Stalemate in Italy: Assault on the Gustav Line
Churchill described Italy as "the soft underbelly of Europe”. Words he would live to regret, as the supposed swift campaign deterioratd into almost 2 years of hard fought encounters against a skilful, battle-hardened and determined enemy.The deployment of crack troops, including the 1st SS Division and the Hermann Goering Division, and Italy’s naturally defensive geography ensured that the Allies would be denied their speedy victoy.The fighting in the Gustav Line, at Anzio and in particular, at Monte Cassino have come to epitomise the dogged determination of the Allies’ elusive enemy.
