| An 8th Army 6th South African Armored Division Sherman V (M4A4) that lost control on the corner of Via Sistina and Via del Tritone. It has come to a stop at 1 Via Sistina. A crowd has gathered to look at the tank. Note the space between the bogie wheels and the appliqué armor plate on the side. Crewmembers check the tank for damage. The Sherman V, or M4A4, was the mainstay of the 6th South African Armored Division. Used by the Division from 1944 onwards, it saw their crews across the Italian campaign and took part in all of their major engagements. It was well liked by its crews, for much the same reason as other Allied nations. The Sherman V was versatile, reliable, easy to maintain, and balanced effective firepower with good protection for the crew. The 6th South African Armored Division was moved forward and attached to the Canadian I Corps. The break-out from Anzio was complete on May 25, 1944, and the United States 5th Army was driving on to Rome. The 6th South African Armored Division was ordered to advance along Highway 6, and fought its 1st action as a Division on June 3, 1944, when the United Kingdom Royal Army 24th Guards Brigade, attached to the 6th Armored, took Piglio; and the 12th South African Motorized Brigade entered Paliano. The 6th South African Armored Division advanced with the Tiber River to the East and Lake Bolsena to the West at a rate of 10 miles (16 kilometers) per day, outstripping their flanking Units. So, after Rome had been taken by the Allies on June 4, 1944, the 6th South African Armored Division was ordered to move up the Via Casalina to take over the spearhead of the of the United Kingdom 8th Army’s XIII Corps. On June 6, 1944, the 6th South African Armored Division, on the extreme left of the 8th Army front, passed through Rome. Behind the tank is an advertisement for Vetroflex, a form of glass wool from Livorno, was used for sound insulation and decorative installations. The Palazzo del Cinema di Venezia (“Cinema Palace of Venice”) was coated in Vetroflex “to obtain a uniform and pleasant distribution of sounds,” according to Vetroflex’s advertisements. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0662.jpg |
| Image Size | 119.41 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 992 x 657 |
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| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 5, 1944 |
| Location | One Via Sistina |
| City | Rome |
| State or Province | Lazio |
| Country | Italy |
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| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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