The Day of Battle (136 page)

Aided by a captured map:
journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 8, 1944; David Erskin,
The Scots Guards, 1919–1955,
216–17, 221 (“
even more unpleasant
”).

More unpleasant yet:
StoC, 396;
Anzio Beachhead,
55; Vaughan-Thomas, 124; Erskin, 223 (“
Where is the sea?
”).

On sleepless nights:
Trevelyan, 157; author visit, May 7, 2004 (
ramps for rolling barrels
); Rossi and Casaldi, 159; JPL, 367 (
hunched over plywood desks
); Marshall, 38, 41 (
maps with grease pencil markings
).

“
The old Hun is getting ready
”: JPL, 360, 365 (
shrinking by nine thousand
); James Parton, “
Air Force Spoken Here,
” 351 (
largest air command
); “Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in Operation
SHINGLE
, 1 Jan–18 March ’44,” 1945, CMH, 5-1 DA, 23–24 (
traveled from southern France
).

“
A terrible struggle all day
”: JPL, 369; Rossi and Casaldi, 169 (“
hermaphrodites
”); msg, JPL to MWC, Feb. 9, 1944, 2040 hrs, JPL papers, MHI, box 12; Verney, 23; Molony V, 751 (
high-strung engineer
); OH, MWC, May 10–21, 1948, SM, MHI, 76 (“
good telephone operator
”); OH, JPL, May 24, 1948, SM, MHI (“
Well, I do
”).

“
Complete gaff, no decision
”: diary, William R. C. Penney, Jan. 29, 1944, LH, 8/11, 8/14 (“
infuriating delay
”); D’Este, 221 (“
Corncob Charlie
”); Trevelyan, 157 (“
We’ll lose the beachhead
”); Molony V, 738 (“
I trust you are satisfied
” and “
Clark might be the man to go
”); Martin Gilbert,
Winston S. Churchill,
vol. 7,
Road to Victory, 1941
–
1945,
666; Winston S. Churchill,
Closing the Ring,
488 (“
superiority in chauffeurs
”); Vaughan-Thomas, 111 (“
a great disappointment
”).

As Mackensen tightened his grip: Anzio Beachhead,
61; Verney, 128–29; Nicolson,
The Grenadier Guards,
386; diary, William R. C. Penney, Jan. 29, 1944, LH, 8/19. (“
immediate corps plan
”); JPL, 370.

He popped out of the command post: CM,
329; Vaughan-Thomas, 127; diary, William R. C. Penney, Jan. 29, 1944, LH, 8/11, and msg, JPL to Penney, Feb. 11, 1944, 8/20 (“
reinforcements are on the way
”).

A counterattack at dawn on Saturday:
Molony V, 736; Sheehan, 111; Whitlock, 171 (“
gray-coated infantry
”).

General Alex had long been celebrated:
Sulzberger, 229–30 (
red hat drew fire
).

“
We wanted a breakthrough
”: Vaughan-Thomas, 146 (“
Were any of you at Dunkirk?
”); Sheehan, 124 (“
German opposite us
”); Betsy Wade, ed.,
Forward Positions: The War Correspondence of Homer Bigart,
37 (
stories were censored
); “Censorship Takes Anzio,”
Time,
Feb. 28, 1944, 46 (“
such rot
”); Phillip Knightley,
The First Casualty,
330.

“
I tried to stop the tirade”
: Vaughan-Thomas, 147 (La Traviata).

Lucas was left alone:
JPL, 378–79 (“
I failed to chase the Hun
”).

General Mackensen, the Hun himself
: journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 13, 1944 (
Lake Nemi
); author visit, Dec. 1, 2006; Fritz Meske, “The Anzio-Nettuno Bridgehead: A
German Account,”
Die Wehrmacht,
March 8, 1944, in
MR,
June 1944 (“
not a flash of a gun
”).

the counterattack would fling six divisions: Anzio Beachhead,
67; “German Version of the History of the Italian Campaign,” CARL, N-16671.1-3, 90;
StoC,
420; Vaughan-Thomas, 156.

“
concentrated, overwhelming, ruthless
”: Ralph S. Mavrogordato, “The Battle for the Anzio Beachhead,” Apr. 1958, NARA RG 319, E 145, OCMH, R-series, R-124, 11,13; Vaughan-Thomas, 156;
StoC,
419 (
delay their invasion
).

mask the clank of approaching panzers:
journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 13 and 15, 1944; Eberhard von Mackensen, “Field Fortifications Around the Anzio-Nettuno Beachhead,” 1950, MHI, FMS, #C-061, 7 (
streambeds ran perpendicular
); msg, Hermann Göring Div, Feb. 14, 1944, in VI Corps G-2 report no. 148, JPL papers, MHI, box 1 (“
for short errands
”); Sheehan, 124 (“
house lights
”).

“
like the rolling of a drum
”: D’Este, 192; Henry Kaufman,
Vertrauensmann,
20 (
Birds tumbled
); Whitlock, 185, 190 (“
coffee grinders
”).

They were not unexpected:
G-2 periodic report no. 141, Feb 16, 1944, JPL papers, MHI, box 1; G-2 weekly intelligence summary, no. 77, Feb. 12, 1944, AFHQ, NARA RG 407, E 427, 95-AL1-2.6; F.H. Hinsley et al.,
British Intelligence in the Second World War,
190–93; Ralph Bennett,
Ultra and the Mediterranean Strategy,
267–68; James H. Cook, Jr., “The Operations of Company I, 179th Infantry, in the Vicinity of the Factory, Anzio Beachhead,” 1949, IS (
few forward units had sufficient girded
);
StoC,
420–21; Whitlock, 187 (“
I watched the dust
”); Fitzgerald, 335 (“
savage, brutish
”); “Defense of a Position by 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry, 45th Division,” n.d., AGF Board, NARA RG 407, 95-USF1-2.0, box 253; Ralph E. Niffenegger, “The Operations of the 3rd Platoon, Company G, 157th Infantry, Astride the Anzio–Albano Road,” 1949, IS; Wells, 62–69; Vaughan-Thomas, 180 (“
a bastard of a place
”).

Forward companies of Royal Fusilier:
Sheehan, 119, 159–61; Burriss, 75 (“
flock of canaries
”); John Embry, “A Time to Honor,” ts, n.d., 160th FA Bn, 45th ID Mus; Ball, 308 (“
Give us everything
”).

Grim as the day had been:
Molony V, 745; journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 16, 1944 (“
Enemy resistance
”); Sheehan, 159; N. P. Morrow, “Employment of Artillery in Italy,” 499;
Anzio Beachhead,
90.

fourteen howling German battalions had driven: StoC,
421; Cook, “The Operations of Company I, 179th Infantry” (“
verge of panic
”).

“
179th lost 1,000 men
”: “Diary Notes of Gen. McLain,” Feb. 18, 1944, MHI, OCMH WWII Europe interviews; Whitlock, 227; Munsell, 55 (“
tears rolled down
”); Wells, 57–58 (“
load my rifle
”).

Four hundred Allied gun tubes:
Roe, 62; Walter Karig,
Battle Report: The Atlantic War,
284 (“
count the rivets
”);
AAFinWWII,
vol. 3, 356 (“
heaviest payload
”).

Jeeps careering to the rear:
Whitlock,
Anzio;
corr, John P. O’Malley to Yarborough, n.d., CJB, “Chrono. File: Sicily,” box 48 (“
Don’t leave the phone
”); R. Close-Brooks, “Anzio Beach-Head,” ts, 1946, in James Scott Elliott papers, LH, 4 (
obliged to sit on the knees
).

flinging the contents over the lip
: Robert A. Guenthner, “The Operations of Company F, 180th Infantry, Six Days Previous to and During the Major German Offensive,” 1948, IS; Whitlock, 199 (
dull the glint
); Walter Fries, “29th Panzer Grenadier Division, February 1944,” 1947, FMS, #D-141, MHI, 7–10; Edward A. Raymond, “The Caves of Anzio,”
FAJ,
Dec. 1944, 851+; Starr, ed., 154; Whitlock, 224 (“
as small as you can
”).

“
Men trickled back
”: Cook, “The Operations of Company I, 179th Infantry”(“
I guess you will relieve me
”).

He was right:
Molony V, 745 (
carving a bulge from the Allied line
); D’Este, 504n (“
not very attractive
”).

In the midst of the crisis:
diary, MWC, Feb. 16, 1944, Citadel, box 65; Mark M. Boatner III,
The Biographical Dictionary of World War II,
399 (“
Iron Mike
”); OH, James M. Wilson, Jr., former Truscott aide, Apr. 23, 2004, with author, Washington, D.C.; JPL, 386.

a Piper Grasshopper pilot spotted 2,500 Germans:
“Historical Record, Headquarters VI Corps, February 1944,” Apr. 27, 1944, LKT Jr., papers, GCM Lib, box 13, folder 2; J.W. Totten, “Anzio Artillery,” ts, 1946, CGSC, Ft. L, CARL, N-2253.6, 14; Fitzgerald, 346 (“
Bits of Kraut
”); William Seymour,
Yours to Reason Why,
268–71 (“
struggling, field-gray figures
”); Embry, “A Time to Honor,” 142 (
falling truck tailgates
); Nicolson,
The Grenadier Guards,
412 (
32,000 rounds
); Wiley H. O’Mohundro, “From Mules to Missiles,” ts, n.d., MHI, 55 (“
turned and ran
”); Verney, 174 (“
Light Brigade
”).

At 9:30
P.M.
a lull
: R. Close-Brooks, “Anzio Beach-Head,” ts, 1946, in James Scott Elliott papers, LH, 4 (
Tanks lurched forward
); journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 17 and 18, 1944 (“
No decisive breakthrough
”).

Lucas sensed his shifting fortunes
: Molony V, 748; Vaughan-Thomas, 171–74 (
cooks, drivers
); George F. Howe,
The Battle History of the 1st Armored Division,
297; William L. Allen,
Anzio: Edge of Disaster,
112–13.

Harmon woke every morning
: E.N. Harmon,
Combat Commander,
7, 12, 32; obit,
Assembly,
Dec. 1980, ENH;
Register of Graduates and Former Cadets,
1989 ed., 314; OH, ONB, n.d., Kitty Buhler, MHI, 182 (“
poor man’s George Patton
”); OH, Hamilton H. Howze, Apr. 1973, Robert T. Reed, SOOHP, MHI, 49 (“
hog on ice
”);
Texas,
209 (“
stupidity of the high command
”); corr, E. N. Harmon to JPL, Feb. 12, 1944, ENH, box 1 (“
well-established plan
”); Jack F. Wilhm et al., “Armor in the Invasion of North Africa,” 1950, AS, Ft. K (“
enemy has his troubles
”).

“
Give ’em hell!
”: Whitlock, 235.

Two hundred prisoners trotted:
Howe, 299;
Anzio Beachhead,
86; Fries, “29th Panzer Grenadier Division, February 1944,” 7–10; Vaughan-Thomas, 178 (“
made him worried
”).

Mackensen’s troops poked:
Molony V, 749; Fritz Wentzell, “The Italian Campaign from August 1943 to February 1945,” Dec. 1945, CMH, Geog Files, Italy, 370.2, 43 (“
many hounds
”); journal, Fourteenth Army, Feb. 20, 1944 (“
evacuate the wounded
”);
Anzio Beachhead,
91 (
mustered 673 men
).

VI Corps casualties also exceeded five thousand: StoC,
424; Whitlock, 248; Lawrence D. Collins,
The 56th Evac Hospital,
169 (
nurses’ summer fatigues
).

“Message from Clark
”: JPL, 393.

“
proved to be an old woman
”: John Keegan, ed.,
Churchill’s Generals,
120–21; msg, DDE to GCM, Feb. 16, 1944, SM, MHI, box 2.

“
done all he could
”: OH, MWC, May 10–21, 1948, SM, MHI, 77; OH, Alexander, Jan. 10–15, 1949, II-18 (“
ambition was key
”); diary, MWC, Feb. 22, 26, 1944, MWC papers, Citadel, box 65 (“
old physically and mentally
”); John North, ed.,
The Alexander Memoirs, 1940–1945,
126 (“
That would be very bad
”); aide’s diaries, Feb. 18, 1944, LKT Jr., Citadel, box 18, folder 3 (“
four or five days
”).

At midmorning on February 22:
C. Webber, “Observers’ Notes on the Italian Campaign,” June 14, 1944, NARA RG 337, E 15A, AGF observer reports, #112, box 55, 4; OH, Theodore J. Conway, 1977, Robert F. Ensslin, SOOHP, MHI, III-10; OH, Harry O. Paxson, Nov. 1981, Herbert M. Hart, CEOH, 119–21; e-mail, Silvano Casaldi to author, Feb. 16, 2005; memo, R. W. Komer, “Report on Historical Observation in the Field,” Feb. 24, 1944, in “Report on Activities of the Historical Section, Fifth Army,” Nov. 1945, Chester G. Starr papers, HIA, box 1 (“
General Officers Only
”).

“
could no longer resist the pressure
”: JPL, 394;
CM,
328; OH, James M. Wilson, Jr., Apr. 23, 2004, with author, Washington, D.C.; diary, cover letter, JPL to son, Jan. 1, 1946, MHI.

Despite persistent ailments:
aide’s diaries, Feb. 11 and 14, 1944, LKT Jr., Citadel, box 18, folder 3; OH, Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Nov. 1, 2004, with author, Washington, D.C.;
CM,
325. Kerwin rose to four-star rank.

“
You can’t relieve a corps commander
”: OH, JPL, May 24, 1948, SM, MHI;
CM,
328; diary, MWC, Feb. 24, 1944, Citadel, box 65 (“
prefer to be second
”).

The new corps commander returned:
diary, Don E. Carleton, Feb. 22, 1944, HIA, box 1; corr, LKT Jr., to Sarah, March 8, 1944, LKT Jr., papers, GCM Lib, box 1, folder 6.

“
cool, level, taciturn
”: OH, Theodore J. Conway, 1977, Robert F. Ensslin, SOOHP, MHI, III-10; diary, MWC, Feb. 22, 1944, MWC papers, Citadel, box 65 (
72,982 casualties
); MWC to Ann Clark, Feb. 27, 1944, personal corr, Citadel.