World War II: During the Anzio campaign the 1st Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers) is destroyed behind enemy lines in a heavily outnumbered encounter at Battle of Cisterna, Italy.
The Battle of Anzio: A Pivotal and Controversial Chapter of the Italian Campaign (1944)
The Battle of Anzio, a significant engagement of the Italian Campaign of World War II, unfolded from January 22, 1944, with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle, and concluded on June 5, 1944, marked by the capture of Rome. This ambitious operation was conceived to bypass the heavily fortified German Winter Line (including the Gustav Line) which had stalled the Allied advance in central Italy. The primary objective was to outflank entrenched German forces and open a direct, rapid path for an assault on Rome, the first Axis capital the Allies sought to liberate. German forces, primarily under the command of Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, swiftly opposed the landing in the coastal towns of Anzio and Nettuno.
Operation Shingle and the Initial Landing: A Missed Opportunity
Operation Shingle saw the landing of Major General John P. Lucas's U.S. VI Corps, comprising American and British divisions, at Anzio. The success of such an amphibious operation in this particular location, a basin composed largely of reclaimed marshland (the Pontine Marshes) and encircled by the commanding Alban Hills, hinged entirely on two critical factors: the element of surprise and the invaders' ability to swiftly consolidate their strength and push inland. Any significant delay risked the German occupation of the strategic high ground, potentially trapping the Allied forces within a confined beachhead, vulnerable to devastating enemy fire.
Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, commander of the U.S. Fifth Army, fully recognized this inherent risk. However, this critical understanding was not effectively communicated to his subordinate, Major General Lucas, who commanded the landing force. Lucas, exhibiting a degree of caution and perhaps a lack of confidence in the operation's initial plan, chose to prioritize entrenchment against an anticipated counterattack rather than exploiting the initial advantage. Despite the initial landing achieving complete surprise with virtually no German opposition – so much so that a jeep patrol reportedly reached the very outskirts of Rome – Lucas's decision to delay proved costly. Instead of capitalizing on the unexpected lack of resistance and pressing inland, he opted to consolidate his position until he deemed his forces sufficiently strong and secure.
The German Response and the Siege of Anzio Beachhead
While Major General Lucas deliberated and consolidated his forces on the beachhead, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, the highly capable German commander-in-chief in the Italian theatre, executed a swift and decisive counter-move. Kesselring immediately diverted every available unit, including elements of the elite Hermann Göring Division and the I Parachute Corps, to establish a formidable defensive ring around the Allied position. This rapid German deployment effectively nullified the element of surprise and trapped the Allied forces.
The German artillery units, strategically positioned on the surrounding hills, enjoyed unobstructed views of virtually every Allied position within the beachhead, leading to relentless and accurate shelling. This constant bombardment earned the German supply line the grim moniker "Anzio Express." In a brutal and calculated move, the Germans also stopped the drainage pumps in the reclaimed marshland, deliberately flooding the area with saltwater. Their grim intention was not only to further impede Allied movement but also to create conditions ripe for epidemics among the trapped forces. For weeks, a relentless barrage of shells rained down indiscriminately on the beach, the marsh, the harbor, and every observable position, blurring the distinction between forward combat lines and rear support areas. The conditions within the Anzio beachhead became notoriously brutal, characterized by constant shelling, a cramped and exposed environment, and the persistent threat of disease.
Leadership Change and the Controversial Breakout
After a month of intense but ultimately inconclusive fighting, the immense pressure and the stalled offensive led to a significant leadership change. Major General John P. Lucas was relieved of his command and returned home. His replacement was Major General Lucian Truscott, a commander known for his aggressive and decisive leadership, who had previously distinguished himself commanding the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division.
The Allies finally launched their major breakout offensive, part of the broader Operation Diadem, in May 1944. This coordinated effort aimed to break the German stranglehold on Anzio while simultaneously applying pressure on the Gustav Line. A critical strategic choice emerged: should Truscott's forces strike inland to sever the vital communication and supply lines of the German Tenth Army units still fiercely fighting at Monte Cassino, or should they advance directly towards Rome?
Against Truscott's military judgment, Lieutenant General Mark Clark, driven by the strong desire to be the first to capture an Axis capital and secure a symbolic victory, issued orders for the Anzio forces to turn north-west towards Rome. Reluctantly, Truscott obeyed. Rome was captured on June 4, 1944, a momentous symbolic victory. However, this decision had profound and controversial strategic repercussions. By diverting towards Rome, the Allied forces failed to encircle and destroy the German Tenth Army, which was then able to disengage from the brutal fighting at Cassino. These German forces successfully withdrew north of Rome, regrouped with Kesselring's remaining units, and conducted a fighting withdrawal to their next major prepared defensive position: the Gothic Line in northern Italy. This strategic escape significantly prolonged the Allied campaign in Italy.
The Battle of Cisterna: A Devastating Blow to US Rangers
The Battle of Cisterna, fought between January 30 and February 2, 1944, near the strategic town of Cisterna, Italy, was a critical and tragic engagement within the larger Battle of Anzio. This battle concluded in a decisive German victory and had lasting repercussions on the future employment and tactical doctrine of U.S. Army Ranger units, extending far beyond its immediate tactical and strategic outcomes.
The Ranger Mission and its Tragic Outcome
During this intense period of fighting within the Anzio beachhead, a significant offensive was planned by Major General John Lucas's U.S. VI Corps. The objective was to break out of the beachhead before the Germans could fully concentrate their reinforcements for a counterattack. As part of this broader offensive, a renewed attempt was made to capture Cisterna, a key German strongpoint situated on Highway 7 (the ancient Appian Way), a critical route leading to Rome.
The 3rd Infantry Division, under Major General Lucian Truscott (who would later take command of VI Corps), had previously failed to take Cisterna between January 25-27. To support the renewed attack, the 6615th Ranger Force (Provisional), commanded by the highly respected Colonel William O. Darby, was assigned a perilous mission. This provisional brigade comprised the 1st, 3rd, and 4th U.S. Army Ranger battalions, augmented by the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion and the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.
The plan called for the Ranger battalions to conduct a pre-dawn infiltration through German lines to seize Cisterna, opening the way for the 3rd Infantry Division's main assault. However, the Germans, particularly elements of the Hermann Göring Division and the 29th Panzergrenadier Division, were well-entrenched and anticipated the Allied move. They had set up a deadly ambush. The Rangers, moving through the darkness, inadvertently walked into a prepared trap. The battle resulted in catastrophic losses for the Ranger units, with estimates of over 700 men killed, wounded, or captured. This devastating defeat effectively decimated the U.S. Ranger battalions in Italy, leading to their withdrawal from front-line combat operations and a re-evaluation of how such specialized units should be deployed. The tactical failure at Cisterna solidified the German stranglehold on the Anzio beachhead and underscored the immense difficulties the Allies faced in breaking out.