Anzio << AN zee `oh` or AHN see `oh` >> (pop. 58,247) is a small Italian seaport and resort on the west coast of Italy, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Rome. In ancient Rome, when Anzio was known as Antium, it was popular with the Roman emperors. Among the Roman ruins at Anzio are an amphitheater, an old port, and a villa where the Emperor Nero was born in A.D. 37.
Anzio was the site of a major battle between Allied and German troops during World War II (1939-1945). On Jan. 22, 1944, American and British troops swarmed ashore at Anzio and met little or no resistance. But the Germans soon counterattacked, resulting in four months of savage fighting. By the time Allied troops broke out of the beachhead in late May, 4,400 of them were dead, 18,000 were wounded, and 6,800 had been taken prisoner or were missing. Germany also suffered heavy losses—5,500 killed, 17,500 wounded, and 4,500 taken prisoner or missing. Rome fell a week later. Twenty-three Americans received the Medal of Honor for their service at Anzio. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.
