" ANZIO BEACHHEAD " 1944 COMBAT NEWSREEL ALLIED ITALIAN CAMPAIGN OPERATION SHINGLE 42474

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This black & white film shows the early stages of the Allied forces invasion at Anzio, Italy in 1944. The film lacks credits or other information, but likely dates to 1944. The Battle of Anzio took place from January 22 to June 5, 1944, when Rome was finally captured. The operation was opposed by German forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno. The landing operation was commanded by U.S. Army Major General John P. Lucas of VI Corps. The initial landing achieved complete surprise. However Lucas failed to capitalize, and delayed his advance, allowing German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring to create a defensive ring around the beachhead. After a month of heavy but inconclusive fighting, Lucas was relieved and sent home. His replacement, Major General Lucian Truscott, managed a breakout in May. His forces captured Rome, but at the same time allowed the majority of Kesselring's forces to withdraw to the Gothic Line. The Gothic Line wouldn't be pierced until September of 1944, but the advanced soon stalled with the arrival of winter.

Opening titles: Anzio Beachhead Feb, 12, 1944 (:06-:09). U.S. troops exit ships. Troops use amphibious craft to get to land. Planes fly in the skies. Troops walk down a dock. More amphibious crafts land at the beaches. Jeeps and trucks. The troops are landing at Anzio beach in Italy. Troops due mine sweeps of the beach and remove mines (:10-1:52). The troops lay fence for trucks to drive over. They then head for steep mountain passes. Troops fire rifles and a rocket launcher. Jeeps move forward. Going through mud (1:53-3:01). Bombed out ruins of buildings. Troops march through the rubble, meet the locals. Injured are cared for and removed by stretcher. Troops walk by damaged railcars and cranes move dirt. U.S. troops shower. They then all head for the Nazi stronghold of Rome. Bombed out buildings of churches, schools, and stores. Civilians roam (3:02-5:14). Allied troops marches on. Civilians amongst the rubble. Officers formulate plans. Troops fire cannons. A battle is seen in the distance with smoke plumes. Artillery is moved. On foot and by truck, the victors move forward. Bombed out tanks of the enemy (5:15-7:07). Troops walk on top of swastika symbols. POWs are gathered by the allies. More ships at sea move in for the second phase of the battle. Cannons are fired by the allies. Troops advance on the city of Salerno. Amphibious craft lands at the beach. Troops carry supplies (7:08-9:11). Troops move through the streets. A troop gets his shoes shined by a local. The man salutes the American. American GIs play with Italian children. They purchase food from local vendors. American GIs talk to Italian women. Women iron clothes for the soldiers. An American GI plays an accordion as an Italian woman sings. Troops head for the next city (9:12-11:33). Trucks and tanks move forward. Some soldiers ride on horses. The Allied tanks are camouflaged. Troops fire cannons at the Nazis. Lots of artillery is fired at the enemy. Nazi tanks are bombed out. Allied forces move forward down roads. Tanks move into an Italian town. Civilians walk around as Allied troops move in. A proclamation is hung that reads the Allied troops have arrived and will be there in peace (11:34-14:28). Injured are put into trucks. A line of civilians for food. General Eisenhower comes to inspect the situation. He sits in a jeep. Eisenhower meets with troops. Allies set up obstacles including barbed wire for the enemy. Trucks drive over muddy water as torrential rains came for three days. Mud is everywhere. Troops and trucks stuck in the mud. Bulldozers are used to clear mud. An injured GI is carried by his men (14:29-16:22).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com