Salerno 1943 by Angus Konstam

Author:Angus Konstam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Salerno 1943: The Allies invade southern Italy
ISBN: 9781780962511
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

A heavily laden Universal Carrier from the Guards Brigade of the British 56th Infantry Division is pictured as it enters the ruins of Battipaglia on 18 September. Allied bombers reduced the German-held town to ruins during the days preceding the German withdrawal.

The regrouping of the 16. Panzer-Division meant that the British 46th Division now only had Kampfgruppe Dörnemann to contend with. Patrols confirmed that the Germans had pulled back under cover of darkness, and so the 138th Brigade was ordered forwards to seize control of Salerno. They entered the town, which was gradually cleared of German snipers. Meanwhile by 1100hrs the scout cars and carriers of the 46th Reconnaissance Regiment pushed through the town to link up with the Commandos at Vietri. Brigadier Laycock’s men were pleased to see them – elements of Panzer-Division ‘Hermann Göring’ had been gathering around Cava all morning, and were sending patrols forward to establish the extent of the Commando’s positions. It was clear that an attack was imminent, but the Germans held themselves back. The same was true around the Chiunzi Pass. Although the Rangers were shelled throughout the day, no attack came. For the moment the Germans were merely testing the Allied defences.

By nightfall the British 139th Brigade had established itself around Fratte, and on ‘Hospital Hill’ overlooking Salerno, so named by the British because a large sanatorium dominated its summit. This meant that X Corps now held most of the Salerno Plain, including Highway 18 from Vietri to Bellizzi. Just how fragile this perimeter was would be demonstrated the following morning when the Germans finally launched their counter-attack. There was also a 10-mile gap between the British and American bridgeheads, and while Dawley’s men were close to the assigned corps boundary of the river Sele, it was clear that the British were temporarily unable to expand their bridgehead to the south.

THE BRITISH LEFT FLANK, 9–16 SEPTEMBER 1943

On D-Day the British Commandos landed at Vietri, to protect the left fank of the beachhead. Major-General Hawkesworth’s 46th Division were expected to capture Salerno on D-Day, and then advance northwards top secure the Cava Defle and the road leading towards Avellino. Instead the German defences proved tougher than anticipated, and Hawkesworth’s division only linked up with the Commandos on D+1. By then the Germans had moved south from Naples and Avellino, and were poised to launch the frst of a series of attacks against the British left fank. Rather than spearheading an advance on Naples, Hawkesworth’s men found themselves fghting to defend their bridgehead.

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