Battle of San Pietro Infine

Part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Italian Campaign, World War II

The Liri valley with Mt. Sambúcaro overlooking the modern town of San Pietro Infine (left) and ruins of the original town (center).

Date	8–17 December 1943
Location	San Pietro Infine, Italy
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United States

Italy

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

Mark Clark

Albert Kesselring

Casualties and losses

1,200 casualties
(400 killed or missing, 800 wounded)

Unknown

The Battle of San Pietro Infine (commonly referred to as the "Battle of San Pietro") was a major engagement from 8–17 December 1943, in the Italian Campaign of World War II involving Allied forces attacking from the south against heavily fortified positions of the German "Winter Line" in and around the town of San Pietro Infine, just south of Monte Cassino about halfway between Naples and Rome. The eventual Allied victory in the battle was crucial in the ultimate drive to the north to liberate Rome. The battle is also remembered as the first in which the troops of the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito) fought as co-belligerents of the Allies following the armistice with Italy. The original town of San Pietro Infine was destroyed in the battle; the modern, rebuilt town of the same name is located a few hundred meters awayCoordinates: 41°26′40″N 13°57′31″E / 41.44444°N 13.95861°E / 41.44444; 13.95861.

The Allied invasion of Italy from the south followed the Allied successes in North Africa. Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army advanced from the east following the Second Battle of El Alamein and the British-American invasion of French North Africa by Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson's British First Army in Operation Torch had led to the surrender of almost 250,000 Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943.

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