Jan. 22, 1944: Allied forces, including the U.S. VI Corps under the command of Maj. Gen. John P. Lucas (of Lt. Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth Army), begin a series of landings along a stretch of western Italian coastline in the Anzio-Nettuno area. Codenamed Operation Shingle, the Allies achieve complete surprise against -- and encounter little initial resistance from -- the Germans. But the landings kick off what will become one of the most grueling campaigns of World War II.
It is during the subsequent fighting (which continues for several months) that a dead German officer’s diary is found, a portion of which reads:
“American parachutists -- devils in baggy pants -- are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere.”
It is during the subsequent fighting (which continues for several months) that a dead German officer’s diary is found, a portion of which reads:
“American parachutists -- devils in baggy pants -- are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere.”
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