FROM THE
VOLTURNO TO THE WINTER LINE

6 October - 15 November 1943  

Book Cover Photo: From The Volturno To The Winter Line  

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990

First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action series, 1945

CMH Pub 100-8

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402


Foreword to CMH Edition

From the Volturno to the Winter Line (6 October-15 November 1943) is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originally published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional historians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary of some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers. The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, many of which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importance to military historians. The careful analysis of key operations provides numerous lessons for today's military students.

I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available. I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by our military forebears.

Washington, D.C.
15 September 1989

HAROLD W. NELSON
Colonel, FA
Chief of Military History


Foreword

In the thick of battle, the soldier is busy doing his job. He has the knowledge and confidence that his Job is part of a unified plan to defeat the enemy, but he does not have time to survey a campaign from a fox hole. If he should be wounded and removed behind the lines, he may have even less opportunity to learn what place he and his unit had in the larger fight.

AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION is a series prepared by the War Department especially for the information of wounded men. It will show these soldiers, who have served their country so well, the part they and their comrades played in achievements which do honor to the record of the United States Army.

s/G. C. Marshall
G. C. MARSHALL
Chief of Staff


WAR DEPARTMENT
Military Intelligence Division
Washington 25, D. C.
11 December 1944

From the Volturno to the Winter Line is a sequel to Salerno: American Operations from the Beaches to the Volturno. After Fifth Army, commanded by Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, had established the Salerno beachhead and captured Naples, it pushed the Germans northward across the Volturno River and into the mountain defenses of the Winter Line. The actions of the American VI Corps, which served as right flank of Fifth Army during the six weeks of this advance, are here narrated in detail. Closely related actions of the British 10 Corps, Fifth Army's left flank, and of the British Eighth Army, operating on the Adriatic coast, are summarized briefly.

This study is the fourth of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION, designed exclusively for military personnel and primarily for wounded soldiers in hospitals to tell them the military story of the campaigns and battles in which they served. No part of this narrative may be republished without the consent of the A. C. of S., G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D.C.

Volturno is based on the best military records available. The manuscript, terrain photographs (pp. 12, 29, 35, 37, 63, 67, 77, 78, 86), and one painting (p. 15) were prepared in the field by the Fifth Army Historical Section. The aerial photographs are by the U. S. Army Air Forces (pp. 17, 23, 62); all others are by the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Readers are urged to send directly to the Historical Branch, G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments, criticisms, and additional information which may be of value in the preparation of a complete and definitive history of the Volturno crossings.

vi

Contents
 
Page
MOVING TO THE VOLTURNO
1
Introduction
1
Fifth Army Prepares for the Second Phase of the Italian Campaign
2
Getting Into Position
6
Orders Are Issued for the Attack on the Volturno
10
The 34th Division Moves Into Line
11
Preparations by 3d Division
13
The 34th Division Prepares To Attack
19
Drive to the West by the 45th Division
22
Fifth Army Is Poised To Strike
25
FIRST CROSSING OF THE VOLTURNO
27
3d Division Attack
27
Breakthrough at the Hairpin Loop
27
Drive Toward Mount Caruso
32
Triflisco Gap
37
The 3d Division Bridges
39
On the 34th Division Front
41
Taking Caiazzo
42
In the Hills East of the River Junction
45
Battle for Supplies
47
The 45th Division Reaches the Volturno
49
British 10 Corps Secures a Bridgehead
51
The Battle Is Won
53
REARGUARD ACTION UP THE VOLTURNO VALLEY
55
The 3d Division Drives Toward Dragoni
59
The 34th Division Advances Along the River
65
Second Volturno Crossing of the 34th Division
69
Toward Sant' Angelo d'Alife
72
The Battle for Hill 235
75
Advance Toward the Barbara Line
79

vii

 
Page
ACROSS THE VOLTURNO AND AGAINST THE WINTER LINE
84
The 45th Division Crosses the Volturno
87
Third Crossing of the 34th Division
90
The 3d Division at the Mignano Gap
94
34th and 45th Divisions Batter at the Mountains
100
British 10 Corps Attacks Mount Camino
109
STRATEGIC AIR MISSIONS
112
CONCLUSION
114

Illustrations
 
Page
Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark
3
Royal Palace at Caserta
9
A Bridge Near Montesarchio
11
Montesarchio, on Highway 7
12
The Volturno Valley
15
Hairpin Loop
17
South of Amorosi
23
From Mount San Leucio
29
Bulldozers Ferried Tanks Across the River
32
Mount Mesarinolo
35
The Ridge North of Triflisco Gap
37
The VI Corps Bridge at Triflisco Gap
41
An American Patrol Follows a Stone-paved Trail
60
Cisterna, Liberi, and Majorano
62
The Town of Villa
63
North of Caiazzo
67
Infantrymen March Through Dragoni
69
The Highway Bridge Across the Volturno
70
Hill 235
77
Pratella, With Hill 325
78
Infantrymen of the 3d Division
80
Autumn in Italy
82
Mount Santa Croce and Mount Corno
86
One of Our Platoons
93
An Observer of the 100th Battalion
94
This German Dugout
96
Ruined Buildings in Mignano
97
155-mm Howitzers
98
In the Hills Northwest of Mignano
99
A German Pillbox
103

viii

 
Page
In Venafro
105
White Phosphorus Shells
106
Trucks Try To Ford the Volturno
107
Mount Camino, 6-10 November 1943
108
The Mount Camino Hill Mass
110
Insignia
116

Maps
No.  
Page
1 Advance in Italy, 3 September-6 October 1943
x
2 Allied Line, 6 October 1943
2
3 Battle Area of the Volturno Crossings
4
4 Fifth Army Advance to the Volturno, 2-9 October 1943
7
5 3d and 34th Division Objectives
14
6 45th Division Advances to the West, 9-12 October 1943
21
7 Plan of Attack—First Crossing of the Volturno
24
8 3d Division Crosses the Volturno, 13-14 October 1943
28
9 7th Infantry Reaches M. Majulo, 13 October 1943
30
10 Attack of 15th Infantry, 13 October 1943
33
11 30th Infantry at Triflisco Gap, 13-14 October 1943
36
12 34th Division Crosses the Volturno, 13-14 October 1943
42
13 168th Infantry Takes Caiazzo, 13-14 October 1943
44
14 Crossing on the Right by 135th Infantry, 13-14 October 1943
46
15 45th Division on the Right Flank, 13-15 October 1943
50
16 Fifth Army Bridgehead, 13-14 October 1943
52
17 VI Corps Change of Plans, 14 October 1943
56
18 3d Division Advance to Villa, 14-16 October 1943
61
19 Drive Toward Dragoni, 17-18 October 1943
64
20 34th Division Advance to Dragoni, 15-19 October 1943
66
21 Second Crossing of the Volturno by 34th Division, 18-20 October 1943
71
22 133d Drives to S. Angelo d'Alife, 20-24 October 1943
73
23 Hill 235, 25-28 October 1943
76
24 3d and 34th Divisions, 29 October-3 November 1943
79
25 45th Division Crosses the Volturno, 2-5 November 1943
88
26 Third Crossing of the Volturno by 34th Division, 3-5 November 1943
90
27 Mignano Gap, 5-15 November 1943
95
28 34th and 45th Divisions, 6-13 November 1943
101
29 Allied Gains, 6 October-15 November 1943
115
30 Summary of Fifth Army Operations, 12 October-15 November 1943
Inside back cover

ix 

MAP NO. 1

Map No. 1: Advance in Italy, 3 September-6 October 1943

x


page created 17 September 2001


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