Invading Hitler's Europe : from Salerno to the capture of Göring - the memoir of a US intelligence officer

A firsthand account of the US Army’s part in the liberation of Europe. On the day that Roswell K. Doughty graduated from Boston University he also received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army of the United States of America. That, though, was in 1931 and it was not until 1942 that he was called to active duty – to face some of the toughest fighting of the Second World War. With the rank of 1st Lieutenant, Doughty became an Intelligence Officer with the US 36th (Texas) Division. He subsequently saw action in North Africa, then at the disastrous Salerno landings in Italy – where the Allied divisions involved suffered 4,000 casualties – about which the author reveals that suspected intelligence breaches led to the Allies’ plans becoming known to the Germans. Doughty was involved in the grueling battles against the formidable German defenses of the Gustav Line, particularly in the tragic failed attempt to cross the Gari river (Battle of the Rapido River, January 1944) and the struggle to conquer Monte Cassino. After the Anzio landings and the liberation of Rome, Doughty and his infantry regiment, the 141st, took part in the invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon , fighting its way up the Rhône River and advancing up to the River Moselle in December 1944. In March 1945, his unit breached the Siegfried Line and crossed into the Germany itself. Promoted to captain and later to major, Doughty led an Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit, the role of which was to learn what it could of enemy strengths, minefields, useable roads and so on, which involved going behind enemy lines to observe enemy movements firsthand. As an Intelligence Officer, it was also part of Doughty’s duties to interrogate enemy prisoners, which led him to being involved in the capture and detention of Reichsmarschall Göring and in negotiating the surrender of the still-armed and hostile German First Army in May 1945. This is the fascinating and diverse account of one officer’s part in the liberation of Europe in the Second World War, one which led him from North Africa through Italy and France into the heart of the Third Reich. A firsthand account of a US Army officer's part in the liberation of Europe during World War II—from North Africa into the heart of the Third Reich. After graduating from Boston University, Roswell K. Doughty became an Intelligence Officer with the US 36th (Texas) Division. He subsequently saw action in North Africa, then at the disastrous Salerno landings in Italy—where the Allied divisions involved suffered 4,000 casualties—about which the author reveals that suspected intelligence breaches led to the Allies'plans becoming known to the Germans.Doughty was involved in the grueling battles against the formidable German defenses of the Gustav Line, particularly in the tragic failed attempt to cross the Gari river (Battle of the Rapido River, January 1944) and the struggle to conquer Monte Cassino. After the Anzio landings and the liberation of Rome, Doughty and his infantry regiment, the 141st, took part in the invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon, fighting its way up the Rhône River and advancing up to the River Moselle in December 1944. In March 1945, his unit breached the Siegfried Line and crossed into the Germany itself. As an Intelligence Officer, it was also part of Doughty's duties to interrogate enemy prisoners, which led him to being involved in the capture and detention of Reichsmarschall Go ̈ring and in negotiating the surrender of the still-armed and hostile German First Army in May 1945.These are Doughty's candid recollections from his ground-level point of view. They form a story of survival and a cause for reflection about courage, camaraderie, and the nature of war. BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military Cover 1 Book Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Maps, Photographs, and References 9 Key Officers 10 Abbreviations 11 Note from the Editor 12 Introduction – The Military Aspects of the Story 14 Prologue 16 Chapter 1 Prelude to Combat 18 Chapter 2 Guarding a Frontier 26 Chapter 3 Intelligence School and Intelligence at Work 32 Chapter 4 A Breach of Security 41 Chapter 5 Battle 51 Chapter 6 Monte Cicerale 63 Chapter 7 Shooting Some Birds 73 Chapter 8 Altavilla 80 Chapter 9 A Feint 91 Chapter 10 The Pink House 97 Chapter 11 Rest, Rats, and Agonies 111 Chapter 12 Monte Cassino 120 Chapter 13 Out of the Lines 133 Chapter 14 The Haunt 140 Chapter 15 Breakout – Indian Style 143 Chapter 16 Eternal Open City 153 Plate section 161 Chapter 17 Ambush 168 Chapter 18 Task Force D for ‘Doughty’ 174 Chapter 19 Invasion Preparations 181 Chapter 20 Southern France Invasion 186 Chapter 21 Breakthrough 193 Chapter 22 Hot Pursuit 199 Chapter 23 ‘Strategic’ Tactics 210 Chapter 24 The Moselle River Crossing 223 Chapter 25 The ‘Lost Battalion’ 233 Chapter 26 Breaching the Vosges Mountains 242 Chapter 27 The Rhineland 254 Chapter 28 Another Winter at the Front 268 Chapter 29 Watch on the Rhine 278 Chapter 30 Spring Offensive 284 Chapter 31 Victory at Long Last 295 Chapter 32 Post-war Action 307 Chapter 33 The Monument 314 Glossary 317 Index 320 Back Cover 322 On the day that Roswell K. Doughty graduated from Boston University, he also received a commission as a second lieutenant in the army of the United States of America. It was not until 1942 that he was called to active duty-to face some of the toughest fighting of the Second World War. He subsequently saw action in North Africa, then at the disastrous Salerno landings in Italy - where the Allied divisions involved suffered 4,000 casualties - about which the author reveals that suspected intelligence breaches led to the Allies' plans becoming known to the Germans.Doughty was involved in the grueling battles against the formidable German defenses of the Gustav Line, particularly in the tragic failed attempt to cross the Gari river and the struggle to conquer Monte Cassino. After the Anzio landings and the liberation of Rome, Doughty and his infantry regiment took part in the invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon. Promoted to captain and later to major, Doughty led an Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit, the role of which was to learn what it could of enemy strengths, minefields, useable roads, and so on, which involved going behind enemy lines to observe enemy movements firsthand.