The Operations Centre allows you to:
- Enter the Zoom Classroom
- Communicate with Veterans
- Communicate with Serving Soldiers
- View and type messages form the FSSF Association
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM JOHN HART AND THE FSSF ASSOCIATION.
CONTINUED
Click For More
February 16: The Germans assault the Force’s position on the Mussolini Canal. Their assault would not be successful and the beachhead would remain.
May 10: The Force is relieved from Anzio by the 36th Combat Engineer Regiment. They had spent 99 days on the line, aggressively patrolling and wearing down the Germans. This is where they got their moniker the Black Devils Brigade, after an entry in a captured German officers diary. Night patrolling was a very successful tactic for the Force and it enhanced their legend. They would now move to the assault on Rome.
May 23: The breakout and push to Rome begins. The Force easily moves into its attack position.
June 4: The Force is on the threshold of Rome. Despite some initial resistance, the Force enters Rome relatively easily and are the first official Allied troops to liberate the city.
June 5: The Force is responsible for guarding bridges into the city of Rome and providing security. Much of the Force is regrouping at Tor Sapienzo and awaiting further orders.
June 6: 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion participated in the D-Day landings accomplishing all their tasks and finally taking up a defensive position at the strategic Le Mesnil Crossroads.
June 8: The entire FSSF is at Lago Albano for rest and regroup.
June 25: Brigadier General Robert Frederick, founder and leader of the First Special Service Force is appointed to lead the 1st Airborne Task Force during the invasion of France, and must leave the Force. He would be promoted to Major General, the youngest in the US Army at age 37. The Force would now be commanded by Colonel Edwin Walker.
July 1: The Force boards ships and sets sail to Naples for its next mission. Next stop France.
July 5: The Force begins an intensive six week course on training for amphibious assault. Now attached to the US 6th Army Group (Southern Group). Operation Bruno was the culmination exercise certifying the Force as qualified for amphibious operations.
