The battle at Salerno and what it allowed

[nonconformist]

Almost exactly sixty years ago this month one of the most risky amphibious landings ever attempted was made by British, American and Allied troops landed in Salerno in Italy. They fought hard and managed to gain a foot hold after having been attacked by aircraft artillery and soldiers. A few days later the Germans held a huge tank advance. After fighting the town was captured by the Axis and they also attacked other cities. Soldiers were ordered to defend and the only two battalions that were in the in the way of the tanks the American 158th and also the 189th fired upon the advance and slowed them down. Later the drop of about 2000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed and joined the defenders. The two British warships the Warspite and also the Valiant arrived and added needed power. Ordered to retreat inland the German and Axis forces did and the Allied forced had succeeded after difficult fighting.

More information can be found here

at amh.freehosting.net/salerno.html

This victory and battle is often overlooked and forgotten compared to other great battles. Thhe happenings of here and other battles that are not mentioned as much such as Dunkirk should be remembered always. This was important as it was a precursor for Normandy and if this particular offensive had not happened it is possible that the Allies may not have landed in Europe in 1944, so it was important. Fighting for the areas around Salerno was difficult so remember what happened.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

What did it allow? It speeded up the inevitable defeat of the Axis.
Germany was forced to send troops into Italy, to protect its back door. Or allow the Allies to roll through Italy and into southern Germany. It dragged troops away from the meatgrinder that was the eastern front, where Germany was already losing a long war of attrition. This in turn meant that the Russians had less men to kill on their way to Berlin, so they could advance quicker.

Was it nesasary to defeat Germany? No
Did it cut years off the war? Yep

 

[rilnator]

It saved a bit of time as opposed to fighting all he way up the Italian boot. The allies didn't break out of their beach head as quickly as they thought they would though.
As a proportion to the amount of troops the Germans had on the eastern front I don't think the amount of units diverted to Italy had a great impact on the end date of the war. I mean, the were forced to land at Anzio some months later due to lack of progress. Also due to Kesselring's masterful command of the situation.

 

[nonconformist]

The British government has almost denied to be involved in the sixtieth anniversary of the Salerno landings. This I feel is sad and also it neglect the soldiers that fought. This I feel was definitely not a decision that was respectful.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it"
- George Santayana

nonconformist; you have exagerated a just wee bit methinks; I dont think the British government have actually refused to acknowledge the battle, rather they just have not brought the subject up in any way. Their is a difference.

It certainly would have been nice if Tony and Co. had mentioned Salerno, or proposed a minutes silence or something along those lines though.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

rilnator; I was refering to the Italian campaign as a whole; rather than just the battle of Salerno. I see your point though, the troops diverted could probably not make a huge difference when you think of them as a proportion of the entire German forces in the east.

However I still believe that it was not nesasary in leading to the defeat of the Axis. Assuming Overlord happens that is. One of the two, at least, had to happen to help take the heat off the Ruskies. Stalin, if i remember correctly, told his generals, "their will be no reinforcements", as they aproached Berlin. Both sides were really scraping the bottom of the manpower barrel in 45. Operations Husky (that is the codename of the Italian campaign isnt it? I'm no history buff...) and Overlord not happening may have led to a nasty stalemate.

 

[rilnator]

I reckon Overlord not happening would mean a communist France. The Red Army had the German's measure and more so the further west they moved.
Dunno if the Weremacht stationed in France and the low countries could have fought on after the Reich fell. Maybe Italy would have been divided in 2 like Korea after the Soviets moved in.

 

[Case]

Bear in mind that the Allies actually ended up maintaining more troops in Italy then the Germans.* As such, the Italian campaign ultimately failed in it's objective of tieing down German troops. IMO, the Allies should have stoped the advance up Italy once the Foggia airfields were captured.

*the Germans had a larger number of divisions, but they were all hugely understrength. As a result, the Allies maintained more soldiers in the Peninsular.

 

[Theige]

Originally posted by Case
Bear in mind that the Allies actually ended up maintaining more troops in Italy then the Germans.* As such, the Italian campaign ultimately failed in it's objective of tieing down German troops. IMO, the Allies should have stoped the advance up Italy once the Foggia airfields were captured.

*the Germans had a larger number of divisions, but they were all hugely understrength. As a result, the Allies maintained more soldiers in the Peninsular.

Yes, thats true, but the allies had far more troops at their disposal than germany.

It was meant to divert troops from the Russian front, and was successful in doing so. Forcing the Germans to commit any number of troops to Italy helped the Russians, who were under enormous pressure having to fight on the only front.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Originally posted by rilnator
I reckon Overlord not happening would mean a communist France. The Red Army had the German's measure and more so the further west they moved.
Dunno if the Weremacht stationed in France and the low countries could have fought on after the Reich fell. Maybe Italy would have been divided in 2 like Korea after the Soviets moved in.

If German forces in France fought on that is; if the Nazi military machine utterly collapsed with the fall of Berlin, the Americans would probably cut of the supply's heading for Russia. The Red army was already near exhaustion, and without the logistical support they got from the Americans their military would grind slowly to a halt. Just how far they would get before they ground to halt I dont know...

Probably most of western Europe.