Researching
World War II
Unit
Histories, Documents
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PDF Remastered and Keyword Searchable
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34th
Infantry
"Red Bull"
Division
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Order
of Battle
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34th Division
Headquarters
Headquarters Company
133rd Infantry Regiment
135th Infantry Regiment
168th Infantry Regiment
168th Commandos
100th Infantry Battalion (9
Sep 43 - 31 Mar 44)
442nd Regimental Combat Team
(12 Jun 44 - 10 Aug 44)
34th Division Artillery, Headquarters
and Headquarters Battery
125th Field Artillery Battalion
(105mm)
151st Field Artillery Battalion
(105mm)
175th Field Artillery Battalion
(105mm)
185th Field Artillery Battalion
(155mm)
34th Military Police Company
34th Quartermaster Company
34th Reconnaissance Troop
(Mechanized)
34th Signal Company
109th Engineer (Combat) Battalion
109th Medical Battalion
734th Ordnance (Light Maintenance)
Company
1st Ranger Battalion
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Casualties
Killed
in Action: 3,737
Wounded in action: 14,165
Missing in action: 3,460
Total Battle Casualties: 21,362
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Days of Combat
517
Commanders
Maj.
Gen. Ellard A. Walsh
Feb - Aug 41
Maj. Gen. Russell P. Hartle
Aug 41 - May 42
Maj. Gen. Charles
W. Ryder
May 42 - Jul 44
Maj. Gen. Charles
L. Bolte
Jul 44 to inactivation |
Campaigns
Tunisia |
17
Nov 42 - 13 May 43 |
Naples-Foggia
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9
Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44 |
Rome-Arno
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22
Jan - 9 Sep 44 |
North
Apennines |
10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45 |
Po
Valley |
5 Apr - 8 May 45 |
Medals
Medal
of Honor - 9
Distinguished Service Crosses
- 98
Distinguished Service Medals
- 1
Silver Stars - 1,153
Bronze Stars - 2,545
Legion of Merit - 116
Soldier's Medal - 54
Purple Hearts - 15,000
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Battle
Honors
Distinguished Unit Citations - 3
Foreign Awards
French Croix de Guerre
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Medal of Honor
Recepients
Pvt.
Robert D. Booker
34th Infantry Division
Fondouk, Tunisia
April 9, 1943
2nd
Lt. Ernest H. Dervishian
34th Infantry Division
Cisterna, Italy
May 23, 1944
Cpt.
William W. Galt
168th Infantry Regiment
Villa Crocetta, Italy
May 29, 1944
S/Sgt.
George J. Hall
135th Infantry Regiment
Anzio, Italy
May 23, 1944
1st
Lt. Beryl R. Newman
133rd Infantry Regiment
Cisterna, Italy
May 26, 1944
Pfc.
Leo J. Powers
133rd Infantry Regiment
Cassino, Italy
February 3, 1944
2nd
Lt. Paul F. Riordan
34th Infantry Division
Cassino, Italy
February 3 - 8, 1944
Pvt.
Furman L. Smith
135th Infantry Regiment
Lanuvio, Italy
May 31, 1944
2nd
Lt. Thomas Wigle
135th Infantry Regiment
- Co K
Monte Frassino, Italy
September 14, 1944
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1942 |
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14
Jan- |
The
first contingent of the 34th Division
embarks at Brooklyn. |
15
Jan- |
Sailed
from New York. |
26
Jan- |
The
initial group of 4,508 of the Division
stepped ashore at 12:15 hrs at Dufferin
Quay, Belfast. |
8
Nov- |
After
training in Northern Ireland, the
34th Infantry Division saw its first
combat in North Africa. As a member
of the Eastern Task force, which
included two brigades of the British
78th Infantry Division, and two
British Commando units, they landed
at Algiers and seized the port and
outlying airfields. Elements of
the Division took part in numerous
subsequent engagements in Tunisia
during the Allied build-up, notably
at Sened Station, Faid Pass, Sbeitla,
and Fondouk Gap. |
1943 |
|
Apr- |
The
Division assaulted Hill 609. |
1
May- |
The
Division captured Hill 609 and then
drove through Chouigui Pass to Tebourba
and Ferryville. |
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The
Division trained for the Salerno
landing. |
9
Sep- |
The
151st FA Bn. went in on D-day at
Salerno, Italy. |
25
Sep- |
The rest of the Division followed. |
28
Sep- |
The
Division contacted the enemy at
the Calore River. |
Oct- |
The
34th drove north to take Benevento,
crossed the winding Volturno three
times thru November. |
9
Dec- |
The
Division assaulted Mount Patano
and took one of its four peaks before
being relieved. |
1944 |
|
Jan- |
The
Division went back in II Corps front
line battering at the Bernhardt
Line defenses. After bitter fighting
through the Mignano Gap, they were
able to take Mount Trocchio without
resistance as the German defenders
withdrew to the main prepared defenses
of the Gustav Line. |
24
Jan- |
During
the First Battle of Monte Cassino
the 34th pushed across the Rapido
River into the hills behind and
attacked Monastery Hill which dominated
the town of Cassino. |
11
Feb- |
The
34th were relieved from their positions. |
25
Mar- |
After
rest and rehabilitation, the Division
landed at the Anzio beachhead. |
23
May- |
Maintaining
defensive positions until the offensive
of 23 May, the Division broke out
of the beachhead, took Cisterna,
and raced to Civitavecchia and Rome.
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19
Jul- |
After
a short rest, the Division drove
across the Cecina River to liberate
Livorno |
Oct- |
The
34th continued on to take Mount
Belmonte during the fighting on
the Gothic Line. |
1945 |
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15
Apr- |
The
Division dug in south of Bologna
for the winter. |
21
Apr- |
The
34th captured Bologna. |
2
May- |
The
34th routed the enemy to the French
border was halted on 2 May upon
the German surrender in Italy. |
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34th
Infantry Division
in World War II
CD
1
Open all files from
the folders on the CDs
Install Adobe
Acrobat PDF Reader from CD 1 |
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The
files below are found on CD 1
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34th Infantry Division
133rd Infantry Regiment
History
CD 1
256 Pages - PDF |
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
History
CD 1
690 Pages - PDF |
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
History
CD 1
73 Pages - PDF |
34th Infantry Division
Letters
Documents
News Clippings
CD 1
8 Pages - PDF |
Medal of Honor
Recepients
CD 1
9 Citations - PDF |
34th Infantry Division
133rd Infantry Regiment
'Here Is Your Outfit'
History or 133rd
CD 1
4 Pages - PDF |
1943 - 1 Jan 44
Air Phase of the
Italian Campaign
CD 1
434 Pages - PDF |
7 - 10 Nov 42
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
Operations
Algiers, North Africa
Algeria - French
Morocco Campaign
CD 1
31 Pages - PDF |
12 Dec 42
North Africa
Operations Report
CD 1
78 Pages - PDF |
19 Dec 42
Observer Report
North Africa
CD 1
7 Pages - PDF |
24 Dec 42 - 17 Feb 43
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
Operations
CD 1
34 Pages - PDF |
12 - 21 Feb 43
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
Operations
Battle of Faid Pass
CD 1
28 Pages - PDF |
14 - 23 Feb 43
Battle of
Kasserine Pass
CD 1
28 Pages - PDF |
Mar 43
Operation Torch
Intelligence Lessons
from North Africa
CD 1
18 Pages - PDF |
26 Mar - 11 Apr 43
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
Operations
Fonduk el Okbi,
North Africa
Tunisian Campaign
CD 1
30 Pages - PDF |
8 - 9 Apr 43
34th Infantry Division
133rd Infantry Regiment
Operations
Fondouk Gap,
North Africa
Tunisian Campaign
CD 1
31 Pages - PDF |
26 Apr - 2 May 43
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion
Operations
Hill 609 and 531
Mateur, Tunisia
CD 1
33 Pages - PDF |
26 Apr - 2 May 43
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion
Hill 531
Mateur, Tunisia
Tunisia Campaign
CD 1
26 Pages - PDF |
26 - 28 Apr 43
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
Operations
Sidi Nsir, Tunisia
Tunisian Campaign
CD 1
31 Pages - PDF |
27 Apr - 1 May 43
34th Infantry Division
Operations
Tunisia, North Africa
Tunisian Campaign
CD 1
24 Pages - PDF |
Jul 43
Reports on
Operation Husky
Sicily
CD 1
30 Pages - PDF |
7 - 15 Oct 43
Volturno
First River Crossing
CD 1
20 Pages - PDF |
12 - 14 Oct 43
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
First Crossing of
the Volturno River
Naples-Foggia
Campaign
CD 1
22 Pages - PDF |
13 Oct 43
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
Crossing the
Volturno River, Italy
CD 1
18 Pages - PDF |
25 - 28 Oct 43
34th Infantry Division
135th Infantry Regiment
Operations
Battle of Ailano, Italy
CD 1
21 Pages - PDF |
29 Nov - 2 Dec 43
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
Mount Pantano, Italy
CD 1
26 Pages - PDF |
26 Jun 44
34th Infantry Division
442nd Infantry Regiment
Suvereto, Italy
CD 1
37 Pages - PDF |
Aug 44 - Apr 45
North Apennines
Gothic Line
CD 1
21 Pages - PDF |
Mar - Aug 45
34th Infantry Division
13 Newsletters
CD 1
52 Pages - PDF |
5 Apr - 2 May 44
Final Campaign of
15th Army Group
Po Valley
Campaign
CD 1
38 Pages - PDF |
18 Apr 45
34th Infantry Division
168th Infantry Regiment
German Apennine Line
CD 1
30 Pages - PDF |
War Aginst
Germany and Italy
Pictorial Record
CD 1
458 Pages - PDF |
8 - 11 Nov 42
Algeria
French Morocco
Campaign
CD 1
32 Pages - PDF |
17 Nov 42 - 13 May 43
Tunisia
CD 1
32 Pages - PDF |
9 Jul - 17 Aug 43
Sicily
Campaign
CD 1
28 Pages - PDF |
9 Sep - 6 Oct 43
Salerno
CD 1
111 Pages - PDF |
6 Oct - 15 Nov 43
Volturno
From Volturno
to the Winter Line
CD 1
131 Pages - PDF |
9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44
Naples - Foggia
CD 1
32 Pages - PDF |
9 Sep 43 - 4 Jun 44
Road To Rome
CD 1
66 Pages - PDF |
22 Jan - 24 May 44
Anzio
CD 1
28 Pages - PDF |
22 Jan - 31 May 44
The German
Operation at Anzio
CD 1
167 Pages - PDF |
22 Jan - 9 Sep 44
Rome-Arno
CD 1
31 Pages - PDF |
10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45
North
Apennines
Campaign
CD 1
33 Pages - PDF |
19 Days
From the Apennines
to the Alps
The Story of the
Po Valley Campaign
CD 1
96 Pages - PDF |
5 Apr - 8 May 45
Po Valley
Campaign
CD 1
28 Pages - PDF |
14 Apr - 2 May 45
Final Campaign
Across Northwest
Italy
CD 1
145 Pages - PDF |
1945
Finito !
The Po Valley
Campaign
CD 1
70 Pages - PDF |
WW2
Situation Maps
Europe
CD 1
82 Maps - PDF |
Research Guide
National Archives
Finding Information of
Personal Participation
in World War II Guide
CD 1
5 Pages - PDF |
Form SF-180
Records Request
Request for
Personnel Records
CD 1
3 Pages - PDF |
Guide to
Research Resources Relating to
World War II
CD 1
20 Pages - PDF |
1941 - 1945
WWII
Chronology
US Army
CD 1
672 Pages - PDF |
The
files below are found on CD 2
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VE Day
Eisenhower Flyer
CD 2
1 Page - PDF |
Rank
Insignia of Grade
CD 2
1 Page - PDF |
Chart
Enlisted Men's
Uniform Insignias
CD 2
1 Page - PDF |
Patch
Identification
Guide
CD 2
19 Pages - PDF |
Mines - Booby Traps
Identification Guide
CD 2
80 Pages - PDF |
Aircraft
Nose Art
CD 2
34 Pages - PDF
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Aircraft
Recognition Guide
CD 2
17 Pages - PDF |
Aircraft
Insignia Poster
CD 2
1 Page - PDF
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US
World War II
Posters
CD 2
249 Pages - PDF |
German
World War II
Posters
CD 2
75 Pages - PDF
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Comic Book
Covers
CD 2
8 Pages - PDF |
Song Lyrics
Army
HIT KIT
of Popular Songs
CD 2
6 Pages - PDF |
Troopships
of World War II
CD 2
391 Pages - PDF |
British
Grenadier Guards
1939 - 1945
Campaigns
BEF - 1939 - 1940
Tunisia 1942 - 1943
Italy - 1943 - 1945
Europe 1944 - 1945
CD 2
93 Pages - PDF |
Film
The
BIG PICTURE
Documentary Film
"Combat Infantryman"
An Official
Television Report
to the Nation
From the
United States Army
CD 2
Film Info - PDF
Film: 27m14s - MP4 |
Newsreels
"Allied Vise Tightens
On Rhineland"
Universal Newsreel
7 Dec 44
Film: 7m17s
"Nazis Surrender"
Universal Newsreel
14 May 45
Film: 7m24s
"The Year 1945"
United Newsreel
Film: 8m34s
CD 2
Newsreels - Folder |
1 Sep 39 - 10 May 42
Graphic History
Of The War
CD 2
76 Pages - PDF |
1985
Veterans
Remerbrances
of World War II
40th Anniversary
of VE Day
CD 2
141 Pages - PDF |
Brief History
of World War II
CD 2
55 Pages - PDF |
APOs
Army
Postal Service
Addresses
CD 2
149 Pages - PDF
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34th
Infantry
"Red
Bull"
Division |
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34th Infantry Division
History
World
War II
The
first contingent embarked at Brooklyn
on 14 January 1942 and sailed
from New York the next day. The
initial group of 4,508 stepped
ashore at 12:15 hrs on 26 January
1942 at Dufferin Quay, Belfast
commanded by Major-General Russell
P. Hartle. They were met by a
delegation including the Governor
General (Duke of Abercorn), the
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
(John Miller Andrews), the Commander
of British Troops in Ulster (General
G. E. W. Franklyn), and the Secretary
of State for Air (Sir Archibald
Sinclair).
After
continuing its training in Northern
Ireland, the 34th Infantry Division
saw its first combat in North
Africa on 8 November 1942. As
a member of the Eastern Task force,
which included two brigades of
the British 78th Infantry Division,
and two British Commando units,
they landed at Algiers and seized
the port and outlying airfields.
Elements of the Division took
part in numerous subsequent engagements
in Tunisia during the Allied build-up,
notably at Sened Station, Faid
Pass, Sbeitla, and Fondouk Gap.
In April 1943 the Division assaulted
Hill 609, capturing it on 1 May
1943, and then drove through Chouigui
Pass to Tebourba and Ferryville.
The
Division then trained for the
Salerno landing. The 151st FA
Bn. went in on D-day, 9 September
1943, at Salerno, while the rest
of the Division followed on 25
September. Contacting the enemy
at the Calore River, 28 September
1943, the 34th, part of U.S. II
Corps, drove north to take Benevento,
crossed the winding Volturno three
times in October and November,
assaulted Mount Patano and took
one of its four peaks before being
relieved, 9 December 1943.
In January 1944, the Division
was back in II Corps front line
battering at the Bernhardt Line
defenses. Thankfully, after bitter
fighting through the Mignano Gap,
they were able to take Mount Trocchio
without resistance as the German
defenders withdrew to the main
prepared defenses of the Gustav
Line. On 24 January 1944, during
the First Battle of Monte Cassino
they pushed across the Rapido
River into the hills behind and
attacked Monastery Hill which
dominated the town of Cassino.
While
they nearly captured the objective,
in the end their attacks on the
monastery and the town failed.
The performance of 34 Division
in the mountains is considered
to rank as one of the finest feats
of arms carried out by any soldiers
during the war. In return they
sustained losses of about 80%
in the Infantry battalions. They
were relieved from their positions
11-13 February 1944. Eventually,
it took the combined force of
five allied infantry divisions
to finish what the 34th nearly
accomplished on its own.
After
rest and rehabilitation, it landed
in the Anzio beachhead, 25 March
1944, maintaining defensive positions
until the offensive of 23 May,
when it broke out of the beachhead,
took Cisterna, and raced to Civitavecchia
and Rome. After a short rest,
the Division drove across the
Cecina River to liberate Livorno,
19 July 1944, and continued on
to take Mount Belmonte in October
during the fighting on the Gothic
Line. Digging in south of Bologna
for the winter, the 34th jumped
off, 15 April 1945, and captured
Bologna on 21 April. Pursuit of
the routed enemy to the French
border was halted on 2 May upon
the German surrender in Italy.
The
Division participated in six major
Army campaigns in North Africa
and Italy. The Division is credited
with amassing 517 days of front
line combat, more than any other
U.S. division. One or more 34th
Division units were engaged in
actual combat with the enemy on
611 days. This would have been
1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry,
the IRONMAN battalion. This battalion
still holds the record over the
rest of the United States Army
for days in combat.
The
division was credited with more
combat days than any other division
in the war. The 34th Division
suffered 3,737 killed in action,
14,165 wounded in action, and
3,460 missing in action, for a
total of 21,362 battle casualties.
Casualties of the division are
considered to be the highest of
any division in the theater when
daily per capita fighting strengths
are considered.
There
is little doubt the division took
the most enemy-defended hills
of any division in the European
Theater. The division's men were
awarded 10 Medals of Honor, 98
Distinguished Service Crosses,
one Distinguished Service Medal,
1,153 Silver Stars, 116 Legion
of Merit medals, one Distinguished
Flying Cross, 2,545 Bronze Stars,
54 Soldier Medals, 34 Air Medals,
with duplicate awards of 52 oak
leaf clusters, and 15,000 Purple
Hearts. More recently, in 2000
the Minnesota Legislature renamed
all of Interstate 35 in Minnesota
the "34th Division (Red Bull)
Highway," in honor of the
Division and its service in the
World Wars.
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34th
Infantry
Division
Campaigns |
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34th
Infantry Division
Campaigns of World War II
Tunisia |
17
Nov 42 - 13 May 43 |
Naples-Foggia
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9
Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44 |
Rome-Arno
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22
Jan - 9 Sep 44 |
North
Apennines |
10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45 |
Po
Valley |
5 Apr - 8 May 45 |
Tunisia
Campaign
17 Nov 42 - 13 May 43
Having gained
Algeria, the Allies quickly turned
eastward, hoping to take Tunis
and Bizerte before the Germans
could send reinforcements into
Tunisia. But the drive broke down
short of the goal. In February
1943, after Rommel had been driven
into Tunisia, the Axis took the
offensive and pushed through Kasserine
Pass before being stopped. With
Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces in
the battle, the Allies drove the
enemy back into a pocket around
Bizerte and Tunis, where Axis
forces surrendered in May. Thus
Tunisia became available for launching
an attack on Sicily as a preliminary
to an assault on Italy.
Naples-Foggia
Campaign
9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44
After Allied bombardment
of communications and airfields
in Italy, Montgomery crossed the
Strait of Messina on 3 September
1943 and started northward. Five
days later Eisenhower announced
that the Italian Government had
surrendered. Fifth Army, under
Clark, landed at Salerno on g
September and managed to stay
despite furious counterattacks.
By 18 September the Germans were
withdrawing northward. On 27 September
Eighth Army occupied the important
airfields of Foggia, and on I
October Fifth Army took Naples.
As the Allies pushed up the peninsula,
the enemy slowed the advance and
brought it to a halt at the Gustav
Line.
Rome-Arno
Campaign
22 Jan - 9 Sep 44
The Allied operations
in Italy between January and September
1944 were essentially an infantryman’s
war where the outcome was decided
by countless bitterly fought small
unit actions waged over some of
Europe’s most difficult
terrain under some of the worst
weather conditions found anywhere
during World War II.
North
Apennines Campaign
10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45
The northern Apennines
fighting was the penultimate campaign
in the Italian theater. Although
the Allies steadily lost divisions,
materiel, and shipping to operations
elsewhere, which diminished their
capabilities, their offensives
prevented the Axis from substantially
reinforcing other fronts with
troops from Italy. Yet the transfer
of units from Fifth and Eighth
Armies for use in northwest Europe,
southern France, and Greece, both
after the capture of Rome and
during the North Apennines Campaign
itself, left Allied commanders
with just enough troops to hold
Axis forces in Italy but without
sufficient forces to destroy the
enemy or to end the campaign.
Po
Valley Campaign
5 Apr - 8 May 45
For the Allied
armies in Italy, the Po Valley
offensive climaxed the long and
bloody Italian campaign. When
the spring offensive opened, it
initially appeared that its course
might continue the pattern of
the previous months and battles
in Italy, becoming another slow,
arduous advance over rugged terrain,
in poor weather, against a determined,
well-entrenched, and skillful
enemy.
However, by April
1945 the superbly led and combat-hardened
Allied 15th Army Group, a truly
multinational force, enjoyed an
overwhelming numerical superiority
on the ground and in the air.
On the other side, Axis forces
had been worn down by years of
combat on many fronts; they were
plagued by poor political leadership
at the top as well as shortages
of nearly everything needed to
wage a successful defensive war.
By April 1945
factors such as terrain, weather,
combat experience, and able military
leadership, that had for months
allowed the Axis to trade space
for time in Italy could no longer
compensate for the simple lack
of manpower, air support, and
materiel. By the end of the first
two weeks of the campaign both
sides realized that the end of
the war in Italy was in sight,
and that all the Allies needed
to complete the destruction of
Axis forces was the skillful application
of overwhelming pressure, a feat
largely accomplished within ten
days, by 2 May 1945.
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