Anzio IV.

This is coolbert:

Anzio continues!

Human shields!

The German at Anzio was not above using American prisoners-of-war [POW] as human shields! Deplorable conduct in violation of the rules of land warfare! American troops having not ever encountered such a dilemma and not prepared to deal with the situation!

This occurring at the Battle of Cisterna.

American Ranger units, two battalions of highly trained, specially selected and elite troops, fighting in the role of conventional light infantry, moving forward into the attack, rather encountering an ambush - - the German Hermann Goering Division employing captured Rangers as HUMAN SHIELDS!!

"The Battle of Cisterna . . . a clear German victory which also had repercussions on the employment of U.S. Army Rangers that went beyond the immediate tactical and strategic results of the battle"

These two ranger battalions [1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions + slight attachment] badly outnumbered and outgunned, walking into an ambush, ALMOST TOTALLY ANNIHILATED - - WIPED OUT!!

"The two battalions, totaling 767 men and supported by a platoon of 43 men of the 3rd Reconnaissance Troop . . . were attacked by strong German forces of the 715th Motorized Infantry Division and Herman Göring Panzer Division"

"German units put Ranger prisoners in front of their tanks and commanded other Rangers to surrender. After the approximately seven-hour battle, only 6 of the 767 Rangers and one member of the 3rd Recon troop returned to Allied lines, resulting in an overall loss of 803 men . . . well over 400 Rangers became POWs."

"the Germans drove a group of US prisoners at bayonet point towards the US position, demanding surrender. Each time a German was shot, a prisoner was bayonetted. Rangers began surrendering individually or in small groups prompting others, acting on their own authority, to shoot them"

THE HERMANN GOERING DIVISION - - BEST UNIT IN THE GERMAN ARMY BUT NOT ABOVE USING HUMAN SHIELDS [American POW]!

Rangers, in the aftermath of Cisterna, not employed in the role as was originally envisioned for them. Only on a limited basis did the ranger units see further combat, so disastrous was the encounter at Cisterna. Also, catastrophic losses of this nature usually see high command relieved of duty, troops being "thrown away" in such a fashion not being tolerated. Much less highly trained, skilled, specially selected soldiers as the Rangers.

This particular entry has me confused: "Rangers began surrendering individually or in small groups prompting others, acting on their own authority, to shoot them". Are we speaking here of Germans doing the shooting, or American Rangers shooting their own men? This is not clear. Someone can clarify?

coolbert.