Battle of Rapido River

Battle of Rapido River
Part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome, Italian Campaign of World War II
American soldiers bring back wounded during the attempt to cross the Gari River near Cassino, Italy, January 1944
Date 20–22 January 1944 Location Gari River, Italy 41°26′41″N 13°49′57″E / 41.44472°N 13.83250°E / 41.44472; 13.83250 Result German victory
Belligerents
United States	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Mark Clark Geoffrey Keyes Fred Walker	Heinrich von Vietinghoff Frido von Senger und Etterlin
Strength
36th Infantry Division	15th Panzergrenadier Division
Casualties and losses
155 killed 1,052 wounded 921 captured or missing[1]	64 killed 179 wounded[2]

The Battle of Rapido River was fought from 20 to 22 January 1944 during one of the Allies' many attempts to breach the Winter Line during the Italian Campaign of World War II. Despite its name, the battle occurred on the Gari River.^[3]

Units of the US 36th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General Fred Walker crossed the Gari River in boats and seized the west bank of the river. However, the Americans were cut off from reinforcements and subjected to heavy fire and counterattacks from elements of the German 15th Panzergrenadier Division. The 36th Infantry Division suffered very high losses, and after two days of fighting, the survivors retreated across the river.