Bernhardt Line

The Oxford Companion to World War II | 2001 | 700+ words | Copyright

Bernhardt Line, series of German defensive positions, sometimes no more than light field works, held during the Italian campaign. The line ran from near Minturno, north-west of Naples, along the River Garigliano, through the mountains to Venafro and Castel di Sangro. It then continued across the Maiella range, north of the River Sangro, to the east coast at Fossacesia. It was initially only intended to be lightly defended for delaying tactics. But when, in October 1943, Hitler ordered his C-in-C, Kesselring, to hold firm on the line Gaeta–Ortona it was strongly fortified. The Bernhardt Line, from which the Germans began withdrawing in December 1943, later became known as the Gustav Line, the name originally given to the Bernhardt Line's most important fall-back (Switch) position. The whole network of defences, including the Hitler Line, was called the Winter Line by the Allies.

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I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bernhardt Line." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bernhardt Line." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BernhardtLine.html

I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bernhardt Line." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BernhardtLine.html

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