American History

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,933 posts) Tue Jun 4, 2024, 06:29 AM Jun 2024

On this day, June 4, 1944, the United States Fifth Army captured Rome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_4

• 1944 – World War II: The United States Fifth Army captures Rome, although much of the German Fourteenth Army is able to withdraw to the north.

I'm not sure on what days these events occurred. There were a few days when these photographs could have been taken. You'll see June 4, June 5, and June 6 in the captions for what looks like the same event. Sometimes it's cloudy, sometimes the sun is out, and it's midday, and other times, the sun is out, and there are long shadows.

All I can say for certain is that American troops were in Rome in the first week of June 1944.

Roman citizens gather to watch a convoy of American troops crossing the square in front of the famous Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on June 6, 1944, during the days of liberation, in World War II. (AP Photo)

Twelve days after the Allied offensive was launched from the Anzio beachhead, Allied troops entered Rome on June 4th, and by the next day the occupation of the city was almost complete. Rome was spared the fate of becoming a battle ground by the strength of the Allied pressure south, which forced the Germans to withdraw hurriedly, leaving great quantities of war material behind them. As allied troops advanced through the streets, the Romans acclaimed them with overwhelming enthusiasm. Allied troops passing the Colosseum are cheered by the crowd, on June 4, 1944, in Rome. (AP Photo)

Agony and Triumph at Anzio

Seventy-five years ago, Allied soldiers made a daring amphibious landing behind German lines and were soon surrounded in what would become one of the toughest battles of World War II

Flint Whitlock
Winter 2019 | Volume 64 Issue 1

{snip}

Private James Arness was badly wounded at Anzio when a German grenade landed nearby, but he survived to later play Matt Dillon in the television Western, Gunsmoke.

{snip}