Ortona.

This is coolbert:

"those that in both places [Stalingrad and the mountains of Italy] compared the two unfavorably!"

"He [German] surrendered none of his positions readily."

Here is "Little Stalingrad". Combat action of the Italian campaign. Battle between elite military units of Germany and Canada.

"The Battle of Ortona (December 20, 1943 to December 28, 1943) was a small, yet extremely fierce, battle fought between a battalion of German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) . . . and assaulting Canadian forces from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division"

Ortona, Italian port on the Adriatic, deemed absolutely vital to the allied war effort. An importance of which was recognized as well by the German defender. The order being given to defend Ortona to the last. German elite troops, experienced and well prepared for urban warfare defending. German troops knowing full well how to properly defend an urban area, having gained bitter experience at Stalingrad!

"Ortona was of high strategic importance, as it was one of Italy's few usable deep water ports on the east coast, and was needed for docking allied ships"

Canadian attackers - - having a very great learning curve to overcome, the fighting at Ortona being intense in the extreme. In this particular instance too - - you have very good troops as opposed by very good troops, contesting the same ground!




The tactic of ABOVE-GROUND TUNNELLING BEING EXTENSIVELY EMPLOYED! The use of the "mouse-hole" being vital and essential to an urban offensive - - or defensive for that matter!

See here this intelligence bulletin from the period describing the fighting at Ortona. Thanks to the Lone Sentry. "How the Enemy Defended the Town of Ortona"

"It was a grim and bitter defense, and a very costly one for the Germans. The enemy frequently replaced personnel in positions as often as four times before our troops were able to occupy and consolidate the ground or the building."

Comments:

* Urban warfare is generally recognized as being extremely difficult. Troops on the offensive in particular need special training, equipment, lots of hand grenades, explosives, etc.

* The use of heavy artillery, tank fire, aerial bombardment in the urban combat situation quite often creates an environment MUCH MORE favorable to the defender. Generally speaking the "heavy-handed" approach during city fighting does not work!!

* The American military DID in the aftermath of the Second World War make an extensive study of urban warfare and DID think the problem through very thoroughly incorporating into doctrine "lessons learned". With good results as witnessed at Fallujah during the current Iraq war. The use of proper tactics and equipment in the urban environment can ease the situation greatly.

coolbert.