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{{Short description|1944 battle of World War II}} | |||
{{Infobox military conflict | {{Infobox military conflict | ||
|conflict=Battle of Ancona | |conflict=Battle of Ancona | ||
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| image_size = 300 | | image_size = 300 | ||
|caption=German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944. Polish II Corps advance and taking on Ancona showed on the map. | |caption=German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944. Polish II Corps advance and taking on Ancona showed on the map. | ||
|partof= the [[Italian | |partof= the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] of [[World War II]] | ||
|date=16 June–18 July 1944 | |date=16 June–18 July 1944 | ||
|place=[[Ancona]], Italy | |place=[[Ancona]], Italy | ||
|coordinates={{coord|43|36|43|N|13|30|52|E|region:IT_type:landmark_source:kolossus-itwiki|display=title,inline}} | |coordinates={{coord|43|36|43|N|13|30|52|E|region:IT_type:landmark_source:kolossus-itwiki|display=title,inline}} | ||
|result=Allied victory | |result=Allied victory | ||
|combatant1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|Poland]]<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>{{ | |combatant1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|Poland]]<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]] | ||
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} | |combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} | ||
|commander1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Władysław Anders]]<br/>{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Klemens Rudnicki]] | |commander1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Władysław Anders]]<br/>{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Klemens Rudnicki]] | ||
| Line 16: | Line 17: | ||
|strength2=Unknown | |strength2=Unknown | ||
|casualties1=496 killed<br/>1,789 wounded<br/>139 missing<ref name=Wawer4/> | |casualties1=496 killed<br/>1,789 wounded<br/>139 missing<ref name=Wawer4/> | ||
|casualties2=800 killed<ref>Olgierd Terlecki, Beryl Arct, ''Poles in the Italian campaign, 1943-1945'', Interpress for the Council for Protection of Monuments of Struggle and Martyrdom, 1972, p. 101</ref><br/>2,500 captured<ref name="whn">{{cite web|url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2018/12/10/the-polish-ii-corps-in-italy/|title=The Polish II Corps in Italy|work=Warfare History Network|first=James I|last=Marino}}</ref> | |casualties2=800 killed<ref>Olgierd Terlecki, Beryl Arct, ''Poles in the Italian campaign, 1943-1945'', Interpress for the Council for Protection of Monuments of Struggle and Martyrdom, 1972, p. 101</ref><br/>2,500 captured<ref name="whn">{{cite web|url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2018/12/10/the-polish-ii-corps-in-italy/|title=The Polish II Corps in Italy|work=Warfare History Network|first=James I|last=Marino|date=8 September 2021 }}</ref> | ||
|campaignbox= | |campaignbox= | ||
{{Campaignbox Italy}} | {{Campaignbox Italy}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Battle of Ancona''' was | The '''Battle of Ancona''' was fought between forces from [[Poland]] serving as part of the [[British Army]] and [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces that took place from 16 June–18 July 1944 during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] in [[World War II]]. The battle was the result of an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] plan to capture the city of [[Ancona]] in Italy in order to gain possession of a [[seaport]] closer to the fighting so that they could shorten their [[lines of communication]]. The [[Polish 2nd Corps]], tasked with capture of the city on 16 June 1944, accomplished the objective a month later on 18 July 1944. The Battle of Ancona was the only battle of the Western Front that was carried out entirely by the Polish military.<ref name="whn" /> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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[[File:BattleofAnconaEnglish Key.svg|thumb|left|200px|Battle of Ancona (17–18 July 1944)]] | [[File:BattleofAnconaEnglish Key.svg|thumb|left|200px|Battle of Ancona (17–18 July 1944)]] | ||
The first obstacle to cross was the [[Chienti]] river. Polish troops reached it on 21 June, and heavy fighting lasted in that region until 30 June.<ref name=Wawer4/> The main offensive on Ancona began on 17 July.<ref name=Wawer4/> Polish armored troops took [[Monte della Crescia]] and outflanked German troops defending Ancona.<ref name=Wawer4/> Next, | The first obstacle to cross was the [[Chienti]] river. Polish troops reached it on 21 June, and heavy fighting lasted in that region until 30 June.<ref name=Wawer4/> The main offensive on Ancona began on 17 July.<ref name=Wawer4/> Polish armored troops took [[Monte della Crescia]] and outflanked German troops defending Ancona.<ref name=Wawer4/> Next, the [[Italian Co-belligerent Army]]'s [[IX Assault Unit]] secured [[Casenuove]], and neighbouring British and Canadian troops took [[Montecchio]] and [[Croce di San Vincenzo]].<ref name=Wawer4/> By the evening of 17 July, Polish troops were near [[Agugliano]], and the following morning they took [[Offagna]].<ref name=Wawer4/> Later that day, Polish troops took [[Chiaravalle, Italy|Chiaravalle]], and armored troops reached the sea, cutting the German defenders of Ancona from the north-west.<ref name=Wawer4/> The Germans were falling back towards the sea, and Polish troops encountered little resistance entering Ancona at 14:30 on 18 July.<ref name=Wawer4/> | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
*{{in lang|pl}} Zbigniew Wawer, ''Zdobycie Bolonii'' [Capture of Bologna], Chwała Oręża Polskiego 32 (53), Rzeczpospolita, 3 March 2007. | * {{in lang|pl}} Zbigniew Wawer, ''Zdobycie Bolonii'' [Capture of Bologna], Chwała Oręża Polskiego 32 (53), Rzeczpospolita, 3 March 2007. | ||
* | * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7fzAwAAQBAJ|language=it|first=Massimo|last=Coltrinari|title=Il Corpo Italiano di Liberazione e Ancona|year=2014|isbn=978-88-6812-322-2|publisher=Edizioni Nuova Cultura|location=Rome}} | ||
* {{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_ancona.html|first=J.|last=Rickard|title=Battle of Ancona, 17-18 July 1944|date=19 November 2018|website=historyofwar.org}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=June | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ancona}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Ancona}} | ||
[[Category:1944 in Italy]] | [[Category:1944 in Italy]] | ||
[[Category:History of Ancona]] | [[Category:History of Ancona]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Battles and operations of the Italian campaign (World War II)]] | ||
[[Category:June 1944 | [[Category:June 1944 in Europe]] | ||
[[Category:July 1944 | [[Category:July 1944 in Europe]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:23, 9 January 2026
| Battle of Ancona | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Italian campaign of World War II | |||||||
 German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944. Polish II Corps advance and taking on Ancona showed on the map. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 PolandFile:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom  Italy Italian Resistance |
 Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Władysław Anders Klemens Rudnicki |
Harry Hoppe | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~50,000 | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
496 killed 1,789 wounded 139 missing[1] |
800 killed[2] 2,500 captured[3] | ||||||
The Battle of Ancona was fought between forces from Poland serving as part of the British Army and German forces that took place from 16 June–18 July 1944 during the Italian campaign in World War II. The battle was the result of an Allied plan to capture the city of Ancona in Italy in order to gain possession of a seaport closer to the fighting so that they could shorten their lines of communication. The Polish 2nd Corps, tasked with capture of the city on 16 June 1944, accomplished the objective a month later on 18 July 1944. The Battle of Ancona was the only battle of the Western Front that was carried out entirely by the Polish military.[3]
Background[edit | edit source]
The Allied advance north meant that the logistics line was in need of a port closer to the front lines than the ports of Pescara and Anzio.[1] As such, two new targets were designated: Ancona on the Adriatic coast, and Livorno on the Tyrrhenian Sea.[1] On 16 June, Polish II Corps under Lieutenant-General Władysław Anders—which had been taken into British Eighth Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese, reserve after its efforts in the Battle of Monte Cassino—was brought forward once more to relieve British V Corps and tasked with the capture of Ancona. On 17 June, Anders was given command of the Adriatic sector of the Italian theatre.[1]
Battle[edit | edit source]
The first obstacle to cross was the Chienti river. Polish troops reached it on 21 June, and heavy fighting lasted in that region until 30 June.[1] The main offensive on Ancona began on 17 July.[1] Polish armored troops took Monte della Crescia and outflanked German troops defending Ancona.[1] Next, the Italian Co-belligerent Army's IX Assault Unit secured Casenuove, and neighbouring British and Canadian troops took Montecchio and Croce di San Vincenzo.[1] By the evening of 17 July, Polish troops were near Agugliano, and the following morning they took Offagna.[1] Later that day, Polish troops took Chiaravalle, and armored troops reached the sea, cutting the German defenders of Ancona from the north-west.[1] The Germans were falling back towards the sea, and Polish troops encountered little resistance entering Ancona at 14:30 on 18 July.[1]
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
Taking Ancona was the only independent operation of the Polish II Corps.[1] Afterward, the Corps took part in the breaking of the Gothic Line and the Allied spring 1945 offensive which resulted in the surrender of the Axis forces in Italy.
For their action in the battle while seconded to the Polish corps, the British 7th Queen's Own Hussars received the battle honour "Ancona".[4]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Zbigniew Wawer, Zdobycie Bolonii, p.4
- ↑ Olgierd Terlecki, Beryl Arct, Poles in the Italian campaign, 1943-1945, Interpress for the Council for Protection of Monuments of Struggle and Martyrdom, 1972, p. 101
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Marino, James I (8 September 2021). "The Polish II Corps in Italy". Warfare History Network.
- ↑ "Maid of Warsaw". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
References[edit | edit source]
- (in Polish) Zbigniew Wawer, Zdobycie Bolonii [Capture of Bologna], Chwała Oręża Polskiego 32 (53), Rzeczpospolita, 3 March 2007.
- Coltrinari, Massimo (2014). Il Corpo Italiano di Liberazione e Ancona (in italiano). Rome: Edizioni Nuova Cultura. ISBN 978-88-6812-322-2.
- Rickard, J. (19 November 2018). "Battle of Ancona, 17-18 July 1944". historyofwar.org.