Stretched Thin at Altaville MTO (id:#63945)

(Special Ops # 9 ID: S72)   [next]   [previous]

Altavilla, Italy 1943-09-13 (5 others)

Overview:

After the conquest of Sicily and the ouster of Mussolini, the Allies invaded Italy proper at Salerno to begin their long slog up "the boot". Needing to expand the beachhead and deny the Germans good artillery observation points, the Americans secured the unoccupied village of Altavilla and the surrounding heights against little opposition. The ease of this accomplishment, however, seemed to signal that the Germans were focused instead on the British sector, and General Mark Clark was worried enough that he reinforced the British, leaving the newly-won heights and town thinly held. Having made its way north from Calabria, Panzergrenadier-Division 29 was finally set to counterattack. During the night, the Germans infiltrated the Altavilla heights without being spotted, the broken ground providing cover. At dawn, the grenadiers opened fire on the Americans at close range.

Defender: American (1st Battalion, 142nd Infantry Division, 36th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)