The hard-fought Italian Campaign of World War II, which lasted more than a year, proved a critical element to the eventual victory in Europe. During this campaign thousands of Americans gave their lives, beginning with the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 up until the liberation of northern Italy in the fall of 1944.

Allied forces fought their way onto mainland Italy, and then slowly worked their way up the boot, causing Mussolini’s government to fall and pushing the Germans further north with each advancing month. Critical to Allied success, American forces also set up air bases in Italy, allowing fighter escorts to accompany bombers into deep enemy territory, helping to cripple German infrastructure, such as oil fields and ball bearing factories.

As one of two American cemeteries in Italy, more than 10,000 Americans are buried or memorialized at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, which is located just miles from the Mediterranean Sea, where Allied forces landed at Anzio and Nettuno in January 1944. To tell this story, the American Battle Monuments Commission has released the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery smartphone app. Free to download in the Apple iTunes Store and the Android Google Play Store, this official U.S. government app serves as your personal tour guide of the cemetery.

This app allows you to:

• Plan your visit to include driving directions, operating hours, and parking information
• Learn the stories of the Americans buried there, and find their burial locations
• Explore the cemetery grounds, and learn about the design and layout
• Take a cemetery tour in as little as one hour, or spend the entire day exploring the site.
• Understand the U.S. military’s role in World War II
• See a map of the cemetery, including key points of interest

You can use the app at the cemetery, or an ocean away. You don’t have to be in Italy to learn about this World War II site, where 7,861 Americans are buried and 3,095 Americans are memorialized on the Walls of the Missing.  

This is one of five mobile apps thus far developed by ABMC. Apps featuring Cambridge American Cemetery, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery and Pointe du Hoc are also available for download.

About ABMC:
Established in 1923 by Congress, ABMC is a U.S. government agency charged with commemorating the service, achievements and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917. ABMC administers our nation’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and federal memorials. For more information visit www.abmc.gov, or connect with us on Facebook, Youtube or Instagram.