Rome War Cemetery

The Germans had built two strong lines of fortifications to defend their positions in Rome, the Gustav Line and the Adolf Hitler Line. The city was the ultimate objective of the Allied campaign in southern Italy. In late May 1944, after 24 hours of battling heavy resistance, the 1^st Canadian Corps broke through the last of the two, the Hitler Line, and then, after difficult fighting, crossed the next barrier, the Melfa River. The Germans retreated to prevent being trapped in the Liri valley, since the Americans were also advancing in the area, from the Anzio Bridgehead. On the last day of the month the 1st Canadian Infantry Division (which had taken over the pursuit from the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division at Ceprano) occupied the town of Frosinone, to the south of Rome, ending their campaign in the region. They then went into reserve for the summer (except for the 1^st Canadian Armoured Brigade). U.S. soldiers, meanwhile, broke through the last defences in the path to Rome on May 30, and, by June 2, the Germans were withdrawing. The Americans marched into the city June 4, two days before the Allied landings in Normandy, France.

THESE SOLDIERS OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH GAVE THEIR LIVES TO PRESERVE LIBERTY AND BY THEIR SACRIFICE RESTORED THE FREEDOM OF ITALY AND THE ANCIENT FRIENDSHIP OF THE ITALIAN AND BRITISH PEOPLES. 1939-1945

Directions

Rome War Cemetery lies alongside and within the Aurelian Wall of the ancient city of Rome. It is reached from the Piazza Venezia, the centre of Rome, by going down the Via dei Fori Imperiali, past the Coliseum, and along the Viale Aventino as far as the Porta San Paolo. Before reaching this gate and the monument Pyramid of Caius Cestius, take the road to the right along the wall of the so called Protestant Cemetery, in which are buried the poets Keats and Shelley. Across the road at the far end of that cemetery will be seen Rome War Cemetery, on Via Nicola Zabaglia 50, Monte Testaccio. Alternatively, take the metro and get off at Piramide Metro Station, which is close to Rome War Cemetery, on Via Nicola Zabaglia 50, Monte Testaccio. Cemetery address: Via Nicola Zabaglia 50 - 00153 Roma (RM) Lazio. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 41.87502, Longitude: 12.477238.