Why Sister Cities.

The action of the U.S. Army Rangers at Cisterna di Latina during the Anzio Campaign is remembered as one of the most costly engagements in Ranger history. On the night of 30–31 January 1944, approximately 767 Rangers from the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions infiltrated German lines with orders to seize Cisterna and disrupt enemy communications. Unbeknownst to Allied planners, the town was heavily reinforced with German infantry, armored units, and artillery. The Rangers were quickly surrounded and subjected to overwhelming firepower. Of the force that entered Cisterna, only six men escaped. Most historical accounts record that around 63 Rangers were killed in action, while more than 700 were captured after exhausting their ammunition and being cut off from reinforcement. The engagement effectively destroyed both battalions as operational units, marking one of the gravest losses ever suffered by U.S. special operations forces in a single action.

For Italy, the Rangers’ sacrifice at Cisterna holds enduring national and local significance. The battle is remembered as part of the broader struggle that led to the liberation of central Italy from German occupation, and the loss of so many elite American soldiers underscores the immense human cost of that liberation. Memorials in Cisterna and surrounding areas honor the fallen and captured Rangers, and the event is commemorated in local history as a moment of profound tragedy and courage. The near-annihilation of the Ranger battalions also influenced the evolution of U.S. special operations doctrine, reinforcing lessons about intelligence, terrain, and combined-arms coordination. In Italian collective memory, the Rangers at Cisterna symbolize the willingness of Allied forces to endure extraordinary losses in order to restore Italy’s freedom, strengthening the historical bond between Italy and the United States forged during World War II.

William O. Darby, founder of the U.S. Army Rangers and serving as Assistant Division Commander of the 10th Mountain Division, was killed on 30 April 1945 during the final phase of Allied operations in northern Italy. At this stage of the campaign, German forces were in rapid retreat toward the Alpine passes following sustained Allied pressure along the Italian front. The 10th Mountain Division had advanced northward beyond Lake Garda to cut off remaining German escape routes and secure key transportation corridors. Although large-scale organized resistance had largely collapsed, isolated German artillery units continued to fire sporadic rounds during their withdrawal, creating a persistent danger even behind advancing front lines.

Darby was in the town of Torbole, part of the municipality of Nago-Torbole at the northern tip of Lake Garda, engaged in forward command and coordination activities rather than direct combat. While conferring with fellow officers near the waterfront area, a German artillery shell exploded nearby, killing Darby and his aide, Sergeant Major John T. Evans. The incident occurred only days before the formal German surrender in Italy, underscoring the continued lethality of retreating forces in the war’s closing moments. Darby’s death exemplified the risks faced by senior commanders operating close to frontline units and marked the loss of one of the U.S. Army’s most influential combat leaders during World War II.
Col. Darby was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General after his death — becoming one of the few officers to receive that honor posthumously in World War II.  

In Torbole, now part of the municipality of Nago-Torbole at the northern end of Lake Garda, the place where General William O. Darby was killed is formally recognized as a site of historical and military significance. Memorial plaques installed by Italian civic authorities and U.S. military representatives mark the approximate location of the artillery strike that killed Darby and his aide on 30 April 1945. These markers typically include inscriptions noting Darby’s role as the founder of the U.S. Army Rangers and his service with the 10th Mountain Division, emphasizing both his leadership and the proximity of his death to the end of the Italian Campaign. The memorials serve not only as tributes but also as educational points, linking the local landscape of Torbole—now largely peaceful and touristic—to the broader history of World War II combat operations in northern Italy.

Beyond static memorials, Darby’s legacy is actively commemorated through annual remembrance events, most notably the Colonel William O. Darby 40-Mile Challenge held in the Lake Garda region. This endurance march, conducted by U.S. Army units, allied forces, and civilian participants, is modeled on the long-distance movements and physical demands characteristic of Ranger and mountain infantry operations. The route traverses difficult terrain reminiscent of that faced by the 10th Mountain Division in 1945, reinforcing the historical connection between Darby’s final campaign and modern military training traditions. Together, the memorial plaques in Torbole and the recurring commemorative march transform Darby’s death site into a living memorial—one that blends historical remembrance, military heritage, and international cooperation between Italy and the United States.

The Fort Smith Darby Challenge coincides with international activities including Nago-Torbole’s Col. Darby 40-Mile Ranger Challenge, reinforcing cultural and historical ties between the communities.  The Fort Smith Darby Challenge is the last Sunday in April every Year. The Darby Challenge has traditionally been a partnership between the Darby House and Fort Smith Museum of History. 

Darby Challenge Economic Impact Study. 

The Darby House will continue to cultivate and sustain international partnerships in direct support of its mission and strategic objectives. Darby House leadership representation in Italy will ensure responsible stewardship of these relationships, provide organizational oversight, and advance long-term cultural, historical, and educational initiatives aligned with approved governance priorities.