Clark, General Mark

Clark, General Mark (1896–1984),flamboyant US Army officer whose Fifth Army captured Rome during the Italian campaign.

A third-generation soldier, Clark served in France during the First World War and was wounded there. In June 1942 he went to the UK to command the 2nd US Corps and then became, under Eisenhower, Deputy Supreme Commander for the North African campaign landings that November. Before they took place he landed secretly from a submarine to meet pro-Allied French officers and two days after the landings he began negotiations for a ceasefire with the French authorities. The terms earned him criticism at the time but his exploits brought him fame as well. The same month he was promoted lt-general, the youngest in the US Army, and was then appointed commander of the Fifth Army which was part of Alexander's Fifteenth Army Group which fought the Italian campaign.

The Fifth Army was activated in January 1943 and was initially responsible for holding French Morocco and Algeria and maintaining internal security there. In September 1943 Clark commanded the Salerno landings, during which he personally led, at a critical moment, a unit that repelled a German tank attack. He captured Naples on 1 October, but in the fighting which followed Clark was unable to break through the German Gustav Line and reach Rome. To break this deadlock he launched the Anzio landings behind the line in January 1944 and at the same time attempted to break through it at Monte Cassino. Then, in an attempt to link up with the landings, Clark attacked across the River Rapido, a fruitless operation which cost 2,100 lives in 24 hours, and for which he was much criticized. He was also criticized for his obsession with taking Rome ahead of the British. During the Allied operation (DIADEM), launched in May 1944, Clark made straight for the Italian capital instead of encircling the Tenth German Army as instructed. He took Rome on 4 June 1944, but it was an empty gesture for the Germans were able to withdraw and take up new positions on the Gothic Line. In July 1944 the Fifth Army had to supply some of the forces for the French Riviera landings and as replacements Clark received the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (see Brazil) which, along with the other Allied forces in Italy, suffered the gruelling fighting and heavy causalities that eventually brought the campaign to a halt by Christmas.

In December 1944 Clark succeeded Alexander as Army Group commander, was promoted four-star general the following March, and personally received the surrender of German forces in Italy a few days before the end of the war. Though he was regarded by some as conceited and ambitious his talent was not disputed. Eisenhower rated him the best trainer, organizer, and planner he had ever met, and said he was energetic, forceful, and loyal.

Bibliography

Blumenson, M. , Mark Clark (London, 1985).