In January 1944, the Allies decided to land at Anzio in order to overcome the stalemate at Cassino.This amphibious landing has become one of the most controversial campaigns of World War II. Questionable decisions by the Allied leadership led to three months of World War I-style trench warfare, and the entire beachhead suffered from continuous German observation and bombardment. Lack of allied total air superiority, also probed vital for an early breakthrough from the beaches. Vividly describing each thrust and counter-thrust, this book takes us through the agonizing struggle as each side sought to retain or regain mastery. This book shows how Anzio landings, although they were part of an operation poorly realized from the beginning, proved to be a stepping stone not only to Rome but also to the liberation of Italy. But, hard battles were ahead, the German forces fighting at Cassino, were able to withdraw in order and rejoin the rest of Kesselring's forces north of Rome, regroup, and make a fighting withdrawal to his next major prepared defensive position on the Gothic Line.