bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Germany  > MTO > Italy > Salerno-Naples-Foggia, updated by RAC 7 Oct '19.

Salerno Landing, 9 September 1943
In a major amphibious operation, a large American and British force began landing on the Salerno beach south of Naples. Smaller units of Rangers and Commandoes landed on the left flank of the beadhhead.
  • For the following week, German forces attempted to eliminate the beachhead.
  • Finally, on September 16 the German army began a planned withdrawal to the north.
The Salerno Beachhead
The Salerno Beachhead
Advance to the Volturno, September - October 1943
During the latter part of September, the Allies pushed north through southern Italy.
  • The American 5th Army entered Naples on October 1. 
  • To the east, the British 8th Army liberated Foggia, also on October 1. 
Advance to the Volturno
Advance to the Volturno
Naples.

A civilian uprising spread through Naples on the last four days before the German army withdrew to the north. On October 1, 1943, U.S. Army forces began entering Naples. The damage was due to previous Allied bombing.

Once the harbor facilities were repaired, Naples became the major port supporting Italian operations. Around six port battalions, along with thousands of Italian laborers, worked in the Naples harbor.
Liberation Scene in Naples
Liberation Scene in Naples
Foggia.

Airfields around Foggia on the Adriatic east of Naples could now support US 15th Air Force operations in Northern Italy, Austria, and the Balkans.

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The Foggia Airfields
The Foggia Airfields
With the advance to the Volturno, the Allies had achieved the initial goals of the Italian Campaign. They had a foothold on the European mainland, supported by an excellent harbor and a number of air bases. The quick and easy part of the Italian campaign was over.

However, a major goal of the Italian Campaign was to continue to apply pressure on the German Army, thus diverting German resources from the war in the east with Russia. Thus nineteen months of bloody, miserable and frustrating fighting lay ahead.
Sources for the Salerno, Naples & Foggia webpage
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Dead - Salerno, Naples & Foggia
(taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea)
  • 02-03 - The Italian Mainland - Salerno-Naples-Foggia: (updated 6 Oct ’19)
    No known Pottawattamie County deaths. Among the supporting naval forces, three died.