Anzio Landing

The Anzio Landing was part of World War II. Allied forces in central Italy stalled as they came up against mountanous fortified German positions in the Gustav Line. In an attempt to circumvent these entrenchments, an amphibious force was sent up the west coast of Italy where it landed behind German lines.

The landings went well, but the commander on the ground was too slow to advance and the Germans were able to hem in the attackers. It would be many more months before they were able to break out.

Winston Churchill famously commented, "Instead of hurling a wildcat onto the shore all we got was a stranded whale."