Allied Armies in Italy

Allied Armies in Italy, commanded by Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, was the title of the highest Allied field headquarters in Italy, during the middle part of the Italian campaign. In the early and later stages of the campaign the headquarters was known as 15th Army Group; it reported to the Joint Allied command Allied Force Headquarters (AFH) the theatre command for the Mediterranean Theatre.

15th Army Group was renamed Allied forces in Italy on 11 January 1944, then Allied Central Mediterranean Force on 18 January 1944 and finally Allied Armies in Italy on 9 March 1944) The Army group was commanded by Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander until 11 December 1944. General Mark W. Clark then took command and the headquarters title was reverted to 15th Army Group.^{[citation needed]}

Allied Armies in Italy thus controlled the land forces for some of the hardest fighting of the entire war. Operations carried out included: the long stalemate on the Gustav Line with the hardfought Battle of Monte Cassino; the Anzio landings; the capture of Rome; and ending with the Allied forces stuck again just south of the Po valley.

For most of its life the command consisted of the US Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army.

References

• Jackson, General W.G.F. & with Gleave, Group Captain T.P. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO 1987]. The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume VI: Part II - June to October 1944. History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-071-8. 
• Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; with Flynn R.N., Captain F.C.; Davies, Major-General H.L. & Gleave, Group Captain T.P. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO 1973]. Butler, J.R.M. ed. The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume V: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944. History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-069-6.