It was another, after Monte Cassino, large success of Poles. On 18 July 1944, the 3rd Karpacki firearm Division of the 2nd Polish Corps of General Władysław Anders captured Ancona, a town and port in central Italy on the Adriatic coast. The operation was successful thanks to a tactical maneuver that misled the Germans as to the correct direction of the attack.
2 Corps soldiers in Willys MB car on the streets of the destroyed city
After the winner Battle of Monte Cassino of May 18, 1944, commanded by the 2nd Polish Corps gene. Władysław Anders, Allies in early June They took Rome and moved on north For the Germans retreating. The 2nd Corps after a short remainder was besides directed at the Adriatic section of the Italian front, where the Germans strengthened on another defensive position, the alleged Ready Line.
"Germany withdrew at the central section of the front behind Rome, but inactive controlled an crucial port in Ancona over the Adriatic. The capture of Ancona was to be another 2nd Corps task," he wrote Norman Davies in his book "The way of Hope". – "Ancon was expected to be an chance to show military skills, specified as staff planning, coordination between services and front tactics," he explained.
The German command wanted to keep at all costs this city and port, due to the fact that this was the way to supply the Wehrmacht forces. “That’s why they made Ancona a real fortress, surrounding it with a line of fortifications, and the soldiers from the 71st Infantry Division and 278th Infantry Division were sent to its defence,” says Dr. Karol Gawronski, the military historian of the Second War period.
For the Allies, the port was besides an crucial goal, as mastering it would importantly shorten the supply lines that had so far passed through the more confederate port in Pescara. The acquisition of the city was entrusted with 2 KP, which – after losses incurred under Monte Cassino – the Italian Liberation Corps (led by General Umberto Utili), the British 7th Huzars Regiment, and a guerrilla group called the Maiella Brigade were subordinate.
Artists from the 2nd Polish Corps prepare a position of anti-tank gun
Polish soldiers set off for the attack on June 17 and after 12 days they crossed the Chienti River and captured the city of Loreto on July 1. erstwhile planning the conflict for Ancona, General Anders decided that the main attack from the north-west would be carried out by the 5th End Infantry Division together with the 2nd Warsaw Armored Brigade. Simultaneously 3rd Karpack firearm Division will phase an attack along the coast on the east wing and bind German forces – explains the historian.
The attack began on the morning of July 17 from artillery and aerial firing of German positions. Then the 5th Vilnius Armored Brigade with the 5th KDP broke the enemy's positions and after dense fighting captured Monte della Crescia ascending over the city. At the same time, tanks of the 2nd Warsaw Armored Brigade took over Monte Torto hill. The German defence was breached, allowing the 2nd Armour Brigade to execute a flanking maneuver and exit to the back of the Germans.
2nd Polish Corps after the fight for Ancona - Soldiers with the German tank destroyer Nashorn captured; second plan M4 Sherman
On the night of the Germans retreated and on July 18 at 2.30 p.m., after a short fight, soldiers of the Carpathian Ulan Regiment from 3 DSK entered the city first. They were greeted by cheering residents. "At 2.30 p.m., I entered the city, greeted by an enthusiastic civilian population. My full car was covered in flowers, women threw themselves at my neck, the driver was kissed by hands [...]. At 7:00 p.m., I was admitted to the prefecture at a solemn Magistrate meeting" - described Major Stanisław Zakrzewski, commander of the Karpackian Regiment in a study to the 2nd Corps commander.
During the Ancon operation on the Polish side 388 soldiers were killed and 1636 wounded. Soldiers were buried at the Polish War Cemetery in Loreto. German casualties are about 800 dead, 2.4 1000 wounded and 800 taken prisoner. After mastering the port, the Allies, including Polish units, moved further along the Adriatic coast in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
– The conflict for Ancona was another, after Monte Cassino, a large success of Poles and, what is worth highlighting, the only independent operation of the Polish Armed Forces on the Western Front in the Second War – adds Dr. Gawronski.
