Sixty years ago today, Rome was liberated by American forces. I'm sure it didn't take long for this news to reach the men on their way to Normandie - it must have been a real morale booster!
The 752nd Tank Battalion was activated at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, under the command of Lt. Col. Glen Anderson. Shortly after activation, the battalion moved to Ft. Lewis, Washington to complete its basic training. This phase of training was completed on 13 April 1942.
The 752nd shipped out to Italy, arriving near Naples on 12 January 1944. The 752nd saw its first combat action on 27 May 1944 as part of the Fifth Army's Anzio breakout. From this point on, the battalion quickly distinguished itself as a combat-worthy unit. The 752nd put in some hard fighting in the liberation of Rome.
But by June 4 1944, Rome was quiet. Propaganda leaflets dropped during the early morning hours by order of the commander of the Allied 15th Army Group, General Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, urged Romans "to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to protect the city from destruction and to defeat our common enemies."
If you're ever in Rome, take time out for a visit to the History Museum of the Liberation of Rome

The 752nd Tank Bn got a warm reception once inside Rome. Here, the crew of a B Co's Tank B10 stops to have their photo taken with the Roman family that took them in for dinner