The Combatants

In order to break through the Gustav Line the Allies had to continue pushing in fresh units to replace the ones bloodied in the fighting.   The men who fought in their ranks represented men from across the world: from Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia.  Facing them the Germans arrayed mountain troops, mechanized units and tough paratroops.  Dug in among the steep mountains they were able to resist the most determined assaults.