The Battle of Italy has been primarily an infantry battle for
the Germans. The machine gun, the mortar, and the mine have
played parts of the greatest importance, chiefly because of the
nature of the terrain, while the tank and the self-propelled gun
have been obliged to undertake subordinate missions. This stress
on the infantry arm, combined with a frequent need for the
services of every available man, often has compelled the enemy
to put men in the front line, regardless of branch. Engineers
and reconnaissance units at times have been thrown into combat
as ordinary infantry. It has been a general German policy to
commit only enough troops on the Italian front to block or delay
the Allied advance. As a result, German commanders have had to
use their strength very economically. After the Allied victory
at Salerno, the Germans avoided committing a main force until
the Winter Line had been reached. Instead, they used highly
mobile rear guards, flexible combat teams, and well situated
defense areas — all of whi