drgondog
Major
I will have to agree that Mark Clarks capture of Rome and not encircling the German troops does constitute a blunder.
Once Southern France invasion in Aug 1944 was done, most of the allied troops in Italy should have been withdrawn and sent to France.
My first reaction is to agree Syscom. I'd have to ponder the after effect of the vacuum on the recently freed Italians. The German Army was not known for having Idle hands.
But Kesslering would not be a threat with no mobility to speak of and no access to move his remaining troops to a useful place except perhaps the Balkans - which might have slowed the USSR.
I suspect the notion was contemplated and rejected for political reasons.
Regards
Bill