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.
The breakout began with a dawn artillery barrage on all
German positions. In their sector, the Force smashed through
the main line of enemy machine gun emplacements and quickly moved through numerous mine fields while under constant artillery and mortar barrages.
Despite mounting casualties, they reached their two objectives and dug-in by noon. Their tank support was delayed by the land mines, and their left flank was exposed because the adjacent unit had not kept pace with them. At mid-afternoon, twelve German Tiger tanks accompanied by infantry troops moved forward and began decimating the Force positions at Highway 7 and the railway line. Six Allied tanks were finally able to make it to the highway, but there was nothing more powerful than a Tiger. All six were destroyed by a single Tiger in a span of ten minutes.
Allied forces broke through the Gustav Line at Cassino in
mid-May of 1944 forcing the Germans to retreat north on
Highway 6 and establish a new line of defense. Operation Buffalo
was a major Allied offensive to break out of the beachhead and
cut off the enemy at Highway 6 north of Anzio. It was set for May 23 to
coincide with the Allied push from the south. The Force was assigned the
far right flank of the breakout assault line. First Regiment’s line of departure
was along 1.6 km of the Fosso di Cisterna canal, a tributary of the Mussolini Canal
that ran perpendicular to it. Third Regiment moved abreast along the Mussolini Canal to
cover First Regiment’s right flank while the Third Division was on the Forces’ left flank to the west. First Battalion-Second Regiment supported First Regiment while its Second Battalion reinforced Third Regiment. The Force’s initial objective was to secure Highway 7 located 2.5 km to the northeast and the adjacent railway line another 500 meters north of the highway. Click Here for More
