This is one of the many houses that still remains in San Pietro. Most of the city was destroyed during the fighting in December
1943. After World War Two, the people of San Pietro moved further down the Liri Valley, abandoning the old town of San
Pietro. Today, the old city of San Pietro is quiet. Because the city was not rebuilt after the War, many of the homes still
contain artifacts from the attack due to having never been rebuilt.
The photo, above left, shows QuestMasters Museum conducting archeology work in the "Old Church" of Chiesa di S. Michele
Arcangelo. This church was destroyed in December 1943. The church was partially rebuilt in the late 1950's after the War, but
was abandoned with the rest of the city when the new city of San Pietro was built.
The right photo is a U.S. 8" M106 200lb. Gun HE (High Explosive) projectile that was recovered by QuestMasters from Chiesa
di S. Michele Arcangelo (The "Old Church" of San Pietro). This projectile was responsible for destroying the southern wing of
the Church in December 1943. Recovery of this projectile can be seen in the above left photo.
The U.S. 5th Army's 8" M-1 Gun had a effective range of 12 miles.
San Pietro Infine, Italy
Between 1997 and 1999, QuestMasters conducted vast WWII archaeological work in the town of San Pietro
Infine, Italy. This town lies 10 miles south of Monte Cassino, at the beginning of the Liri Valley. Early in
December of 1943 San Pietro was caught in the advance of the U.S. 5th Army heading toward Monte Cassino.
San Pietro held a strategic role in the advance of the Liri Valley, being flanked on the west by Monte Lungo
and by Monte Sumucro to the east. This town was finally liberated by the U.S. 36th "Texas" Infantry Division
on December 20th 1943 after several unyielding weeks of battle. Today, San Pietro is known as the "Pompeii"
of World War Two.
U.S. 8" M106 200lb. Gun HE (High Explosive) Shrapnel, above two photos.
These two pieces additional pieces of U.S. 8" M106 200lb. Gun HE (High Explosive) projectile that were recovered by
QuestMasters Museum from Chiesa di S. Michele Arcangelo (The "Old Church" of San Pietro).
105mm HE Shrapnel, left
photo.
This shrapnel fragment was
also found in the town of
San Pietro. When this shell
fragmented, it split
lengthwise down the center.
This shows the high
explosive cavity inside of the
shell. This shell does not
have a base detonating fuze.
German Kraftsänge 39 1000mm Schnittlänge (Stihl) Zubehör, above left and right photo.
This storage box is for the German Kraftsänge 39 1000mm Schnittlänge (Stihl) Zubehör or - accessory box for the 1000mm
cutting length, Model 39 Chainsaw produced by Stihl, during WWII for the German Wehrmacht. It was found in the town of San
Pietro. This box has violent shrapnel or bullet holes that have penetrated through all four sides and the bottom. It was used
by the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division or German 71st Infanterie Division that occupied the city of San Pietro, Italy.
THE BATTLE OF SAN PIETRO
The Battle of San Pietro Infine was a major engagement from December 8th to 17th 1943, in the Italian Campaign of World War
II, involving Allied forces attacking from the south against heavily fortified positions of the German "Winter Line".

The Germans had occupied San Pietro in September 1943 to prepare the defenses. They evacuated all non-essential Italians
from the town. They set up a defensive perimeter in the whole territory, in particular on Mount Sammucro and Mount Lungo,
which overlooked the Mignano Gap. These were strategically important positions because they allowed the control of the long
stretch of Route 6, important for the advance of the Allies toward Rome. The Fifth Army began to attack the
Reinhard/Bernhardt Line on 5 November, and the attacks continued into December.

The Battle of San Pietro was preceded by Allied attacks on the Camino Hill Mass at the entrance to the Mignano Gap (named
for the small town on the road at that point). The entire hill mass is about 6.2 miles long and 3.7 miles wide. After that, the main
Allied effort was against the German defenses on Mount Sammucro and Mount Lungo, which dominated the narrow valley on
the northeast and southwest respectively. As a point of historical interest, the assault on Mount Lungo was aided for the first
time by the 1st Italian Motorized Group, part of the recently reconstituted Italian army, now fighting on the side of the Allies.

The direct attack on the German positions in and around San Pietro began on December 8th by Major General Geoffrey
Keyes', II Corps of the Fifth Army. The positions were defended by two battalion sized elements of the German 15th Panzer
Grenadier Division and a battalion of the German 71st Infanterie Division, all part of German Tenth Army's XIV Panzer Corps.
After a week of intense attacks and counterattacks, the U.S. 36th Division's 143rd Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Ranger Battalion
and the 504th Parachute Regimental Combat Team (504th PRCT) commanded the heights of the Sammucro Mass. The U.S.
36th Division, then planned a further effort for December 15th. The 143rd Infantry, assisted by the 504th PRCT, would continue
to push west along the shoulders of Sammucro and take San Vittore del Lazio while to the south of Route 6 the 142nd Infantry,
supported by the Italian 1st Motorized Group, were to capture Mount Lungo. In the center, the 141st Infantry would attack San
Pietro itself. The main attack of the 36th Division started at 12:00 on December 15th. In an effort to break the German defenses
in the town, two platoons from the 753rd Tank Battalion attacked with 16 M-4 Sherman Tank's and Tank Destroyers. The
armored attack failed due to mines and anti-tank fire. Four of the 16 tanks survived. After four successive Allied attacks and
German counterattacks, the Germans pulled back from San Pietro since the dominating ground on both flanks, Mount Lungo
and the Sammucro peaks, was now in II Corps' possession. The Germans launched a counterattack on December 16th to
cover their withdrawal as they retreated to positions farther north at Cedro Hill, Mount Porchia, San Vittore, and the western
spurs of Mount Sammucro.
QUESTMASTERS ARCHEOLOGY WORK:
Ceramic Floor Tile, above two photos.
These two pieces were recovered from the floor of the destroyed Chiesa di S. Michele Arcangelo (The "Old Church" of San
Pietro). The rear of the glazed tile, right photo, is marked with the maker (unreadable) and Roma (Rome).
House Address Marker, above photo.
This glazed tile was recovered from one of the destroyed houses in San Pietro, Italy, by QuestMasters. The Number of the
house was Nine. It has been glued back together from broken pieces that were recovered from the rubble.
Child's Shoe, above photo.
This wartime Child's left shoe was recovered from the underground rubble in the Town of San Pietro, Italy while conducting
archeology work. Only one shoe was found in the rubble. Based on the size of the shoe, the child was only a year or two old.
German Wehrmacht Butter Container, above two photos.
This German Wehrmacht (Armed Forces) Butter Container was found while conducting archeology work in San Pietro. These
containers were made of bakelite, the predecessor to plastic, and were made in various colors from white to black/brown. This
example is orange in color with the wartime German makers mark, right photo, on the bottom of the container. It is missing
the screw top lid. This type of container was issued to every member of the Wehrmacht. It was meant to hold the Soldiers
daily ration of butter, jam or fat to be used during meals.
This would have belonged to a German Soldier assigned to the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division or the German 71st
Infanterie Division assigned to the defense of San Pietro, Italy
U.S. 4.2 Inch Chemical Mortar Crate, above photo.
This U.S. 4.2 Inch Mortar Crate was found while conducting archeology work in San Pietro, Italy. The crate is stenciled in
black paint over bare wood: 2 - COMPLETE RDS. 4.2CM (Chemical Mortar), HIGH EXPLOSIVE, AMMUNITION FOR CANNON,
WITH EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE. The crate is dated March 1943 and would have been used during the battle in December 1944.
Barely visible are the blue corner markings denoting Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) overseas shipping markings. The
bottom of the crate is marked 1804-CWS-DEPOT.
Chewed Gum, above two photos.
One of the most unusual, fragile and precious items ever found by QuestMasters during archeology work is this chewed piece
of gum. While conducting archeology work in the town of San Pietro, Italy, everything unearthed is examined. The normal
battlefield debris are expected while digging 12" or more down in the soil, shell casings, projectiles, insignia  - even human
remains. Every small clump is examined. But this small "clump" that came up with all of the shell casings and debris was
different. Once cleaned, its story became evident. It was a piece of chewed bubble gum, but this size is what made it very
special, the teeth marks indicated that the gum was chewed by a small child and then discarded with all of the other remains
of war.
Silver Glass Mirror, above photo.
This fragile silvered-glass mirror with cardboard backing was recovered by QuestMasters in 1997 from a building in the town
of San Pietro, Italy. Although cracked, this mirror has seen the reflection of both war and peace.
The documentary "The Battle of San Pietro", above photo.
This photo is a single frame from the "The Battle of San Pietro", a documentary film directed by John Huston in 1943. In this
single frame a U.S. Soldier is handing an Italian child a piece of chewing gum in the town of San Pietro, Italy. It is quite
possible that the gum shown above photo is the same gum in this wartime footage.

The "Battle of San Pietro" is a documentary film directed by John Huston about the Battle of San Pietro Infine sixty miles from
Naples during World War II. It was shot by Jules Buck. It was released in the U.S. in 1945 but shown to U.S. troops earlier.

Huston and his crew - which included the British novelist and screenwriter Eric Ambler - were attached to the U.S. Army’s
143rd Regiment of the 36th Division. Unlike many other military documentaries, it was claimed Huston’s cameramen filmed
alongside the infantrymen as they fought their way up the hills to reach San Pietro. In fact, the film was completely recreated
after the battle using real Soldiers, recreating the battle that had just been fought. Although the film was made after the actual
battle, it documents actual 36th Infantry Division Soldiers and Italian civilians in San Pietro, Italy, in December 1943.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) of the Soldier handing the gum to the child appears to be the patch of the U.S. 6th Corps.
Next-of-Kin Purple Heart Medal, above photo.
This Purple Heart Medal, in the QuestMasters Museum collection, was awarded to the Next-of-Kin of PFC Clarence Charles
Keyes 32238345, 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment, B Company, Killed In Action - December 7th 1943, near San
Pietro Italy.
To read his story, click here:
http://www.questmasters.us/36th_Infantry_Division_Clarence_Keyes.html
U.S. M-1 Helmet Chin Strap and German General Assault Badge, above photo.
Shown here are two items excavated by QuestMasters, in 1997, from the town of San Pietro, Italy. The American WWII M-1
Helmet brass bar buckle with chin strap (produced between 1941 and 1942) and a German WWII General Assault Badge, which
was awarded to non-infantry members for taking part in 3 different assaults. This badge belonged to a German soldier of the
15th Panzer Grenadier Division. This would not have belonged to a German Soldier from the German 71st Infanterie Division,
as they would have been awarded the German Infantry Assault Badge.
Signal Corps photo, San Pietro, Italy December 1943, above left photo.
This photo, found by QuestMasters at the National Archives, College Park MD, shows a U.S. M-4 Sherman tank from the 753rd
Tank Battalion, A Company, Tank A-2, that has been knocked out by a German Teller Mine, San Pietro Italy, photo taken
December 18th 1943. Both sets of tracks from the tank have been broken. The photo was taken by the 163rd Signal Company.
QuestMasters Museum photo, San Pietro, Italy, January 1997, above right photo.
The above right photo was taken by QuestMaters Museum in 1997 showing the same area as the 1943 photograph, 50 years
later.
WWII Skoda produced 100mm Field Howitzer used by Italy as the Modello 14/19, San Pietro Italy 1997, above two photos.
This Italian 100mm Field Howitzer, Modello 14/19, was photographed by QuestMasters Museum in the town of San Pietro, Italy
in January 1997.
QuestMasters Museum conducting WWII archeology work in the old town of San Pietro, Italy above two photos.
Because of the presence of non-ferrous metals, the wartime debris was sifted to recover wood, leather, canvas, and bakelite
WWII relics. San Pietro, Italy, August 1997.
German WWII 2cm Flak 30 or 38 shell casings, above left photo.
These German WWII 2cm Flak shell casings, used in the Flak 30, Flak 38 or KwK 38 gun, were found and recovered from San
Pietro, Italy in 1997. These steel shell casings have been fired.
U.S. WWII M-1937 Browning Automatic Rifle Belt, above right photo.
This U.S. M-1937 web belt for the M-1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) has completely deteriorated over 50 years in the soil
of the town of San Pietro, Italy. Only the blackened brass hardware from the belt closure and magazine pockets remain, when
found by QuestMasters Museum in 1997. The M-1937 BAR belt had six magazine pockets with lift-a-dot closures, but eight
were found, and shown above. The other two lift-a-dot fasteners may have come from an attached canteen or first aid pouch.
U.S. WWII M-1 Helmet Liner Fragment, above left photo.
This U.S. WWII M-1 Helmet high pressure liner fragment was recovered from San Pietro, Italy in 1997, by QuestMasters
Museum. This model of the M-1 Helmet Liner was introduced into production during the summer of 1942. The olive drab
painted piece of liner is from the left rear of the helmet liner, with two steel rivets for the liner suspension and nape strap. No
other pieces were found.
Sardine Can, above right photo.
This Sardine Can was found by QuestMasters Museum while metal detecting in the town of San Pietro, Italy in 1997 and was
found buried with other WWII items. It is not known if it was supplied by the United Kingdom or United States during WWII,
eaten by one of the Soldiers fighting in the town, or given to one of people of the civilian population. The markings on the lid
are in English.
Signal Corps Photo SC188514, January 1944, Monte Lungo, Italy, above photo.
This Signal Corps photo, January 31st 1944, MM-5-44-1054, via the National Archives College Park, Maryland, "Monte Lungo,
Area, Italy, T-2 moving the 240mm Howitzer tube on its transport wagon". Photo by Rusbar, 196th Signal Company.
Monte Lungo, Italy is 9 miles southwest of San Pietro, Italy, well withing the range of the 240mm M-1 Howitzer.
The 240 mm Howitzer M1 was designed together with the longer-ranged 8-inch Gun M1, and they both shared a related
carriage. While use of the 8-inch Gun was limited due to excessive bore wear and poor accuracy, the howitzer saw
considerable action during World War II.
Medics of the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, enter the town of San Pietro, Italy, to look for wounded, above
photo.
The destroyed "Old Church" of Chiesa di S. Michele Arcangelo is in the center background of the photo.
Signal Corps photo, Monte Lungo, Italy January 1944, above photo.
Signal Corps Photo SC186649: “Mt. Lungo Area, Italy. View of knocked-out German self-propelled 75mm gun, mounted on
Mark III chassis, being towed away from front along Highway 6 by U.S. Army Tank Retriever.” Photo by Boyle, 163rd Signal
Photo Company. January 13th 1944.