Italian Campaign v3.0 vs Dickie Bertha

[Polynike]

9th September 1943

After the successful campaign in North Africa the Allied joint command debated where to strike next. Winston Churchill argued very strongly for a push into Germany via Italy, the "soft underbelly of Europe". Indeed it made perfect sense as the invading allied armies were flush with success, the ranks of their premier divisions full of veteran soldiers and they could draw on supply from North African ports protected by total superiority in the Med Sea. Preparations were made and after a successful campaign in Sicily, the American, Brtish and other allied armies were ready to cross the straits of Messina and start climbing up the boot of Italy.

Communique to Aliied Central Command

Elements of the British 46th and 56th Divisions together with elements of the US 36th and 45th Divisions carried out an amphibious assault in the area of Salerno early yesterday morning. Contact has been made with the enemy's 16th Panzer Division in and around the bridgehead area.

 

[Polynike]

The mood at allied command was not good. The beachead at Salerno, though well stocked in troops and supplies had not broken out. Strong German artillery positions on the hills surrounding Salerno, centered aroung the village of Avellino, were providing accurate fire support to the troops containing the landing. Meanwhile allied naval units had pounded the airfields around Napoli. The only positive news for the allied commanders was the link up of the Salerno beach head with the troops of the British XIII corps coming up from the South.

 

[Dicke Bertha]

Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring took of his glasses and turned to the men in the room, with that strange smile on his face.

"Well gentlemen, our intelligence so far is not impressive, but this is not as bad as one might have expected. We hold a line east-west from Salerno, and orders are to slowly give ground, while punishing the Engländer as much as possible. We have the line more or less secure, with some divisions in reserve. At some point, we will have to withdraw, as the enemy's resources are vastly superior. The responsibility for not striking at the Salerno beachhead is mine, I considered the enemy already far too strong in Calabria, making any counterattacks pointless, with the only prospect of heavy losses to our panzergrenadier regiments. However, I have ordered Luftwaffe to hit the British navy, presently in bombarment action off Napoli, and preliminary reports speak of tremendous success".

Here the old Luftwaffe general turned and gently smiled to himself.

Kesselring put his glasses on again and struck at the map with his strong finger.
"Gentlemen, this is my plan. At this moment and location... "ZAHJDÖ Bkksd8732riugbtr (decoding not possible here)
take up "fdsglkasrhgo45" ...anzer Korps will strike and deliver the final rites to the 9089432q068594387945iu4v (decoding not possible here)...

 

[Polynike]

The Daily Telegraph..

"..our troops have finally stromed Salerno town and now have a secure beach head already teeming with troops poised for a breakout. Monty and Ike have expressed their concern at the tardiness of the breakthrough but are optimistic of a speedy advance up the boot. German prisoners were in high spirits proud of the achievements against such a very well supplied and stocked enemy. It seems that the Boche is throwing some his premier divisions into the fight with the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich having beong identified on the left flank of the allied advance..."

 

[Dicke Bertha]

"Very well gentlemen, I understand that Salerno has fallen", Albert Kesselring said, "but it really changes nothing. Luftwaffe keeps hitting this area, and reports are encouraging, the enemy is being bled off". The man in the baggy pants fired off a broader-than-normal smile, "and we still have this tremendous possibility to"..."lkjhguklwajhertq3427557q346 gh"(decoding failed)..."panzer reserve soon".

 

[Polynike]

From the Diary of Private J T O'Calahan US 3rd Division

"Darn war!!! We've been stuck here for two weeks now and its just like Pa said the war in Flanders was. Digging in and exchanging shells with the Krauts.
The terrain suits them as its all mountains, hills and scrublands and its a hard fight to dislodge them. Them para regiments of theirs certainly have our respect. They could have done with some of the eytie divisions we fought against in the desert..."

 

[Dicke Bertha]

..."and the Kampfgruppe, quickly assembled from units pulled out of the line or resting, comprising Spähtrupps, mobile PAK, an infantry regiment and a panzer Bn, destroyed the airlanding in 10th Army's back within a week, with outmost efficiency. The Finns should come here and study our motti-technique...". The Ia of the 76th infantry division dryly concluded, "As we speak, the US 82nd Airborne is headed towards nice dry quarters in our POW camps, they will survive the war".

The big man couldn't believe his luck. When reports of an airlanding in the back of 10th Army came in, he almost wrote in his diary "I have the terrible feeling that the whole thing is beginning to slide".

"Gentlemen", he rose, "I believe it is time to execute Fall Eva".

 

[Becker]

easy task it seems ,maybe its because of the good weather in italy

 

[Polynike]

Not quite becker...more the good defensive terrain Dickie has at his disposal

 

[Dicke Bertha]

November 1st, 1943

"That fool", Big Albert was not smiling, "that arrogant SS ###, what was he thinking, charging the British alone like that, what are the losses?"

"Apparently the entire Das Reich panzer battalion was lost, some thirty PzKfw IV and Panthers" the staff man replied. "However, the enemy's advance in the center is slow, and the harassment attacks by Das Reich at Cerignola and by 15. Panzergrenadier Division at Salerno so far have been successful. The Luftwaffe is badly pressed, but is still occassionally flying interdiction and counter-air missions. Further, the execution of Fall Eva has allowed us to take up positions in some depth, with mobile reserves available. There are no immediate indications of a major offensive, and in case, a breakthrough should not be disastrous."

The faint smile returned to Kesselrings face, "Very well, then we wait."

 

[Polynike]

Field Marshal Montgomery and General Clark shook hands. The stagnant front was a concern to London and Washington but Operation Morpheus had been approved. Following some weeks of harrassment attacks on the flanks, including some almost suicidal tactics by the Germans the build up behind the lines was almost ready. the field comsnders would now have to try and break the stubborn German resisitance and the high command hoped that Operation Morpheus would do the trick.

 

[Dicke Bertha]

11. November 1943.
"Leutnant Dicke, radio this message to Herr Hitler." Kesselring handed the communications officer a note.

"Mein Führer, Your orders for 16. and 24. Panzer Divisions to withdraw from the Italian theatre coincide with what appears to be a serious Allied offensive. These two divisions defend the area at Salerno-Neapel, and I cannot hope to hold that open land without the panzers. Therefore, it is my duty to inform you that I have ordered a withdrawal to positions 100 km to the north, along the line Mondragone-Campobasso-Termoli, thus freeing said units for transport to the Reich. The withdrawal is already executed, and has more or less been successful. I am sure You will see the necessity of my actions."

Kesselring turned to leave, "those were good positions we gave up Dicke, I didn't tell the Führer that several battalions have reported difficulties disengaging. Above all the airfields we leave behind for the enemy, that will hurt us most".

 

[Polynike]

14th November 1943, date for the start of Operation Morpheus.

Radio Message sent to 8th Army HQ.

"Sir, they just aren't there. The jerries have pulled out leaving a scattered rearguard. We have pushed foward, especially on the left flank and the Yanks have entered napoli. The use of airfields closer to the front will aid out combat support and interdiction efforts. We have held back the planned bombarment while we move foward though several pockets of resistance will have to be dealt with. Hopefully we can catch the Hun on the hop before he can solidify defences."

Operation Morpheus never went ahead, the Germans having silently retreated before the Allies could lauuch their attacks.

 

[Dicke Bertha]

18. November 1943

"...here Panzeraufklärungsabteilung Das Reich, surrounded ... Foggia ... heavy machine gun battalion 2. Para Div. ... we...denying the enemy the roads north, lost con...3. Pz Gren Div Aufkl...2. Para Div Pion Bn ... south, ammunition... casualties heavy ....weak to breakout, enemy closing, long live Germany, Ende."

Kesselring looked sadly at his staff chief: "Well, that makes at least eight battalions lost during the retreat, my poor boys, how I've failed them."

"Sir, we have made better withdrawals before, but the new lines are manned in force and well prepared, our brave boys bought us just the necessary time. The enemy will not break through."

 

[Polynike]

From the Offical History of world War 2 by the War Office

"Allied units sped northwards to the next line of defence the Germans had setup. The port of Naples had been cleared and repaired and thus the flow of supply was ensured. In a war of attrition the resources of the Third Reich could not match the output of the american and british factories. The elan of the german soldier, however, was more than a match for his allied counterpart nad the battles for Italy had only begun. Units for Overlord had already began to be removed from the theatre and the long hard slog had begun."

 

[Dicke Bertha]

25.11.43

The last isolated pockets of German resistance around Foggia had been broken. The Allied troops were reching the new German Hauptkampflinie in strength.

 

[Polynike]

December 12th 1943 – Operation Swingback

Using the early dawn sea mist as cover, the allied launched their second amphibious invasion of the campaign. The British 56th (London) Division along with several engineer and Special Forces units accompanied by the 4th Armoured Brigade and the Guards Motorized Brigade stormed ashore at Gaeta and the vicinity of Terracina. A recon unit of the 65th Infantry Division was surprised and beaten back but a flak unit doggedly held onto the coastal town of Terracina in the first day of the operation. The intention was to unhinge a solid axis defence and land behind the Gothic line, a fortified line that aerial recon had spotted a while back. Once the bridgehead was solidified pressure would be applied in the Volturno area and maybe try and force the axis to shift their forces. On the first day of Operation Swingback diversionary attacks in this area tried to get the enemy to commit his reserves here and divert attention from the landings themselves.

 

[Dicke Bertha]

9. Dec 1943

9. December 1943
”Gentlemen,” Kesselring looked at the visitors from Berlin, who had arrived to inform him that the Führer had ordered 2nd SS Panzer division to regroup to Russia, “the fighting around the landing area is very hard, and the outcome yet uncertain. We are throwing everything we can at the bridgehead, 90. Panzergrenadier Division raced from Rome and assaulted towards Terracina, and actually managed to break through to the Flak battalion defending Terracina, only to be thrown back again as the British reinforced their landings with the 1st British division, previously not known to be in the theatre. Luftwaffe hit the ships and landing troops hard, but it was costly and not successful sorties. 65th ID, with 5th Gebirgs division assaulted and threw back the enemy at Montecassino, and 26. Panzer division managed to cut deep into the landing area. Harassment attacks are being made all along the southern front were enemy troop concentrations are spotted. We are reinforcing the line with 94th infantry division.” Kesselring pointed to the situation map on the wall.

 

[Dicke Bertha]

9. Dec 1943 continued

“Luckily, we have kept some infantry divisions in reserve, 334th Infantry division went directly from the trains to assault the landings, 305th Infantry division joined from the east, and additionally 362nd infantry division has been railed in north of the bridgehead.” A staff officer hung up a new map, and Kesselring continued: “The assaults so far have managed to contain the enemy, and indeed reduced the bridgehead. However, all depends on how much reserves the British can ship in.”

 

[Polynike]

Montgommery looked at the situation map and admitted the situation was not that bad. As Operation Morpheus had not been executed the forces allocated to it were used in Operation Swingback. Though the bridgehead had been contianed by the germans the enemy was suffering substantial casualties. Nevertheless the quality of German troops in the theatre was very good and were proving hard bastards to crack.

Just south of the Terracina bridgehead, near Mondragone the Free French Division along with the 36th US Division had assaulted german positions in the Volturno valley hoping to pave the way for a link up. After a hard days fightiing the polius dropped on the floor exhausted but too fatigued to rest. They were amazed at how the green smocked german troopers literally fell at their guns to a man, indeed only 16 prisoners had been taken and none of a higher rank than sergeant and none had been unwounded. From the bodies of the dead they had noticed that the enemy unit was the 10th Falschirmjaeger Regiment of the 4th FJ Division, The allies could safely say that this unit was now wiped off the emenies OOB but it had been a costly battle and elements of the Hermann Goering Division still clung onto the battered positions. The sacrifices of the Green Devils had allowed the Germans to stay in possession of the field.