Battle of Ancona

Battle of Ancona Part of Italian Campaign in World War II German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944. Polish II Corps advance and taking on Ancona showed on the map. Date 16 June – 18 July 1944 Location Ancona, Italy Result Polish victory Belligerents Poland Germany Commanders Władysław Anders, Klemens Rudnicki Strength ~50,000 Casualties and losses 496 killed 1,789 wounded 139 missing[1] 800 killed 3,000 captured[2] v • d • e Italian Campaign Invasion of Sicily – Invasion of Italy – Armistice with Italy – Four days of Naples – Volturno Line – Barbara Line – Bari Raid – Bernhardt Line – Moro – Monte Cassino – Anzio – Trasimene Line – Ancona – Gothic Line – Spring offensive 1945

The Battle of Ancona was a battle involving forces from Poland serving as part of the British Army and German forces that took place between 16 June – 18 July 1944 during the Italian campaign in World War II. The battle was the result of an Allied plan to capture the city of Ancona in Italy in order to gain possession of a seaport closer to the fighting so that they could shorten their lines of communication. The Polish 2nd Corps was tasked with capture of the city on 16 June 1944, accomplishing the task a month later on 18 July 1944.

Background

The Allied advance north meant that the logistics line was in need of a port closer to the front lines than the ports of Pescara and Anzio.^[1] As such, two new targets were designated: Ancona on the Adriatic coast, and Livorno on the Tyrrhenian Sea.^[1] On 16 June Polish II Corps under general Władysław Anders, which had been taken into British 8th Army reserve after its efforts in the Battle of Monte Cassino, was brought forward once more to relieve British V Corps and tasked with the capture of Ancona. On 17 June General Anders was given command of the Adriatic sector of the Italian theatre.^[1]

Battle

Battle of Ancona (1944.07.17 -18)

The first obstacle to cross was the Chienti river. Polish troops reached it on 21 June, and heavy fighting lasted in that region until 30 June.^[1] The main offensive on Ancona began on 17 July.^[1] Polish armored troops took della Crescia and outflanked German troops defending Ancona.^[1] Next, Polish troops secured Casa Nouva, and neighbouring British troops took Monthecchio and Croce di S. Vincenzio.^[1] By the evening of 17 July Polish troops were near Agugiano, and the following morning they took Offagna.^[1] Later that day Polish troops took Chiaravalla, and armored troops reached the sea, cutting the German defenders of Ancona from the north-west.^[1] The Germans were falling back towards the sea, and Polish troops encountered little resistance entering Ancona at 1430 hours on 18 July.^[1]

Aftermath

Taking Ancona was the only independent operation of the Polish II Corps.^[1] Afterwards, the Corps took part in the breaking of the Gothic Line and the Allies spring 1945 offensive which resulted in the surrender of the Axis forces in Italy.

Notes

References

• (Polish) Zbigniew Wawer, Zdobycie Bolonii [Capture of Bologna], Chwała Oręża Polskiego 32 (53), Rzeczpospolita, 3 March 2007.