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{{ | {{Short description|German defence line during WW2}} | ||
{{Campaignbox Italy}} | {{Campaignbox Italy}} | ||
[[Image:ItalyDefenseLinesSouthofRome1943 4.jpg|thumb|right|300px|German prepared defensive lines south of Rome]] | [[Image:ItalyDefenseLinesSouthofRome1943 4.jpg|thumb|right|300px|German prepared defensive lines south of Rome]] | ||
The '''Caesar Line''' was the last [[Wehrmacht|German]] line of defence in [[Italy]] before [[Rome]] during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]] | The '''Caesar Line''' was the last [[Wehrmacht|German]] line of defence in [[Italy]] before [[Rome]] during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]]. | ||
When the Caesar C Line defences, manned by the [[14th Army (Wehrmacht)|German 14th Army]], were breached by the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]] on 30 May 1944, following the [[Battle of Anzio|breakout from Anzio]], the road to Rome was finally opened. The Germans retreated to their next line of defence, the [[Trasimene Line]] where the 14th Army re-aligned with the [[10th Army (Wehrmacht)|German 10th Army]] before withdrawing to the formidable defences of the [[Gothic Line]]. | == Geography == | ||
The extended from the west coast near [[Ostia (town)|Ostia]], over the Alban Hills south of Rome, from [[Valmontone]] to [[Avezzano]] and then to [[Pescara]] on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] coast. Behind the western half of the line was a subsidiary line, the [[Roman switch line]] which took a path north of Rome.{{cn|date=November 2025}} | |||
== Roman switch line (subsidiary line) == | |||
The '''Roman switch line''' was a line of defense that branched off the [[Caesar C line]] and running north of [[Rome]] towards coast of the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]. The next line was [[Trasimene Line]] in central Italy which was intended to delay the Allies and allow the completion of the [[Gothic Line]] a major defensive works north of [[Florence]]. | |||
== Breach of the line == | |||
When the Caesar C Line defences, manned by the [[14th Army (Wehrmacht)|German 14th Army]], were breached by the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]] on 30 May 1944, following the [[Battle of Anzio|breakout from Anzio]], the road to Rome was finally opened and Rome fell on 4 June.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oliver |first1=Dennis |title=Panther German Army Medium Tank: Italian Front, 1944–1945 |date=5 January 2024 |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |isbn=978-1-3990-6501-6 |page=30 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Panther_German_Army_Medium_Tank/-WeIEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> | |||
The Germans retreated to their next line of defence, the [[Trasimene Line]] where the 14th Army re-aligned with the [[10th Army (Wehrmacht)|German 10th Army]] before withdrawing to the formidable defences of the [[Gothic Line]].{{cn|date=November 2025}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Operation Shingle|Battle of Anzio]] | *[[Operation Shingle|Battle of Anzio]] | ||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caesar C Line}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Caesar C Line}} | ||
[[Category:German World War II defensive lines]] | [[Category:German World War II defensive lines]] | ||
[[Category:Italian campaign (World War II)]] | [[Category:Italian campaign (World War II)]] | ||
[[Category:Rome in World War II]] | |||
[[Category:World War II sites in Italy]] | [[Category:World War II sites in Italy]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:23, 13 March 2026
The Caesar Line was the last German line of defence in Italy before Rome during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.
Geography[edit | edit source]
The extended from the west coast near Ostia, over the Alban Hills south of Rome, from Valmontone to Avezzano and then to Pescara on the Adriatic coast. Behind the western half of the line was a subsidiary line, the Roman switch line which took a path north of Rome.[citation needed]
Roman switch line (subsidiary line)[edit | edit source]
The Roman switch line was a line of defense that branched off the Caesar C line and running north of Rome towards coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The next line was Trasimene Line in central Italy which was intended to delay the Allies and allow the completion of the Gothic Line a major defensive works north of Florence.
Breach of the line[edit | edit source]
When the Caesar C Line defences, manned by the German 14th Army, were breached by the U.S. Fifth Army on 30 May 1944, following the breakout from Anzio, the road to Rome was finally opened and Rome fell on 4 June.[1]
The Germans retreated to their next line of defence, the Trasimene Line where the 14th Army re-aligned with the German 10th Army before withdrawing to the formidable defences of the Gothic Line.[citation needed]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Oliver, Dennis (5 January 2024). Panther German Army Medium Tank: Italian Front, 1944–1945. Pen and Sword Military. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-3990-6501-6.