Well, it was just a thought, Friedrich. I do passionately believe that someone other than Lucas could've done a lot better. Probably someone with a lot more determination would've insisted that more than two divisions were needed for an "end run" like Anzio.

Don't get me wrong, No. 9; I'm not the president of the Georgia chapter of the Mark Clark Fan Club or anything. But I'm just too charitable to see people as "stupid", and besides, Clark wouldn't have gotten where he was if he had been "stupid".

My personal favorite Allied commander in Italy is Alexander--I guess, partially, because that's my last name, too. But entirely aside from possible familial connections, Alexander was a darn fine combat general who was equally skilled at retreats (at Dunkirk and Burma) and offensives (as, for example, in finishing off the Axis in North Africa; he did, after all, take the title "Earl of Tunis" after his greatest victory). He may not have been a "Great Captain", but he was a real professional who got the job done, whatever it was he was called upon to do.

Yours,
Paul