WI: Allied evacuation at Salerno

Excuse me if this has been done before, but the search function isn't very coorperative.

When the Allies landed at Salerno, the Germans launched a fierce counter-attack. Ultimately, the Allies prevailed. But what if the Germans had driven the Allies into sea? The reason doesn't matter for me, perhaps a commander has a bad day or the German offensive is even more succesful in scaring the Allies. What will happen then? How will the home front react? Will the Allies just attack from the Taranto bridgehead?
 
I do not think the German attack on Salerno bridgehead was ever intended to throw Allies back into the sea. They needed to buy some time for the forces deeper south to retreat in order not to get cut off. After Sicily Germans never anticipated defending Italy beyond the central part. Besides, that close to the sea, no way any German attack would succeed.
 
Excuse me if this has been done before, but the search function isn't very coorperative.

When the Allies landed at Salerno, the Germans launched a fierce counter-attack. Ultimately, the Allies prevailed. But what if the Germans had driven the Allies into sea? The reason doesn't matter for me, perhaps a commander has a bad day or the German offensive is even more succesful in scaring the Allies. What will happen then? How will the home front react? Will the Allies just attack from the Taranto bridgehead?

Mark Clark gets fired. He had already requested an evacuation but Harold Alexander overruled him.

Having Mark Clark fired is almost worth losing at Salerno. The 8th Army had already marched up the toe of Italy and Taranto had been taken. The Italian campaign would continue with the Germans being in a better position for a few months.
 
I do not think the German attack on Salerno bridgehead was ever intended to throw Allies back into the sea. They needed to buy some time for the forces deeper south to retreat in order not to get cut off. After Sicily Germans never anticipated defending Italy beyond the central part. Besides, that close to the sea, no way any German attack would succeed.

Kesselring anticipated salerno; which is why the only strong panzer division in the county (16th) with 160 tanks and assault guns was covering the gulf of salerno...

the allies lose a lot of supplies and face, but probably few men; the evacuated are withdrawn to reorganize and additional forces are added to monty's agonizingly slow operation baytown forces
 
Top