JerilynCropper5 at 23:53, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T23:53:31Z

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{{Short description|1944 battle of World War II}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Ancona
| image= File:WWII51 Gothic Line.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944. Polish II Corps advance and taking on Ancona showed on the map.
|partof= the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] of [[World War II]]
|date=16 June–18 July 1944
|place=[[Ancona]], Italy
|coordinates={{coord|43|36|43|N|13|30|52|E|region:IT_type:landmark_source:kolossus-itwiki|display=title,inline}}
|result=Allied victory
|combatant1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|Poland]] {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
|commander1={{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Władysław Anders]] {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Klemens Rudnicki]]
|commander2={{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Harry Hoppe]]
|strength1=~50,000
|strength2=Unknown
|casualties1=496 killed 1,789 wounded 139 missing<ref name=Wawer4/>
|casualties2=800 killed<ref>Olgierd Terlecki, Beryl Arct, ''Poles in the Italian campaign, 1943-1945'', Interpress for the Council for Protection of Monuments of Struggle and Martyrdom, 1972, p. 101</ref> 2,500 captured<ref name="whn">{{cite web|url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2018/12/10/the-polish-ii-corps-in-italy/|title=The Polish II Corps in Italy|work=Warfare History Network|first=James I|last=Marino|date=8 September 2021 }}</ref>
|campaignbox=
{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

The '''Battle of Ancona''' was fought between forces from [[Poland]] serving as part of the [[British Army]] and [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces that took place from 16 June–18 July 1944 during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] in [[World War II]]. The battle was the result of an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] plan to capture the city of [[Ancona]] in Italy in order to gain possession of a [[seaport]] closer to the fighting so that they could shorten their [[lines of communication]]. The [[Polish 2nd Corps]], tasked with capture of the city on 16 June 1944, accomplished the objective a month later on 18 July 1944. The Battle of Ancona was the only battle of the Western Front that was carried out entirely by the Polish military.<ref name="whn" />

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] advance north meant that the logistics line was in need of a port closer to the front lines than the ports of [[Pescara]] and [[Anzio]].<ref name=Wawer4>Zbigniew Wawer, ''Zdobycie Bolonii'', p.4</ref> As such, two new targets were designated: [[Ancona]] on the [[Adriatic]] coast, and [[Livorno]] on the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]].<ref name=Wawer4/> On 16 June, [[II Corps (Poland)|Polish II Corps]] under [[Lieutenant general|Lieutenant-General]] [[Władysław Anders]]—which had been taken into [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], commanded by [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Oliver Leese|Sir Oliver Leese]], reserve after its efforts in the [[Battle of Monte Cassino]]—was brought forward once more to relieve [[V Corps (United Kingdom)|British V Corps]] and tasked with the capture of Ancona. On 17 June, Anders was given command of the Adriatic sector of the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian theatre]].<ref name=Wawer4/>

==Battle==
[[File:BattleofAnconaEnglish Key.svg|thumb|left|200px|Battle of Ancona (17–18 July 1944)]]

The first obstacle to cross was the [[Chienti]] river. Polish troops reached it on 21 June, and heavy fighting lasted in that region until 30 June.<ref name=Wawer4/> The main offensive on Ancona began on 17 July.<ref name=Wawer4/> Polish armored troops took [[Monte della Crescia]] and outflanked German troops defending Ancona.<ref name=Wawer4/> Next, the [[Italian Co-belligerent Army]]'s [[IX Assault Unit]] secured [[Casenuove]], and neighbouring British and Canadian troops took [[Montecchio]] and [[Croce di San Vincenzo]].<ref name=Wawer4/> By the evening of 17 July, Polish troops were near [[Agugliano]], and the following morning they took [[Offagna]].<ref name=Wawer4/> Later that day, Polish troops took [[Chiaravalle, Italy|Chiaravalle]], and armored troops reached the sea, cutting the German defenders of Ancona from the north-west.<ref name=Wawer4/> The Germans were falling back towards the sea, and Polish troops encountered little resistance entering Ancona at 14:30 on 18 July.<ref name=Wawer4/>

==Aftermath==
Taking Ancona was the only independent operation of the Polish II Corps.<ref name=Wawer4/> Afterward, the Corps took part in the breaking of the [[Gothic Line]] and the Allied [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|spring 1945 offensive]] which resulted in the surrender of the Axis forces in Italy.

For their action in the battle while seconded to the Polish corps, the British [[7th Queen's Own Hussars]] received the battle honour "Ancona".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.qohmuseum.org.uk/maid.htm |title=Maid of Warsaw |access-date=8 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012215137/http://www.qohmuseum.org.uk/maid.htm |archive-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{in lang|pl}} Zbigniew Wawer, ''Zdobycie Bolonii'' [Capture of Bologna], Chwała Oręża Polskiego 32 (53), Rzeczpospolita, 3 March 2007.
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7fzAwAAQBAJ|language=it|first=Massimo|last=Coltrinari|title=Il Corpo Italiano di Liberazione e Ancona|year=2014|isbn=978-88-6812-322-2|publisher=Edizioni Nuova Cultura|location=Rome}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_ancona.html|first=J.|last=Rickard|title=Battle of Ancona, 17-18 July 1944|date=19 November 2018|website=historyofwar.org}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ancona}}
[[Category:1944 in Italy]]
[[Category:History of Ancona]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of the Italian campaign (World War II)]]
[[Category:June 1944 in Europe]]
[[Category:July 1944 in Europe]]

Battle of Ancona - Revision history

JerilynCropper5 at 23:53, 8 January 2026