Dr. Walt’s Latest World War II Blogs

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May 1, 2024

May 1, 1944 — Training for Operation Buffalo to breakout from Anzio

On the morning of May 1, Phil’s 3rd Infantry Division was once again assigned to corps reserve, where they remained until May 21.[1]
April 30, 2024

April 30, 1944 — Final training for the upcoming breakout from Anzio begins

Tomorrow, at 0600 on May 1, 1944, Phil’s 3rd Division was scheduled to pass control of their front-line sector to the 45th Division and move back […]
April 29, 2024

April 29, 1944 — A disaster unfolds for Phil and his men

Starting on April 29, Phil’s 3rd Battalion was relieved to prepare for an offensive that they hoped would break the beachhead stalemate. At first light, Phil […]
April 28, 2024

April 28, 1944 — Planning for two massive campaigns at once

The Allied military brass at the highest levels were preparing two massive operations for the Allies. First, of course, was to have the Allies successfully break […]
April 27, 2024

April 27, 1944 — The lull before the coming massive breakout at Anzio

While enemy air attacks had diminished to raids by only a few aircraft daily, artillery shelling continued, and no structure and no person within the beachhead […]
April 26, 2024

April 26, 1944 — Tank-led Americans gain a mile at Anzio

In a series of sharp punches with tanks, American troops have advanced more than a mile on the east flank of the Anzio Beachhead and are […]
April 25, 2024

April 25, 1944 – German intelligence increasingly confused and anxious about the coming Anzio breakout

Late April found Dad’s 3rd Infantry Division still attacking in small groups while the enemy continued to probe the Allies’ defenses, looking for the opening that […]
April 24, 2024

April 24, 1944 — A letter home to mom from Anzio

The men on Anzio loved mail call. They were, for the most part, letter writers. This letter from my father to his mother is typical of […]
April 23, 2024

April 23, 1944 – Front line rifle companies at Anzio were seldom at full strength except by accident

For all of the rhetoric of combined-arms operations, it was the men who wore the crossed rifles on their collars, with the protection provided by an […]
April 22, 2024

April 22, 1944 — At the Anzio beachhead preparations for a breakout took on a febrile intensity

More than one million tons of materiel would be stockpiled at Anzio to supply the Fifth Army during the drive north to Rome. Engineers crushed stone […]