The Battles of Loreto and Ancona

July 1944

After the Battles of Monte Cassino and Piedimonte, General Alexander ordered the II Polish Corps to the Adriatic Coast.  The Allies were now too far north in Italy to use the harbors in Southern Italy for entry.  The plan was to capture Ancona and use its harbor for further operations.  General Anders viewed Loreto as an advantageous position to obtain before Ancona itself was attacked.   The position changed hands several times but was taken by Anders men on July 9^th 1944.  

Ancona was a key port on the eastern coast of Italy; it’s capture allowed the use of its harbor for future operations.  Key units used in the attack included: the 5^th Vilno Infantry Brigade, the 3^rd Carpathian Rifle Battalion, the 4^th Armoured Regiment, 2^nd Armoured Brigade, the 15^th Poznan Lancers, the British 7^th Queens Hussars, the 6^th Lwow Rifle Brigade, and the Polish Commandos.  The Germans suffered heavy casualties and a great amount of equipment and supplies were captured by the Poles; almost 3000 Germans were also captured.  Polish casualties included almost 400 dead and over 2000 injured.  Ancona was secured in two days.

 Of interest: While the 5^th Vilno Infantry Brigade and the 6^th Lwow Rifle Brigade were fighting and winning praise from the British Army, British politicians were already planning to give the cities of Vilno and Lwow away to the Soviet Union.

           Citation from President Roosevelt

<<Previous Battle                Next Battle>>                  Main Page