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The Rock Of Anzio: From Sicily To Dachau, A History Of The U.S. 45th Infantry Division
Anzio was one of the greatest battles of World War II-a desperate gamble to land a large amphibious force behind German lines in Italy in the hope that the war could be shortened by capturing Rome. It also turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. military history. Based on extensive research into archives, photos, letters, diaries, previously classified official records, and scores of personal interviews with surviving veterans of the 45th, The Rock of Anzio is written with an immediacy that puts the reader right onto the battlefield and shows us war through the eyes of ordinary men called upon to perform extraordinary deeds.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
35 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Flint Whitlock
34 books17 followersAs an art major, Flint Whitlock graduated from the University of Illinois in 1964 with a degree in Advertising Design, but has always been as much a writer as an artist. His love for military history began at an early age—fueled by his father, James, who served with the famed 10th Mountain Division in World War II. Flint also had an uncle who was a military policeman with the 1st Infantry Division and another uncle who served with the Navy in the Pacific.
Wanting to serve his country, Flint was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Commission Training Program and entered active duty in December 1964. After attending the basic Air Defense Artillery officers' course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Flint earned his jump wings at Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then posted to a Nike Hercules battery in Baumholder, Germany. After two years in ADA, he received a branch transfer to the Quartermaster Corps and spent an additional year with the Supply and Maintenance Agency in Zweibruecken, Germany, where he was promoted to captain.
In 1968, Flint was transferred to South Vietnam, arriving one day before the Tet Offensive in January, 1968. He served for six months as a supply specialist at 1st Logistical Command Headquarters at Long Binh, northeast of Saigon, before being transferred to the 14th Inventory Control Center at the same post. He returned to the States in 1969 and spent a year with the 5th Infantry Division Supply and Maintenance Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, before resigning his commission and returning to civilian life.
After a stint as the Public Relations Director for the Denver Dynamos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, he served as a copywriter, art director, and creative director for several major Colorado advertising agencies. While holding down these positions, he also continued to paint and write, becoming a locally prominent artist of the “photo-realist” genre. His attention to visual detail also translated to the written word, as he sought to convey the emotional and physical aspects of the soldier's experience.
To heighten his understanding of, and appreciation for, what the World War II combat soldier went through, he became involved in World War II re-enactment groups, in which he has been active for over 20 years. As a tribute to his father, he founded the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group in 1983 (www.tenthmountain.org). He is also a member of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation Board of Directors and the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center Advisory Committee.
Flint Whitlock lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Dr. Mary Ann Watson, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver. They have three grown children: Gillian Lee Whitlock, an actress and make-up artist in Hollywood; Suki Montgomery, a psychologist and member of the counseling staff at Ithaca (NY) College; and Matthew Montgomery, an anesthesiologist in Denver. To keep in shape, Flint skis, referees soccer, and plays tennis.
Wanting to serve his country, Flint was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Commission Training Program and entered active duty in December 1964. After attending the basic Air Defense Artillery officers' course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Flint earned his jump wings at Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then posted to a Nike Hercules battery in Baumholder, Germany. After two years in ADA, he received a branch transfer to the Quartermaster Corps and spent an additional year with the Supply and Maintenance Agency in Zweibruecken, Germany, where he was promoted to captain.
In 1968, Flint was transferred to South Vietnam, arriving one day before the Tet Offensive in January, 1968. He served for six months as a supply specialist at 1st Logistical Command Headquarters at Long Binh, northeast of Saigon, before being transferred to the 14th Inventory Control Center at the same post. He returned to the States in 1969 and spent a year with the 5th Infantry Division Supply and Maintenance Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, before resigning his commission and returning to civilian life.
After a stint as the Public Relations Director for the Denver Dynamos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, he served as a copywriter, art director, and creative director for several major Colorado advertising agencies. While holding down these positions, he also continued to paint and write, becoming a locally prominent artist of the “photo-realist” genre. His attention to visual detail also translated to the written word, as he sought to convey the emotional and physical aspects of the soldier's experience.
To heighten his understanding of, and appreciation for, what the World War II combat soldier went through, he became involved in World War II re-enactment groups, in which he has been active for over 20 years. As a tribute to his father, he founded the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group in 1983 (www.tenthmountain.org). He is also a member of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation Board of Directors and the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center Advisory Committee.
Flint Whitlock lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Dr. Mary Ann Watson, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver. They have three grown children: Gillian Lee Whitlock, an actress and make-up artist in Hollywood; Suki Montgomery, a psychologist and member of the counseling staff at Ithaca (NY) College; and Matthew Montgomery, an anesthesiologist in Denver. To keep in shape, Flint skis, referees soccer, and plays tennis.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 5, 2021
While on vacation in July, my son and I visited the 45th Infantry Museum in Oklahoma City. I'd like known about it but had never stopped there. It's an excellent little museum.
My mother's father was in the 45th and seriously wounded at the Battle of Anzio, spending six months in the hospital and carrying shrapnel in his body near his spine the rest of his life. After touring the museum, I realized I wanted to know more details, so I bought this book in the gift shop.
While often harrowing in its details about combat, the book inspires with the stories of courage from ordinary fellows who are pushed to human extremes.
If you enjoy WWII or military history, I recommend it.
My mother's father was in the 45th and seriously wounded at the Battle of Anzio, spending six months in the hospital and carrying shrapnel in his body near his spine the rest of his life. After touring the museum, I realized I wanted to know more details, so I bought this book in the gift shop.
While often harrowing in its details about combat, the book inspires with the stories of courage from ordinary fellows who are pushed to human extremes.
If you enjoy WWII or military history, I recommend it.
February 18, 2020
The U.S. 45th Infantry division ( the "Thunderbirds") was comprised of a special group of men. Men who had grown up in the 1920's, the Dust Bowl, the Great depression, etc. in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. As boys they grew up in hard times, shooting rabbits and coyotes with .22s, as men they served the call against tyranny to shoot automatic weapons at fascists in Europe. According to the author, they were arguably the most diverse unit to ever serve the U.S. with numerous Native American troops filling the ranks admirably.
The unit's motto "Semper Anticus" could not have been more fitting for the Thunderbirds. Whitlock's story dives into the history of the unit, their training, and finally, their activation and deployment into WWII. Their intense fighting in Italy is often overlooked in the history books, as most focus on Operation Overlord/D-Day/Normandy, etc. The conditions in Italy were absolutely atrocious, cold, wet, mountainous, but still they held against Hitler and Kesselring's onslaught.
For folks who are interested in the details, this book does a fine job. For folks who are more interested in a more narrative driven novel, there may be bouts of boredom as Whitlock dives deeper into the facts of each movement, strategic decision, statistics, etc.
Finally, Whitlock's description of the 45th liberating the prison camp at Dachau is about the best account I've read. I hope this book remains well-respected, as it's the only book dedicated to the 45th's sacrifice, unlike other units such as the 101st, the Big Red 1, Marines, etc. which have entire franchises of entertainment about them.
The unit's motto "Semper Anticus" could not have been more fitting for the Thunderbirds. Whitlock's story dives into the history of the unit, their training, and finally, their activation and deployment into WWII. Their intense fighting in Italy is often overlooked in the history books, as most focus on Operation Overlord/D-Day/Normandy, etc. The conditions in Italy were absolutely atrocious, cold, wet, mountainous, but still they held against Hitler and Kesselring's onslaught.
For folks who are interested in the details, this book does a fine job. For folks who are more interested in a more narrative driven novel, there may be bouts of boredom as Whitlock dives deeper into the facts of each movement, strategic decision, statistics, etc.
Finally, Whitlock's description of the 45th liberating the prison camp at Dachau is about the best account I've read. I hope this book remains well-respected, as it's the only book dedicated to the 45th's sacrifice, unlike other units such as the 101st, the Big Red 1, Marines, etc. which have entire franchises of entertainment about them.
January 17, 2025
Stirring account of the National Guard division that went through the hell of war and performed above and beyond the call of duty. Well researched and packed with information of how these young men took the worst the Nazis could throw at them and still survive, in fact to triumph.
July 24, 2019
A helluva good read. The author pulls no punches and covers both the glory and the shame of the US 45th Infantry Division in World War II. One of the best World War II books I’ve read.
June 16, 2025
Dense book, a lot of names and regiments/ battalions/ army’s/ companies etc. but interesting nonetheless. My great uncle was in the 45th in Italy so I decided to inform myself.
August 19, 2016
This book is the story of the 45th Infantry Division in WWII. Formed from national guard units of Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and Arizona, it was one of the only 18 divisions formed from the national guard units. It had many native Americans in the various units. The author begins with the formation of the units in the states and how they were utilized. With the outbreak of war they were brought together as the 45th infantry or the "thunderbirds." After extensive training they were sent to the Mediterranean theater. They took part in the battle for Sicily their first amphibious landing. They then were sent to Italy and were landed at Salerno. Their next stop was the landing at Anzio. The fighting their was fierce as they held off the German attempts to force them off the beach. The 45th then fought their way to Rome. The next stop was another amphibious landing in the south of France. Once again the fighting was heavy as they fought their way into Germany. One of the last actions the division was involved in was the liberation of Dachau concentration camp.
In each phase of their war the division distinguished itself with its bravery and fighting spirit. The author relies heavily on interviews, memoirs and unit action reports. Very well done narrative on the lives of front line soldiers.
In each phase of their war the division distinguished itself with its bravery and fighting spirit. The author relies heavily on interviews, memoirs and unit action reports. Very well done narrative on the lives of front line soldiers.
January 14, 2012
My uncle was there so I was drawn to this title quickly. A great insight to the pain and silence he suffered.
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August 24, 2015My copy 1998 by Westview Press 479 page paperback
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews