World War 2 Salerno Beach Head

SALERNO: The invasion at Salerno was to be a sudden amphibious operation, quickly concluded and followed by a rapid dash up the coast to the Capital of Rome. In one fell swoop, the Allies were going to occupy Italy and trap large formations of occupying German troops in the southern boot of the Italian peninsula. However, unknown to the Americans and British: the German Wehrmacht had already acted with their customary efficiency, rushing battle hardened divisions to the invasion beach, ringing it in a fist of steel.