Anzio hesitation, Italy 1944
When the United States launched a flanking attack on the Germans defending Italy by a seaborne invasion at Anzio, the intention was a quick liberation of Rome. The commander of the attacking troops which went ashore at Anzio in a highly successful amphibious landing didn’t appreciate the need to move inland off the beaches as quickly as possible. Instead, Major General John Lucas decided to consolidate the beachhead and entrench his reinforced units against expected German counterattacks. This gave the German army sufficient time to occupy positions on high ground from which German artillery could pummel the American troops ashore.
The Americans remained where they were, engaged in daily heavy fighting, for a month before Lucas was removed from command, replaced by Major General Lucian Truscott. After the Americans finally broke out of the Anzio beachhead, Truscott was ordered to liberate Rome, rather than pursue the retreating Germans to prevent them from reaching prepared defensive positions to the north. Rome was liberated by the Americans on June 4, 1944, as the Germans regrouped to the north, ensuring further heavy fighting to come on the Italian peninsula throughout the summer as the German troops made a fighting withdrawal up the Italian boot.