Historical background

10 September 1943
The Allies try to expand their beachhead. Although now firmly established at Salerno, they do not have enough room between coast and enemy to allow use of the ports at Salerno and Vietri. 36th US Division, 6th US Corps sets about capturing high ground from Ogliastro to Albanella. Meanwhile, British 10th Corps pushes on at Battipaglia to capture Montecorvino airfield. 46th Division is to clear Salerno and the corridors through the Sorrento peninsula. However, at first light the Germans strike first, driving 56th Division out of Battipaglia but Montecorvino airfield is captured by 3rd Coldstream Guards and 2/6th Queen's Regiment, 169th Brigade and Faiano falls without a fight. On 10th Corps' left, 46th Division troops end the day in a stalemate with German forces at Cava di Tirreni. At the Gulf's southern end, 45th US Division gets ashore virtually unmolested to support 36th US Division - most defenders having been moved to the north against 10th Corps. General Clark believes he will soon advance on Naples.

Eighth Army reaches the Catanzaro 'neck' after an advance of about 100 miles. Montgomery wishes to pause here but is reluctantly persuaded to push forward to relieve pressure on the landings at Salerno. 1st Airborne Division's patrols from Taranto reach Monopoli on the Adriatic Coast and find it clear of Germans, but at Castellanata 10th Parachute Battalion has a sharp engagement in which the Divisional commander, Major-General G. F. Hopkinson, is mortally wounded. 5th Corps troops are now being shipped into Taranto from where they are intended eventually to come under Montgomery's command.

11 September 1943
The fighting at Salerno becomes more chaotic and piecemeal. Typical is the fight on 56th Division's front, where 167th Brigade and 201st Guards Brigade are subjected to sudden sharp attacks by infiltrating German units at the 'Tobacco Factory' between Battipaglia and Bellizzi. These attacks are beaten off, but neither British nor German troops are really sure of the situation.

In 46th Division's sector, the fighting is also scrappy and disjointed. 139th Brigade are able to gradually relieve the Commando forces at Vietri sul Mare and on the left the US Rangers are reinforced and continue to hold their positions.

A three-pronged push in the US 6th Corps' sector by the 45th US Division and the 36th US Division is held up in the left and centre as troops of the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division filter into the fighting on the plain. Elsewhere, British 1st Airborne Division enters Bari and then Brindisi. 

Montgomery pushes forward units of 5th Division towards Castrovillari and Belvedere and the 1st Canadian Division -towards Crotone. Alexander's Chief-of-Staff, Richardson, arrives at Montgomery's headquarters to explain the crisis at Salerno and to offer men and equipment to threaten the South flank of the Germans facing Fifth Army.

12 September 1943
General Alexander sends a report to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (C.I.G.S.) on this day, which provides an accurate summary of the situation at Salerno: 'I am not satisfied with the situation … [at Salerno]. The build-up is slow and they are pinned down to a bridgehead which has not enough depth. Everything possible is being done to push follow-up units and material to them. I expect heavy German counter-attack to be imminent…'

At Salerno itself, 10th Corps formations spend most of the day improving and strengthening their positions, whilst the Germans continue to probe and infiltrate the British positions. 

On US 6th Corps' front, the Germans counter-attack at Altavilla and take the town, 36th US Division is ordered to retake the town as its loss threatens the neighbouring 45th US Division. However, to the Germans the latter Division's continued advance actually appears to be threatening the 16th Panzer Division and the perception is therefore that a diversionary counter-attack is needed near Salerno to relieve this pressure. 

13 September 1943
At Salerno a crisis develops when massive German counter-attacks mean that every last reserve of Fifth Army is committed to the defence. It desperately needs reinforcements quickly. The high command, however, has problems of its own in securing the means to get reinforcements where they are needed. The only possible means prove to be the use of warships to transport troops from Sicily and the dropping of a parachute regiment into the beachhead. On the night of 13th/14th, men of the 504th Parachute Regiment, 82nd US Airborne Division are successfully dropped into the beachhead. The Germans believe that preparations may be being made by the Allies to evacuate the beachhead.

Counter-attacks are therefore planned with the strongest being that between the two Allied corps in the vicinity of Persano and Bellizzi. This means the German main advance is against the US 6th Corps. This Corps is in the process of launching its own attacks - particularly one to regain Altavilla - when the Germans attack. The Americans here are eventually forced to fall back three miles. Near Persano troops of the US 45th and 36th Divisions are savaged by German Panzer Grenadiers and in some cases practically wiped out. However, American artillery units firing over open sights - together with drivers, cooks, clerks and others - halt the Germans at the junction of the Sele and Calore rivers. There are no other Allied troops here between the Germans and the sea. The commander of the 6th US Corps, Dawley, attempts to shorten his line and await the arrival of the parachute reinforcements. On the British 10th Corps' front, for 56th and 46th Divisions there is little to be done except hold on at all costs against probing German attacks. 

14 September 1943
Three cruisers are ordered to embark 1500 reinforcements for 10th Corps and sail for Salerno at speed. Despite the depth of the crisis, this is all strenuous methods can produce at such short notice. Meanwhile air and sea forces attempt to give whatever help they can to the beleaguered ground forces. The British 10th Corps spends most of the day resolutely defending against the German infiltration attacks, whilst the US 6th Corps defeats a number of attacks in the vicinity of the Calore river. During the night 14th/15th, a second parachute regiment, the 505th, is also dropped into the Salerno beachhead near Paestum where it increases the reserve available to the Allies. Meanwhile, the 16th Panzer Division and 29th Panzer Grenadier Division go on the defensive in order to reorganise. This means the end of the German thrust towards Paestum against the US 6th Corps. On Eighth Army's front, a more general advance of Allied forces begins. 

15 September 1943
The Hermann Göring Division attacks east of Salerno against the British 128th Brigade. The British counter-attack at once and prevent any German penetration southwards. Similar attacks by the Germans on 46th Division's front are also defeated. The Germans realise that the British are resisting with exceptional toughness from strong defensive positions. Nevertheless, they propose to continue attacks the following day. The crisis in the Salerno beachhead is clearly subsiding, however, and the Germans are now experiencing communication problems amongst their attacking forces because of Allied air attacks.

16 September 1943
Artillery and infantry of the 201st Guards Brigade defeat German attacks against Bellizzi and Fosso, whilst attacks on the 23rd Armoured Brigade's positions are defeated by counter-attacks in the early afternoon. There is every indication that the Germans have used up their energy and their units are battle weary. Clark gives orders for the Allies to prepare for immediate pursuit if the enemy begin to withdraw. On Eighth Army's front, 5th Division reaches Sapri and 1st Canadian Division near Spezzano. Units from these two divisions meet at Castrovillari, whilst Canadian and 1st Airborne troops make contact forty miles south-west of Taranto. The Allied armies are at last in touch across the Italian peninsula from the Tyrrhenian coast to the Adriatic.