Winter Line

The Winter Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt. It ran across Italy from just north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, through the Apennine Mountains to the mouth of the Sangro River on the Adriatic Sea in the east. The centre of the line, where it crossed the main route north (Highway 6), was based on the mountain Monte Cassino and the old abbey that sat atop it. The line was fortified with

Related Topics:
German - Military - Fortification - Italy - World War II - Organisation Todt - Garigliano River - Tyrrhenian Sea - Apennine Mountains - Sangro River - Adriatic Sea - Monte Cassino

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gun pits, concrete bunkers, turreted machine-gun emplacements,

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barbed-wire and minefields. It was the strongest of the German defensive lines south of Rome. The western part of the line, centred around Monte Cassino, was called the Gustav Line, and was protected by the Bernhardt Line a few miles to the south.

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Following the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943, the

Related Topics:
Allied invasion of Italy - 1943

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Italian government had surrendered, but the German Army

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continued to fight. The Allied armies succeeded in conquering the

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southern part of Italy, and the Germans retreated to a prepared

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defensive position called the Winter Line. About 15 German divisions were employed in the defence.

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The Allies' immediate objective was the liberation of Rome. The most

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obvious approach to Rome was the Liri Valley (just north of Monte Cassino), and the Winter Line would prevent the Allies advancing to there.

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The German forces were commanded by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring. The defence of the line itself was commanded by General Heinrich von Vietinghoff of the 10th Armee.

Related Topics:
Albert Kesselring - General Heinrich von Vietinghoff - 10th Armee

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