FIFTH ARMY AT THE WINTER LINE15 November 1943 - 15 January 1944   

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY   UNITED STATES ARMY   WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990
First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for   the American Forces in Action series, 1945 
CMH Pub 100-9
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government   Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 
Foreword to CMH Edition
*Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944)is*one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originallypublished by the War Department's Historical Division and now returnedto print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversaryof that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professionalhistorians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summaryof some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers.The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, manyof which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importanceto military historians. The careful analysis of key operations providesnumerous lessons for today's military students.
I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available.   I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective   awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by   our military forebears. 
Washington, D.C.   15 September 1989
HAROLD W. NELSON   Colonel, FA   Chief of Military History
Foreword
In the thick of battle, the soldier is busy doing his job. He has theknowledge and confidence that his job is part of a unified plan to defeatthe enemy, but he does not have time to survey a campaign from a fox hole.If he should he wounded and removed behind the lines, he may have evenless opportunity to learn what place he and his unit had in the largerfight.
AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION is a series prepared by the War Departmentespecially for the information of wounded men. It will show these soldiers,who have served their country so well, the part they and their comradesplayed in achievements which do honor to the record of the United StatesArmy.s/G. C. MarshallG. C. MARSHALL*Chief of Staff***v**
WAR DEPARTMENTMilitary Intelligence DivisionWashington 25, D. C.14 June 1945
*Fifth Army at the Winter Line is*a sequel to *From the Volturnoto the Winter Line.*The actions of the United States II and VI Corpsare told here in detail. They were aided by other Allied units under FifthArmy: British 10 Corps on the left flank, and the French ExpeditionaryCorps, for the last two weeks of the period, on the right flank. The actionsof these units and of the British Eighth Army on the Adriatic coast aresummarized briefly.
This study is the sixth of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION,designed exclusively for military personnel. No part of this narrativemay be republished without the consent of the A. C. of S., G-2, War Department,Washington 25, D. C.
*The Winter Line is*based on the best military records now available.The manuscript was prepared in the field by the Fifth Army Historical Section.The oblique terrain photographs (pp. 10, 11, 13, 19, 20, 39, 46, 4.7, 74,80, 95, 99, 111) are by the Joint Intelligence Collecting Agency; all othersare by the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Readers are urged to send directlyto the Historical Branch, G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments,criticisms, and additional information which may be of value in the preparationof a complete and definitive history of this operation.
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Contents PagePREPARATIONS FOR THE       ATTACK1*Allied Decisions*1*The Drive to the Winter Line*1*At the Winter Line*4*Fifth Army's Problem*7PHASE I: OPERATION       RAINCOAT15*Plans for the Attack*17*Preparations for Operation Raincoat*19*Capture of the Main Camino Peaks*23*Mount Maggiore*25PHASE I: THE RIGHT       FLANK (29 November-9 December)29*Hill 769*31*Mount Pantano*36PHASE II: THE BATTLES FOR       SAN PIETRO45*Italian Attack on Mount Lungo*48*Gaining a Foothold on Mount Sammucro*48*The*143d *Infantry Batters at San Pietro*52*Plans for Further Attack*54*Fighting West From Mount Sammucro*54*The Second Battle for San Pietro*56*Capture of Mount Lungo*62*The Germans Pull Out of San Pietro*64ATTACK BY VI CORPS       (15-21 December)69*Advance in the Lagone Area*71*The*157th *Applies Pressure*73*The Enemy Withdraws to New Positions*76END OF PHASE II79*II Corps Tries for San Vittore*79*Probing Along the VI Corps Front*83*"Mud, Mules, and Mountains"*87*Regrouping*90
**vii** *Page*DRIVE UP TO THE GUSTAV       LINE93*Plans**for the Opening Attack*94*Capture of the Mount Majo Hills*96*The*168th *Outflanks Mount la Chiaia*100*San Vittore and Mount la Chiaia*103*Mount Porchia**and Cedro Hill*104*The Final Advance: Cervaro**and Mount       Trocchio*107CONCLUSION113
IllustrationsLt. Gen. Mark W.       Clark3Engineers Spread       Rock4To Prevent Scenes       Like This5Mignano Gap10The Mountains Facing       VI Corps11"Express Highway"12The Upper Volturno       Valley13Camino Peaks19II Corps Objectives       in Phase I20A Camouflaged 8-Inch       Howitzer22Mountains on       Fifth Army's Right32Lagone32Hill 76934On Mount Pantano39Peaks and Slopes of       Mount Sammucro46The Mignano Corridor47A Pressure Type S-Mine58On the Road to San       Pietro59Stone Pillboxes63American Infantry Enter       San Pietro65The Road to Rome66High Angle Fire70Litter Bearers       of a Moroccan Rifle Regiment72Along the Filignano�Sant'       Elia Road74North of Highway 680Junction of Highway       6 and the Road to San Pietro81A Bailey Bridge in       Highway 686Flood Waters of the       Volturno River86Mules89From the Ruins of       San Pietro95
**viii** *Page*The 1st Special       Service Force98Ridges Rise Steeply       Toward Mount Majo99Smoke Laid by A-36's102A Patrol Enters       Cervaro111The Ground Won       by II Corps111Insignia114
Maps*No.* 1. Allied Advance       in Italy, 3 September-15 November 1943x2. Winter Line Terrain63. Area of the Fifth       Army Offensive94. II Corps Prepares       to Attack165. Plans for Operation       Raincoat186. Action Around       Mount la Difensa, 3-9 December 1943247. Attack on Mount       Maggiore258. End of Phase       I: II Corps279. VI Corps Prepares       for Action, 29 November 19433010. Capture of       Hill 7693311. Attack of       the 34th Division, 29 November-3 December 19433512. Attack by       the 168th Infantry, 29 November-1 December 19433713. The Fight       for Knob 2, 2 December 19434014. Action on       Mount Pantano, 3 December 19434115. Opening the       Corridor: Attack Plans, 8 December 19434416. First Battles in       the Sammucro-Lungo Area, 8-11 December 19434917. Opening the Corridor:       Attack Plans, 15 December 19435318. Attack on the Right       Flank, 14-16 December 19435519. Tank-Infantry Attack       on San Pietro, 15 December 19435720. Mount Lungo and       Death Valley, 16 December 19436121. Advance by VI Corps,       15-21 December 19436822. Attack on San       Vittore, 19-29 December 19437823. Action Along the       VI Corps Front, 21-31 December 19438324. Plans for Attack9225. II Corps Right       Flank, 4-10 January 19449626. La Chiaia, 5-7       January 194410027. Mount Porchia,       4-8 January 194410528. Cervaro, 10-13       January 1944107
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