Italian Front
Situation Report Oct 23rd 1943 Turn 17
Army Group C
With the front line fluid as the German retreat from Calabria region continues Von Arnim receives some heartening news Gen Balcks two Divs have reached friendly lines at Lauria, the general withdrawal can recommence, 5th Pz Armee is ordered to fall back via Naples then to Caserta.
As the troops begin to disengage from the enemy news reaches Command that Taranto has finally fallen, also a major assault on Foggia has begun as Gen Vietinghoff's 10th Armee battles to hold the city, just East of Benevento 10th Panzer division is forced back in a major assault against the line, the Allies attack with over 60 000 men, a 10 mile gap opens up leaving Von Arnim's HQ undefended against The Brit 231 brigade which is advancing towards the city.
At Foggia LXXIV ArmeeKorps is finally overwhelmed the enemy launching seven major assaults within the week 15th Panzer and 90th Pz Gren are smashed, simply unable to hold against the huge number of troops thrown against them, as Allied forces enter the city our forces fall back to the city of San Severo, 10th Armee's line collapses as both supporting Infantry Divs are also pushed back.
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Von Arnim orders three of his Infantry Div's to hurriedly form a defence line in front of the shattered 10th Armee units.
At lauria LXXXX ArmeeKorps contains an attack by US VII Corps, Balcks men inflicting heavy losses on enemy troops , the enemy suffering large Tank losses also.
- WITW Battles IF 17.jpg (147.13 KiB) Viewed 1099 times
Brit X , V and XXX Corps attack 10th Pz Division the unit initially holds but is finally driven aside and takes heavy losses including half its Tank force.
- WITW Battles IF 17a.jpg (155.09 KiB) Viewed 1099 times
South of the 10th Panzer battle US II and VI Corps also force a breakthrough opening a second 10 mile gap in 5th Pz Armee's line.
- WITW Battles IF 17.jpg (136.01 KiB) Viewed 1099 times
