In March the division was sent to Anzio to relieve another division, and held a section of the line in a trench warfare stalemate that matched World War I, with the same kind of defensive fire tasks, counter-battery fire and barrages for local attacks or counter-attacks. The war became mobile again after the capture of Cassino in May 1944, and 5th Division followed the retreating Germans as far as the Tiber before it was withdrawn for rest.