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(4) The battle of the Trigno

The battle of the Barbara Line (31 October-4 November 1943) saw the Allies break through the outlining defences of the ‘Winter Line’, a hastily constructed line of outposts between the Volturno and the more strongly defended Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. The Barbara Line protected the northern exits from the plains surrounding Naples, and the most likely Allied line of advance towards Rome. On the Adriatic coast it followed the Trigno River. Some sources suggest that the actual Barbara Line stopped at the mountains, making the Trigno position a separate line, but the two halves do line up. The two halves of the line were defended separately, against different Allied armies - the multi-national Fifth Army in the west and the British Eighth Army in the east.