In late January 2026, the coastal towns of Anzio and Nettuno commemorated the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings that reshaped the course of World War II in Italy. In the early hours of January 22, 1944, at around 2:45 a.m., Allied forces came ashore along the Lazio coastline in an operation designed to break the stalemate south of Rome.
What was known to soldiers as X-Ray Beach became the entry point for a campaign that would last months and leave a deep mark on the local population. More than 36,000 troops landed in the first 24 hours, supported by hundreds of ships and aircraft.
The objective was to outflank German defensive lines and accelerate the advance toward Rome, which was eventually liberated on June 4, 1944. The fighting around Anzio and Nettuno, however, was prolonged and costly. By the end of the campaign, total casualties on both sides exceeded 70,000, underscoring the scale and intensity of the battle.
To mark the 82nd anniversary, a series of public events took place between January 21 and 25, 2026. Official ceremonies included tributes at local war memorials and at the American military cemetery, where more than 7,800 U.S. service members are buried. Alongside institutional commemorations, the towns organized exhibitions, historical talks, film screenings, and educational activities aimed at younger generations.
The program also featured reenactments, displays of restored military vehicles, and a commemorative parade tracing routes once used by Allied units. Italian government representatives attended the main ceremonies on January 22, highlighting the enduring international dimension of the landings and their importance in the shared history of Italy, the United States, and other Allied nations.
Eighty-two years later, the return to X-Ray Beach is no longer about conflict, but about memory. Through numbers, names, and personal stories, Anzio and Nettuno continue to honor a moment that helped shape modern Europe and reaffirm a collective commitment to peace.
