A Partial History
135th Infantry Regiment

34th Infantry Division

Approved for Publication
Allied Force Headquarters
Information News and Censorship Section

THE 135TH IN THE PRESENT WAR (p. 1-33)

UP THE COAST TO LEGHORN (pp. 28-31)

	Placed in Division reserve, the Regiment entered the port of
Civitavecchia.  The beaches throughout the area were heavily mined and
it was learned from civilians that the Germans had been expecting an
invasion from the sea at this point.  Civilians had been evacuated from
the immediate area where the invasion was anticipated.  It was in this
port town that the fleeing Germans abandoned huge railway guns which
were believed to be those used to shell the Anzio beachhead from the
Rome area.  Throughout this vicinity the troops saw evidence of the
effectiveness of our [Air Force] against enemy transport and supply
lines.  Not only were there great numbers of abandoned and wrecked
vehicles, but the Germans had been forced to construct slit trenches
every few yards along the roads for the protection of their drivers.

	On 10 June the Regiment moved into a rest area near Tarquinia and on
12 June the training program was resumed.  The nearby beach was cleared
of mines for swimming and passes were issued to Rome.  Lt. Col. Ashton
H. Manhart assumed command of the 135th Infantry on 11 June.

	The Regiment moved forward to an assembly area near Gavorrano and on
29 June passed through the 442nd Infantry [Regiment] not far from
Castagneto.  The 2nd Battalion pushed on to Borgheri where they found
that the Partisans had been harassing the enemy for the past two days. 
An increasing number of mines were found.  At the close of the month the
Regiment had three Battalions abreast in preparation for the crossing on
the Cecina River.

	The first three days of July were occupied with the offensive of the
Regiment across the river and a westward encirclement of the town of
Cecina.  The enemy made maximum use of the town and the natural obstacle
of the river.  On 1 July the 2nd Battalion crossed the river with one
company of tanks and another company of tank destroyers in support.  The
mission was first to cut off Highway 68 and then turn west toward the
coast and cut off Highway 1.  The following day the attack was
coordinated with that of the 3rd Battalion and the operation was carried
out successfully despite enemy counter-attacks, numerous mine fields and
constant anti-tank and self-propelled gun fire.  The artillery was able
to locate numerous profitable targets and in several instances was able
to destroy well dug-in, camouflaged pill boxes, and gave great
assistance in breaking up counter-attacks.  The action marked the first
real resistance, other than delaying actions, put up by the Germans on
their retreat from Rome.

	With the fall of the enemy positions above the Cecina River, the
Regiment continued the pursuit northward along the Tyrrenian coast.  The
retreating 16th "Reichsfuhrer" SS Division left many mines in their path
and employed incessant harassing artillery fire.

	The struggle for the capture of Rosignano, a heavily fortified
hilltop town, opened on 3 July with the 3rd and 1st Battalions moving up
through Vada.  There was evidence that the enemy had withdrawn in haste
but prisoners were not plentiful.  Initial contact with the enemy soon
demonstrated that the Germans had determined to make a firm stand for
Rosignano.  Small-arms fire developed into intense fire fights, and the
enemy, enjoying an excellent commanding view of the Regimental
positions, made much use of self-propelled guns, mortar, and artillery. 
The Regiment was committed to the attack with the 3rd Battalion on the
left and the 1st Battalion on the right.  The main effort was made by
the 3rd Battalion which had the mission of capturing the town and the
road leading north.  After strong opposition from the enemy and
difficulties with the steep, rough terrain, the leading elements of the
3rd Battalion entered the town with tanks spearheading the town.  The
casualties of the Battalion were extremely severe and, although
surrounded by the Germans, strong points were organized and the
positions were held.  The pressure was relieved on the morning of 4 July
when a platoon from Company L pushed around the left edge of the town,
and by 1800 half of Rosignano had been taken.  The 1st Battalion,
meeting concentrated enemy fire, was unable to make any great degree of
progress.

	The battle for the town grew into a heavy, prolonged engagement as
the enemy, moving in reinforcements, regrouped and counter-attacked. 
The counter-attacks, while not involving large numbers, made the
progress of the Regiment slow.  Snipers were extremely active.  A
considerable number of civilians had remained in the town and the heavy
fighting made it impossible for them to leave.  Many of the bodies were
removed by partisans, who had been aiding our men, and it was necessary
for health reasons to burn some of the dead.  At the time of the capture
of the town, it was feared that an epidemic might break out because of
the large number of bodies in the streets and under the wreckage of
houses, and Rosignano was placed off-limits to all troops except those
who were required to remain.

	Our attacks were renewed in strength on 11 July and by late
afternoon the enemy was forced back.  Prisoners were taken, heavy
casualties inflicted and material, including artillery pieces, were
seized.  The Germans, with their shortage of transportation, were forced
to resort to the use of oxen to pull out some of their artillery.  It
was discovered, too, that the Germans were using wooden carts brought
into Italy from Russia.

	On 11 July, Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, accompanied by General Ryder,
visited the Regimental Command Post where General Clark personally
pinned the silver eagle on the Regimental Commander, Lt. Col. Manhart,
making him a full colonel.  General Clark also greeted the members of
the staff.

	Following the capture of Rosignano, the Regiment continued the
attack northward with the 1st and 2nd Battalions on the line and the 3rd
in reserve.  The pace was slow because of the difficult mountain
terrain, thickly strewn mines, machine and self-propelled gun fire.  The
new mission was to capture and secure the port of Leghorn [Livorno]
which obviously would play an important role in future operations both
in Italy and on the southern coast of France.  Again the Partisans gave
the Regiment assistance as guides; the roads were found to be in a very
bad condition and the Engineers were unable to keep up with the forward
troops.  After fighting northward through Castelnuevo and Gabbro, it was
learned from civilians in the latter town that some of the retiring
Germans were SS troops about 16 to 20 years of age.  They had four or
five pieces of artillery, four machine guns, and the rest had rifles. 
Most of the Germans marched, having no vehicles to ride.  Their clothing
was worn out and the men stole food from the civilians.

	On 13 July the Regiment lost one of its finest officers when Captain
Paul W. Blommen, Commander of Cannon Company, was killed instantly when
he stepped on a mine while engaged in reconnaissance to displace his
guns forward.  Long and loyal service had been given by Captain Blommen
to the Regiment, and many of its past victories had been made possible
by the excellent support of the Cannon Company.

	The combined efforts of the 1st and 2nd Battalion enabled the
Regiment to sweep forward toward the last high range of mountains
circling Leghorn.  The 3rd Battalion, committed through the 1st and 2nd
Battalions, and exploiting the success of these two units, succeeded in
capturing the high dominating hills to the east of Leghorn on 18 July,
and on the same day Company G moved into what was known as the Popagana
Vecchio area where they were fired upon by the enemy.  Some 200 Germans
were in the hills and draws.  Machine guns and a 37mm anti-tank gun on a
disabled armored car as well as supporting artillery were used with
great accuracy, setting the brush ablaze.  Most of the enemy were
trapped, although few prisoners were taken.

	From the heights ships were seen leaving the harbor of Leghorn and
an air mission was sent out.  Later it was learned that the Germans had
filled the ships with concrete and sunk them to block the harbor. 
Numerous explosions, probably demolitions, were heard in the vicinity of
the port.  General Ryder expressed the hope that the Regiment would be
able to reach and occupy Leghorn soon.  On the night of 18 July patrols
entered the city and early the next morning the 2nd Battalion followed
with the mission of garrisoning the southern part of the town.  Leghorn
was a ghost city, most of the civilians had fled or had been evacuated,
our bombers had reduced many of the buildings, and the Germans had
turned the port into a mass of wreckage.  Streets were barricaded with
barbed wire and mined.  On many of the avenues grass was growing through
the cracked concrete.

	After a rest of two days, with the Germans firing occasional
harassing artillery fire into Leghorn, the Regiment continued toward
Pisa.  Three bridges on Highway 1 were blown out, but the roads were not
mined and it was possible to move organic transportation up in support
of the troops.  On 22 July a patrol from Company G was sent to the
airport south of Pisa and came back from the mission with a German
patrol captured intact.  The road north of the airport was soon secured
as a line of departure for the move into Pisa.  No particular difficulty
was experienced in occupying that part of the city south of the Arno
River.  The enemy's activity was confined largely to harassing fire from
small arms and artillery, but shortly after the town had been occupied
on 22 July the Germans put into use a new, heavy rocket gun.  The rocket
could be seen coming through the air but could not be heard.  Both
incendiary and concussion shells were used, and the shell was about five
inches in diameter, and twenty inches long with a bulb-shaped nose about
eight inches round.

	On 25 July the Regiment less the 1st Battalion moved back to a rest
area in the vicinity of Castiglioncello and the various units had the
most protracted rest period since the beginning of the Italian campaign.
The 1st Battalion rejoined the Regiment on 1 August.

	Various forms of recreation were organized.  The beach was cleared
by the Engineers for swimming, and numerous ball games were played
within the Regiment, as well as other sports.  Movies were shown each
evening in the Regimental area, and nearby [the American] Red Cross set
up a recreation center in a shaded park where USO shows were presented. 
There were other shows in the Division area, including a concert by Lily
Pons of the Metropolitan Opera Company.  Many of our troops were present
at Division when Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspected the troops
and gave a brief address.  Mr. Churchill recalled that the 34th Division
was the first to come overseas from the United States in this war.

	A limited training program was put into effect after the Regiment
had been given the opportunity to enjoy a complete rest, and on 22
August the 135th moved to an area in the vicinity of Castelfiorentino
until 4 September.  In this location General Clark presented awards and
promotions to a number of officers and enlisted men.  The first four
days of the month were used for training with Armored units.