The Bernhardt Line, or Reinhard Line, was a German Army defensive line in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. Having reached the Bernhardt Line at the start of December 1943, it took until mid-January 1944 for the US Fifth Army to fight its way to the next line of defences, the Gustav Line. The Bernhardt Line was defended by XIV Panzer Corps, part of the German Tenth Army.
Mount Sambucaro overlooking the modern town of San Pietro Infine (left) and the ruins of the original town (center).
German-prepared defensive lines south of Rome
Area of the Fifth Army offensive in the autumn of 1943.
Italian campaign (World War II)
The Italian campaign of World War II, also called the Liberation of Italy following the German occupation in September 1943, consisted of Allied and Axis operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to 1945. The joint Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre and it planned and led the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, followed in September by the invasion of the Italian mainland and the campaign in Italy until the surrender of the German Armed Forces in Italy in May 1945.
Image: 01 partigiani a milano 1
Image: Troops from 51st Highland Division unloading stores from tank landing craft on the opening day of the Allied invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943. A17916
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 101I 577 1917 08, Monte Cassino, Fallschirmjäger mit Granatwerfer
Artillery being landed during the invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno, September 1943
