Editing Winter Line (section)

==Gustav Line==
The Gustav Line stretched across the Italian Peninsula and barred the way to Rome for the two Allied armies in Italy: the [[U.S. Fifth Army]] in the west and the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]]{{Efn|Neither army was homogenous; the US army included British and French troops, the British included troops from Commonwealth nations}} in the east. The Allies' grand strategy in the autumn of 1943 was for the Eighth Army to advance through the Sangro River defences, then hook south at [[Avezzano]] and enter Rome from the rear while the Fifth Army approached from the south.

The center of the Gustav Line crossed the main route north to Rome at strategically crucial Highway 6.  It followed the [[Liri]] valley and was anchored around the mountains behind the town of [[Cassino]]. Above it stood the ancient Benedictine sanctuary of [[Monte Cassino]], which dominated the valley entrance, and Monte Cassino, which gave the defenders clear observation of potential attackers advancing towards the valley mouth. The U.S. 5th Army was held up in front of these positions through the winter of 1943-44. They attempted to flank the position by the [[Battle of Anzio|landings at Anzio]] but bogged down quickly there. A bloody and protracted battle was waged over the monastery, known as the [[Battle of Monte Cassino]].

The eastern end of the line was held by the coastal town of [[Ortona]], captured by Canadian forces in the fierce [[Battle of Ortona]] in December 1943 which became known as "the little Stalingrad." Failure by the 8th Army to capture [[Orsogna]] however put an end to the Allied plans of a strong drive up the eastern coast. Rain, flooded rivers, and high casualties, as well as the departure of General Montgomery, all put a halt to Allied plans until the spring of 1944. The Gustav Line thus fulfilled the wishes of Field Marshal [[Albert Kesselring|Kesselring]], the commander of German forces in Italy, of keeping the Allies south of the so-called Winter Line.