The battle at Anzio represented a crucial phase in the Italian Campaign during World War II. After Allied forces successfully landed at Anzio in January 1944 as part of Operation Shingle, they intended to outflank Rome and shorten the war in Italy. However, the landing caught German forces partially unprepared, leading to a quick establishment of a beachhead. Yet, the success of the operation was short-lived as German High Command, under the leadership of Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, mobilized to counter the Allied forces. On February 7, 1944, the Germans launched a determined counteroffensive aimed to recapture lost ground and drive the Allies back into the sea.

The counterattack was characterized by intensive artillery bombardments and coordinated assaults by elite Panzer units. German soldiers displayed highly effective tactics, including the use of deception and the concentration of firepower on perceived weak points in the Allied defenses. The Allies, under the command of General John P. Lucas, faced the dual challenges of holding their positions while reinforcements were slowly brought up.

The fighting resulted in high casualties and marked a turning point in the campaign, as the Allies were forced to shift from an offensive to a defensive posture. The battle for Anzio would become a stalemate for several months, impacting subsequent operations in Italy. The protracted fighting demonstrated the difficulties of warfare in Italy, where difficult terrain and fortified positions challenged advances by both sides.