A major combined arms Axis attack smashes Allied defenses around the town, then surrounds the town as nightfall approaches. British and American units fall back under cover of darkness, and the town falls to the Axis.

The battlefield.

US Airborne fires at approaching Italians.

Airborne and British AT guns defend the town.

Axis HQ unit comes under artillery fire.

German towed AT unit sets up to provide supporting HE fire.

Clash of the titans.

The Panzer II survives contact with a British armored car.

Italian troops trade fire with light British recce armor in an outlying village.

German armor surprises the Allies.

A tank company in full attack.

The British 6-pounders take a pounding from tanks and artillery.

German armor takes losses from the AT guns during the advance.

An Allied outpost on a small hill is overrun by a German Panzer IV.

US airborne infantry attempt to hold a trenchline in the face of a combined arms attack.

DO NOT try this at home: close assaulting a tank platoon in the open. Didn't work.

US artillery units continue to fire throughout the battle.

German tanks move around the town. British "Red Devils" Airborne in the background were repulsed after attempting to assault a tank.

German AT guns continue to fire as they are hit by artillery.

A Panzer IV platoon brings British infantry under fire in the town.

British armor in the town ambushes a Panzer III platoon. The Brits later fell back with bad morale.

The generals take a break from the carnage. Their hands will not come clean.