Publisher's Synopsis
IN SEPTEMBER OF 1943 ALLIED FORCES INVADED HE SHORES OF ITALY AT SALERNO. GENERAL MARK CLARK COMMANDING THE FIFTH ARMY AND GENERAL BERNARD MONTGOMERY COMMANDING THE BRITISH EIGHT ARMY. UPON THE LIGHT LANDING, THE ITALIAN UNITS OF THE AXIS POWERS SURRENDERED RIGHT AWAY. MOVING INLAND THE ALLIES TOOK ON HEAVY FIRE FROM WELL ENTRENCHED GERMANS, AND ENCOUNTERED BLOWN UP BRIDGES AND MINEFIELDS IN THEIR WAKE. BY SEPTEMBER THE EIGHT THE SURRENDER OF SOUTHERN ITALY WAS ANNOUNCED. THE GERMANS FOUGHT BACK FIERCLY TO PROTECT THEIR FORCES STILL HOLDING THE ITALIAN CAPITAL, ROME. AFTER SECURING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTRY THE ALLIES HEADED NORTH TOWARDS ROME. IN 1944 THEY ENCOUNTERED TE GERMANS AT MONTE CASINO AND AFTER THE BATTLE WAS OVER FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND ALLIED TROOPS WERE EITHER DEAD OR CAUALITIES. ON THE AXIS SIDE THE GERMANS LOST TWENTY THOUSAND MEN. ALL WERE LOST IN TAKING CONTROL OF THE MONASTERY ON THE HILL! THREE MONTHS LATER THE GERMANS PULLED OUT OF ROME AND IT WAS FREE. THE FIRST CAPITAL OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATION FELLAND THE ROAD TO BERLIN WAS AHEAD FOR THE ALLIES.
