Gustav Line

In World War II, German defensive line in Italy running from the mouth of the Garigliano River through Cassino and across the Apennines to a point south of Ortona.

After the US 5th Army's breakout from the Salerno beachhead and the advance of the British 8th Army from Taranto, the Germans fell back to this line and put up a stubborn defence. The Allies landed at Anzio 22 January 1944 in an attempt to outflank it, but this was quickly contained by German counterattacks and the line did not fall until the capture of Cassino May 1944.