Fallschirmjäger-Lehr-Batallion 1st Paratroop Panzer Division15th Panzergrenadier Division (elements) 1st Parachute Division (elements) Invasion of Italy Winter Line Gothic Line 1945 Spring Offensive 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, part of the Italian Campaign.

The 3rd Division's attack was part of a large offensive by Major General John Lucas's U.S. VI Corps to break out of the Anzio beachhead before German reinforcements could arrive and concentrate for a counterattack.

On 22 January 1944, the Allies launched Operation Shingle, the amphibious landing by the U.S. and British divisions of U.S. VI Corps in the area of Anzio and Nettuno.

This was designed to unhinge the formidable German Gustav Line defenses some 60 mi (97 km) to the southeast which had been under attack from the south by the other three corps (one British, one French and one U.S.) of Mark Clark's United States Fifth Army since 16 January in the first Battle of Monte Cassino.

Following the landings, which had been virtually unopposed, John P. Lucas—the VI Corps commander—had chosen a cautious strategy of consolidating the beachhead and building up his force strength, which also allowed time for the Germans to reinforce their defensive positions.

[7] Contrary to their designated function as an elite raiding force, the Rangers had been involved in much of the front line fighting around the Anzio beachhead.

Although they were able to bypass numerous German positions, at first light they were still short of their objective and needed to cross open ground for the final section of the approach.

[citation needed] A fictionalized account of the battle was depicted in the motion picture Anzio (1968) and at the end of the film Darby's Rangers (1958).