Operation Diadem order of battle facts for kids
Operation Diadem was a really important military plan during World War II in 1944. It happened in Italy, south of Rome. The goal was for the Allied forces to break through strong German defenses, especially at a tough place called the Winter Line, and also to break out from a beachhead at Anzio. This operation led to a big victory for the Allies, including the capture of Rome. This page lists the main military groups and their leaders who fought in this major battle.
Allied Forces: The Push for Rome
The Allied forces were led by General Sir Harold Alexander. He was the top commander for all the Allied armies in Italy. His main helper was Lieutenant-General Sir John Harding, who was his Chief of Staff.
U.S. Fifth Army
The U.S. Fifth Army was a big part of the Allied effort. Its commander was Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark. This army had different groups of soldiers fighting in different areas.
U.S. VI Corps (At Anzio)
The U.S. VI Corps was stuck in a tough spot at Anzio, a beachhead where they had landed earlier. They needed to break out. This corps was led by Major General Lucian K. Truscott.
Some of the main divisions fighting at Anzio included:
- U.S. 3rd Infantry Division
- British 1st Infantry Division
- U.S. 45th Infantry Division
- U.S. 1st Armored Division (These are soldiers with tanks and armored vehicles)
- U.S. 34th Infantry Division
- U.S. 36th Infantry Division (joined later in May 1944)
- British 5th Infantry Division
- First Special Service Force (a special unit made of U.S. and Canadian soldiers)
U.S. II Corps (on the Winter Line)
The U.S. II Corps was fighting on the Winter Line, a very strong line of German defenses. This corps was commanded by Major-General Geoffrey Keyes.
Key units in this corps were:
- U.S. 88th Infantry Division
- U.S. 85th Infantry Division
- A group of U.S. armored units with tanks.
- The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division also joined this corps later in May.
French Expeditionary Corps (on the Winter Line)
The French Expeditionary Corps also played a big role on the Winter Line. It was led by Général d'armée (General) Alphonse Juin.
This corps included several divisions, many of them from French colonies:
- 3rd Algerian Infantry Division
- 4th Moroccan Mountain Division
- 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division
- 1st Motorised Infantry Division (These were French soldiers who continued fighting against Germany)
- Command of Moroccan Goumiers (Special Moroccan mountain troops)
- Various support units like artillery and tank destroyers.
British Eighth Army
The British Eighth Army was another major Allied force fighting on the Winter Line. Its commander was Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese.
British XIII Corps
The British XIII Corps was led by Lieutenant-General Sidney C. Kirkman.
Important divisions in this corps were:
- British 4th Infantry Division
- British 6th Armoured Division (Another armored unit with tanks)
- 8th Indian Infantry Division
- British 78th Infantry Division
- 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade (A Canadian tank unit)
I Canadian Corps
The I Canadian Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General E. L. M. Burns.
This corps included:
- 1st Canadian Infantry Division
- 5th Canadian Armoured Division
- British 25th Army Tank Brigade
Polish II Corps
The Polish II Corps was a brave group of Polish soldiers fighting alongside the Allies. It was led by Lieutenant-General Władysław Anders.
Their main units were:
- Polish 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division
- Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry Division
- Polish 2nd Armoured Brigade (A Polish armored unit)
British X Corps
The British X Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Richard L. McCreery.
This corps included:
- 2nd New Zealand Division (Soldiers from New Zealand)
- British 24th Guards Brigade
- British 2nd Parachute Brigade (Soldiers who jump from planes)
- 12th South African Motorised Brigade (Soldiers from South Africa)
- Italian Corps of Liberation (Italian soldiers who fought with the Allies)
British V Corps (On the Adriatic Front)
The British V Corps was positioned on the Adriatic coast, mainly holding the line. It was led by Lieutenant-General Charles Allfrey.
Key units here were:
- 4th Indian Infantry Division
- 10th Indian Infantry Division
- British 23rd Armoured Brigade
German Forces: Defending Italy
The German forces in Italy were part of Army Group C, led by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring. He was the top German commander in Italy.
German Fourteenth Army (at Anzio)
The Fourteenth Army was responsible for defending against the Allied forces at Anzio. Its commander was Lieutenant-General Eberhard von Mackensen.
German I Parachute Corps
This corps, led by Lieutenant-General Alfred Schlemm, included:
- 3rd Panzergrenadier Division (A fast-moving infantry division)
- 4th Parachute Division (Elite German paratroopers)
- 65th Infantry Division
German LXXVI Panzer Corps
This corps, led by Lieutenant-General Traugott Herr, included:
- 362nd Infantry Division
- 715th Infantry Division
German Tenth Army (on the Winter Line)
The Tenth Army was in charge of holding the strong Winter Line defenses. Its commander was General Heinrich von Vietinghoff.
XIV Panzer Corps
This corps, led by Lieutenant-General Frido von Senger und Etterlin, included:
- 15th Panzergrenadier Division
- 71st Infantry Division
- 94th Infantry Division
LI Mountain Corps
This corps, led by Lieutenant-General Valentin Feurstein, included:
- 1st Parachute Division
- 5th Mountain Division (Specialized mountain troops)
- 44th Infantry Division
- 114th Jäger Division (Light infantry division)
Korpsgruppe Hauck (on Adriatic Front)
This group, led by Major-General Friedrich-Wilhelm Hauck, was holding the line on the Adriatic coast. It included the 305th Infantry Division and the 334th Infantry Division.
Sources
- Joslen, H. F. (2003). Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
