I just had to chuckle at an operation in Italy called Stiletto - involving an attack from the "heel"
Holy shit. The war really begins now. Germany isn't going to be fucking around here.Operation Stiletto
May 1943
Now that U.S. forces had a strong foothold in Italy it was time for an official offensive operation. Operation Stiletto would have Atlantic Force: Bronze advance from Sicily, through southern Italy and to hold at Rome. Atlantic Force: Silver would hold their position just north of Rome and provide a distraction for Italian troops to engage. This would hopefully allow for an easier push through the mountainous terrain of Italy for Atlantic Force: Bronze. Operation Stiletto would start at Noon on the Fifteenth of March and Atlantic Force: Bronze would begin their push through southern Italy.
The offensive began with little resistance. Italian forces were still attempting to organize their forces after Americans landed on the mainland. While Italy was organizing, Atlantic Force: Bronze was traversing through the mountains of southern Italy. This would greatly slow the advance and it would take fifteen days for Atlantic Force: Bronze to make a respectable advance.
American troops shortly after seizing Taranto.
While Atlantic Force: Bronze was advancing through the mountains, Atlantic Force: Silver was being engaged by Italian troops. This was all going as planned and the engagement would allow Atlantic Force: Bronze to advance more easily through southern Italy. Unfortunately for Atlantic Force: Bronze the Italians were now dedicated to halting the American advance and more troops were now on their way to mainland Italy. As more Italian troops flooded into mainland Italy Atlantic Force: Silver was beginning to become fatigued and so Atlantic Force: Gold was mobilized from North Africa to Sardinia to await further instructions for reinforcing Operation Stiletto.
By the middle of April the Italian Army had reinforced the mainland with thousands of troops to combat the American advance. Atlantic Force: Silver would continue to hold north of Rome as Light Armor and Infantry divisions hammered Atlantic Force: Silver day and night. While Silver was holding the line above Rome Atlantic Force: Bronze was now engaged in combat against a respectable force from the Italian Army. Atlantic Force: Bronze was able to secure the port city of Taranto which was located on the heel of Italy. This would allow for easier access to supplies and ammunition for American forces and the push north would now continue with all of Atlantic Force: Bronze participating.
Map of Italy at the end of May.
Atlantic Force: Bronze would continue north through Italy before being bogged down by an overwhelming opposing force by Italy. With the advance stalled, Atlantic Force: Bronze halted their advance and reorganized an offensive line. This would take considerable time as Bronze was spread out from the heel of Italy to the beginning of middle mainland. As Bronze was reorganizing Atlantic Force: Gold deployed to Silver’s position, further reinforcing the strategic position of Atlantic Force: Silver. It seemed that taking Italy would take longer than originally expected as Italy was able to organize a sizable force despite initially being caught off guard.
With the U.S. Army advancing through Italy at a steady rate Mussolini called upon its ally Germany to become involved in the war. Adolf Hitler accepted Mussolini’s invitation and Hitler would bring Germany into the war against America.