| rdfs:comment | - The Battle of Cisterna took place during World War II, on 30 January-2 February 1944, near Cisterna, Italy, as part of the battle of Anzio that followed Operation Shingle. The battle was a clear German victory which also had repercussions on the employment of U.S. Army Rangers that went beyond the immediate tactical and strategic results of the battle.
- Also an important factor was that the rangers, as the suffered casualties were given new "green" troops with little experience meaning operations were more likely to fail. The final "nail in the coffin" for the rangers was that they were used in a way that strayed from their purpose, they were used in Cisterna as conventional infantry but thatwas exactly what they were not. The rangers were meant to fight as stealthy squads that could infiltrate enemy lines.
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| abstract | - The Battle of Cisterna took place during World War II, on 30 January-2 February 1944, near Cisterna, Italy, as part of the battle of Anzio that followed Operation Shingle. The battle was a clear German victory which also had repercussions on the employment of U.S. Army Rangers that went beyond the immediate tactical and strategic results of the battle. During this battle, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th U.S. Army Ranger battalions, the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion, and the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, which had been brigaded as the 6615th Ranger Force (Provisional), were assigned to support the renewal of an attack by the 3rd Infantry Division, which had previously failed to take Cisterna from 25–27 January. The 3rd Division's attack was part of a large offensive by the U.S. VI Corps to break out of the Anzio beachhead before German reinforcements could arrive and concentrate for a counterattack.
- Also an important factor was that the rangers, as the suffered casualties were given new "green" troops with little experience meaning operations were more likely to fail. The final "nail in the coffin" for the rangers was that they were used in a way that strayed from their purpose, they were used in Cisterna as conventional infantry but thatwas exactly what they were not. The rangers were meant to fight as stealthy squads that could infiltrate enemy lines. The importance of the battle was for the Allies to break through the very troublesome Winter Line which after the battle would need to be defeated elsewhere. Allied casualties were about 42 killed, 94 wounded, and around 740 men captured. The allies only captured Cisterna three months later. German casualties for the battle are unknown.
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