The Germans are using trains to move men, equipment, material, and stolen riches away from the oncoming Allies. The Axis forces hunt for downed airmen shot down during an air raid. During this scenario, the German Army interacts with the public checking papers and making inquires, capture Allied pilots, and defend the train against an attack by the Allies to rescue the downed airmen.
 Historical Information on:
The Battle of Anzio & The "Anzio Express"
Although the "Anzio Express" is the name for a German troop train traveling through "Italy" at the Illinois Railway Museum, the name has much more historical significance.
The Italian city of Anzio sits about 60 kilometers south of Rome, but was north of the German "Winter Line", which the Allies had failed to break through despite several bloody attempts. The plan was to land at Anzio, threaten Rome, and force the Germans to pull forces from the "Winter Line" to face the new threat at Anzio, then the main body of forces opposing the "Winter Line" would be able to break through. On January 22, 1944 the Allies landed roughly 36,000 soldiers and 3,200 vehicles on the beaches near the town of Anzio, Italy. They landed nearly unopposed and had caught the Germans by total surprise.
The Allies pushed 5km inland, secured the port of Anzio, and captured the neighboring town of Nettuno. Despite these rapid gains, the cautious US General John P. Lucas halted and built up his forces before taking ground that he felt he could not defend.
The German response was fierce. Hitler ordered that the German Generals "lance the abscess south of Rome." The Germans mobolized every available division from rear areas in Italy and from as far as France, Yugoslavia, and Germany. All moved up to the front via rail lines. The battle around Anzio would rage on in bloody stalemate until the end of May. British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill would state that he, "had hoped we were hurling a wildcat into the shore, but all we got was a stranded whale." General Lucas was replaced by General Lucian Truscott. When the German line finally collapsed and fell back northward. Hitler ordered that no defense of Rome be made, and the city fell without a struggle.
In order to "lance the abscess", the Germans brought up two 280mm railway guns made by Krupp that could fire a shell about 31 miles. From the rail lines outside Anzio the Germans positioned these guns to shell the ships coming into the port of Anzio, loaded with soldiers, supplies, and vehicles. The Allied soldiers around Anzio dubbed the guns the "Anzio Express" and "Anzio Annie", but to the Germans they were "Leopold" and "Robert." The "Anzio Express" was stationed in a railway tunnel far from the beachhead and would only come out of the tunnel to fire to avoid being bombed by the Allied air forces.
After the battle the "Anzio Express" was captured in Civitavecchia, Italy. It was sent down to Naples and then put on the Liberty ship Robert R. Livingston and brought to the United States. It now resides at the United States Army Ordnance Museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland.
 Leopold at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds |
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Public Information >
The Anzio Express |
