Panzers in Italy 1943-45

As soon as the Axis Forces in North Africa were defeated, the Allies launched 'Operation Husky', the invasion of Sicily. The landings took place on 10 July 1943 and by 17 August, the Sicilian campaign was finished. On 9 September, the US landed at Salerno on the Italian mainland and faced German stiff resistance. Eventually the beachhead at Salerno was secured and the Allies pushed north towards Naples. Kesselring set up a defensive line between Naples and Rome called the Gustav Line and the Germans were determined to stop the Allies.

On 22 January 1944 the Allies landed at Anzio, behind the German defenses. While the Germans were launching counter-attacks, the US tried to breach the Gustav Line. Monte Cassino was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the Italian campaign. With the capture of the monastery at Cassino in May, the Allies breakout from the Anzio beachhead and drove towards Rome, liberated it on 4 June 1944. Then came the Gothic Line which was eventually broken in September. Late 1944 and early 1945 saw little action and by April 1945, the Allies encircled the retreating Germans near Bologna, and the disintegrating German armies were surrendering in the tens of thousands.

This book contains many unpublished photos from private archives, featuring Tiger, Panther, Elefant, Nashorn, Hummel, Wespe, StuG, Brummbar etc. Tom Cockle, an expert in German armor and a modeler, well researched the text and captions in the book, the contents are very informative. Doug Jameson, also a modeler, is an artist by profession. All the color plates are well researched, from camouflage and markings down to the weathering and zimmerit patterns.

Tom Cockle
Softcover 72 pages, 180 b/w photos, 16 color plates Concord Publications