on the German Gustav Line by General Mark Clark's 5th US Army was undertaken to prevent German forces from opposing VI Corp's amphibious landing at Anzio. Both operations, the river crossing and attack and the amphibious landing at Anzio, were part of an Allied campaign to push the Germans out of the Italian peninsula and to seize Rome. To assist the amphibious operations at Anzio, General Clark sent Major General Fred L. Walker's 36th Texas Division across the Rapido. The 36th Division attacked across the river with two regiments abreast. They struck head-on into the strongly defended German Gustav Line overlooking the Rapido River from the north. After two assaults, the 36th Division was repulsed with extremely high casualties. The attempted crossing was one of the most bitter failures of the Allied forces during World War II, and it became the subject of a Congressional inquiry. This action clearly illustrates the immense difficulties of crossing a riverline which is integrated into the enemy's main line of defense.
