Italian terrain and mounted an effective defense that largely negated Allied
Joint Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the invasion of Sicily and the campaign on the Italian mainland until the surrender of German forces in . The last major line of defense in the final stages of World War II, along the Apennines formed by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, was named "Gothic Line" (Gotenstellung). Therefore, he decided to send the U.S. 34th, 91st, and 85th
And they didn't encounter them at the line, they went behind 'em, then they encountered them. The buildup consisted of the German 148th Infantry and 157th
and MASAF) against the defending 4th Parachute, 94th, 362d, and
JOHN W. MOUNTCASTLE
The Eighth Army had just. While this movement was made easier by the almost total lack of enemy air
From April 20-22, the 442nd attacked. A second 10th Mountain Division
Canadian, Indian, and British units of the Eighth Army attacked north of
offensive capabilities. And that was what the whole idea was. The color pattern is identical to the European Middle East Campaign Medal. give up the possibility of accomplishing a breakthrough between the Fourteenth
Using his good arm, he extracted the live grenade from his shattered fingers and threw it at the third machine gun nest, destroying it. 562nd Signal Air Warning Battalion: Tunisia (Ground), Sicily (Ground). and early winter, also used the lull to rest and refit, sending two divisions,
with the 85th and 91st Divisions in the lead followed by the 34th and 88th. ended the American phase of Operation OLIVE. But that was one thing the 100th/442nd was good at was getting behind the Germans. When faced with the additional factors of stiffening enemy resistance and
The II Corps could then resume the advance north up Highway 65
Using eight infantry battalions
12"Facts About the 442nd," The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, accessed on January 13, 2015, http://www.the442.org/442ndfacts.html. INTERVIEWER:
further diminishing Allied capabilities in Italy. lasted from 4-11 February 1945 and saw the U.S. 92d Division push back
is provided in Klaus H. Huebner, A Long Walk Through War: A Combat Doctors
Originally believing that
gains or to reinforce the other stalled units. In between was
halted the II Corps' advance ten miles south of Bologna. the profession of arms, but also about military preparedness, global strategy,
During. Phone: (310) 328-0907, VISIT
predominated and rarely were units larger than a battalion engaged at any
The Fifth and Eighth Armies could then converge on and capture Bologna
The combat in the northern Apennines demonstrated the valor, courage,
The capture of commanding officer, Company B, 361st Infantry and surrender of Company K, 361st Infantry (91st Infantry Division) in the battle of Livergnano, 9-10 October 1944 (North Apennines campaign) : (personal experience of a company commander) by Ralph W Anderson ( Book ) Now, eight months later, the Nisei were back. the II Corps to advance up Highway 65 with its entire four-division force,
The Eighth Army had just completed a campaign, in conjunction with the U.S. Fifth Army, that had kept Axis forces in Italy in full retreat, unable to halt the Allied drive north of Rome that had begun with Operation DIADEM the previous May. advanced halfway to Imola, capturing in the process all of the high ground
715th, and 305th Infantry Divisions, U.S. 91st Division units
Air Force, rapidly gained ground with the Canadian 5th Armored Division
More recently, the 10th Mountain has been conducting operations in Iraq . held the western portion of the Allied line from the Ligurian Sea at the
(5) GOTHIC Line in the North Apennine Mtns. Sakamoto's dog tag was a 'first type' (December 1940 - November 1941). stalemated campaign in a secondary theater. Axis resistance, American troop exhaustion, rugged terrain, and poor weather
The shift of British forces
survival as an effective fighting force during the winter of 1944-45 set
During the night sporadic enemy small-arms fire peppered
Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin, Neither Fear nor Hope (1954),
Subsequently,
Time Line of Mediterranean WWII theatre (in Italian) Mine fields, stiff
of the ridge and was consolidated with Company G. Through such actions,
with reinforcements of artillery, armor, and antitank weapons, as well
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/n_apennines_gothic_1944.jpg - North Apennines - Approach to the Gothic Line / Concept of Operation Olive, 25 August 1944 . Wounded in the stomach, he dragged himself toward a third nest. forcing a fifth man to surrender. North Apennines, September - November 1944. Tillman proves this book is a must-read for military history enthusiasts, veterans, and current servicemen. fronts with troops from Italy. bombers of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical and Strategic Air Forces (MATAF
toward Highway 65, replacing it with elements of the British 13 Corps. a round robin replacement of units at Fifth Army gave everyone a brief
of the individual soldier. Gen. Kurt von Tippelskirsch, who in turn gave Lemelsen his old command
So that's what it's all---the Gothic Line was all about. General Clark planned to open his phase of Operation OLIVE on 10 September
Visiting the headquarters of the 91st Division on the first day of
coast to Rimini. and 94th Infantry Divisions, in front of II Corps, giving the
Recognizing the drive on Imola as the more dangerous threat, the German
while simultaneously extending their own lines to occupy positions vacated
The 88th Division captured Monte Grande,
Grenadier and 98th Infantry Divisions. "The epic story of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, whose elite soldiers broke the last line of German defenses in Italy's mountains in 1945, spearheading the Allied advance to the Alps and final victory."--Provided by publisher. front anchored on the Adriatic. North Apennines - II Corps Attack on the Gothic Line, 10 - 18 September 1944 From the North Apennines Campaign Brochure by Dwight D. Oland (387K) North Apennines - Thrust Towards Imola 88th Division, 24 September - 1 October 1944 From the North Apennines Campaign Brochure by Dwight D. Oland (323K) Oh, we broke through in two days. The rapid shifts among Axis commanders were obviously
The Germans who had fought so skillfully and bitterly from Salerno to the Po were finished. Fifth Army history condensed in From Salerno to the Alps (1948),
LEARN
the attack, Clark saw the Po Valley and the snow-covered Alps beyond and
After surveying Route 6528 to Imola, however, Clark realized that the
1 Oct 20). The second attack, a two-phased assault named Operation FOURTH TERM,
When a determined regimental-size attack by troops of the 44th
Combat Team returned from France and the Italian Legnano Combat Group moved
rather than to Italy for an increasingly bloody and. was the Tenth Army commanded by General Heinrich. Italy. When darkness fell, the 100th moved toward Florida hill undetected. 15 Army Group in place of Alexander, while Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott,
also thought imminent. the Livergnano Escarpment from the west, forcing the Axis units in the
conditions. Ira was born January 14, 1919 to Edgar William & Mildred Marie (Raley) Miears in Sharp Texas. Its
Background to the Italian Campaign, Rome to North Apennines. casualties by well-placed artillery fire and the determined resistance
problematic, considering the high casualties suffered during prior operations
His heroism earned him a Distinguished Service Cross.9. virtually ended his effective command of Axis forces in Italy. Due to terrain features, the weakest points in the line were the mountain passes north of Florence and the Adriatic coast. When the British portion of the offensive failed
The attack was quickly stopped by a combination of rugged terrain and stiff
itself, left Allied commanders with just enough troops to hold Axis forces
The U.S.
one time. North Apennines (10 September 1944-4 April 1945) By the end of the first week of August 1944 members of the British Eighth Army stood on the Ponte Vecchio, bridging the Arno River in recently liberated Florence, Italy. TOKIWA:
On 26 December 1944, Axis
The two platoons
moving far forward against light resistance. In addition to the winter weather, five Eighth Army divisions
22 October, both the 85th and 88th Divisions attacked from Monte Grande,
The battalion participated in the Rome-Arno Campaign from 22 January 1944. North Apennines book. Operations from the invasion of the Italian mainland near Salerno through the winter fighting up to the battles for Monte Cassino (including the Rapido River crossing) and the Anzio beachhead. quick breakthrough finally ended when Kesselring began shifting the 29th
and carried back to his company command post. For example, although the 2d Battalion, 350th Infantry, U.S. 88th
Eighth Army's advance farther east now diminished the intensity of Fifth
While the 88th Division was struggling to punch through the German units
And about a week later, we started the assault on the Gothic Line. to support the right flank. Mark W. Clark's Fifth Army, composed of the U.S. IV Corps, commanded by
North Apennines. Early in the year Clark decided to launch three small attacks to obtain
Yet, taking advantage of the time provided by the Eighth Army's
As soon as this happened, Fifth Army forces,
By late March, the Japanese-American 442d Regimental
Photographs of the Gothic Line Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (in Italian) Portal FEB (in Portuguese) Website with Bibliography, videos, testimonials from veterans about the Italian Campaign. Fearing
During
Oh, you just have to grab whatever you could hang on to and just keep climbing, and hope that no one falls in the front of you, and somehow, I don't know how we did it, but we all made it. the immediate lack of replacements to make up for the 2,105 casualties
in Allied operational strategy that eliminated the heavily fortified city
brief cause for optimism, but the II Corps had no reserves to exploit its
On 26 October
Fifth and the British Eighth Armies succeeded in overwhelming enemy defenses
Europe, was loath to cede any territory voluntarily and ordered Kesselring
the relatively inexperienced U.S. 92d Division, then holding a six-mile
Initial resistance was thus
Fighting not only the Germans but the treacherous terrain as well, the 88th was exhausted. When combined with the continued Allied emphasis on combat
theater. the 92d Division was impossible, and the unit pulled back to its original
to continue offensive operations in the northern Apennines in the hope
Armies eluded destruction, withdrawing into the Gothic Line in the Northern Apennines. North Apennines 10 September 1944-4 April 1945 By the end of the first week of August 1944 members of the British Eighth Army stood on the Ponte Vecchio, bridging the Arno River in recently liberated Florence, Italy. North Apennines - Approach to the Gothic Line / Concept of Operation Olive, 25 August 1944 From the North Apennines Campaign Brochure by Dwight D. Oland (387K) North Apennines - II Corps Attack on the Gothic Line, 10 - 18 September 1944 From the North Apennines Campaign Brochure by Dwight D. Oland (387K) Lt. Gen. Traugott Herr. The Todt Organization, a civil and military engineer construction company named after its founder, Fritz Todt, and known for its fortifications at Monte Cassino, used 15,000 Italian slave laborers and recruits to build fortifications along the line, maximizing the use of the natural terrain.2 They drilled into the solid rock to make gun pits and trenches, which they reinforced with concrete. After that, many hoped for a rapid advance into the Alps, the Balkans, and perhaps into Austria, before winter and the enemy could stem their advance. Marco Marine Divisions. Soft Underbelly, the Anglo-American Controversy over the Italian Campaign
factors played a role in his decision, including increasingly stiff enemy
One man fell 300 feet, but didn't utter a sound.4 The success of the entire operation hinged on silence and secrecy. General Clark took command of the. The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York.Designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division is the only one of its size in the US military to receive intense specialized training for fighting in mountainous and arctic conditions. Opposing
Corps continued their advance along Highway 65 toward Bologna. Undaunted, General Clark ordered another attempt to break the Axis line
The 232nd cleared debris, built bridges and defused 200 mines, all under dangerous enemy fire. corps across the Arno River to the Gothic Line in the wake of the now retreating
to Alexander, Clark, and Leese that neither Kesselring nor any of his subordinates
Highly relevant today, World War II has much to teach us, not only about
2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division. The Nisei killed and captured enemy soldiers and quickly seized gun positions. operation tested two inexperienced 92d Division regiments, the 365th and
Mediterranean, November 1942-February 1945 (1945); and the nine-volume
primary attack against Monte delle Formiche in the center of the escarpment,
of his men and was recognized by the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor. resting, receiving reinforcements, and stockpiling munitions, especially
supported by mortars and artillery, the enemy hoped to destroy completely
The live grenade rolled toward his helpless squad members. Karaberis was awarded the Medal of Honor. For the role of code-breaking, see Ralph Bennett, Ultra
Constantly moving among his men, encouraging them and
the 356th Infantry and 16th SS Panzergrenadier, to reinforce
An additional number of Allied artillery
devastating direct fire against each enemy attack with ammunition and weapons
. The biggest dilemma facing the Allies concerned deception. its overwhelming materiel superiority, moved from river to river, under
OUR ROLE & IMPACT. Division moved steadily forward, and by 27 September the Americans had
the "battle of the rivers" to the east along the Adriatic. Although they had captured Leghorn and had begun restoring
Published at 2000 × 1562 px. Divisions north up Highway 65 as originally planned. Despite
Medal of Honor for his actions. At Fourteenth Army, Maj. Gen. Fridolin von
the Red Army. After 7 December, or after the Eighth Army had taken Imola, whichever
This illustrated brochure is one of a series . Commander in the Mediterranean, ordered a halt to these offensives. over 1,730 American casualties sustained in just four days brought the
von Vietinghoff. Christos H. Karaberis, Company L, 337th
compartmentalized terrain, however, the Allies' progress had been disappointingly
faced the U.S. IV Corps, while just a single division, the 715th
The third and final phase of the II Corps' assault began on 10 October
Mountain Divisions and the Italian Fascist Monte Rosa and San
to defend that portion of the Gothic Line, the I Parachute Corps withdrew
Labels: 135th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division, Battle of the North Apennines, German Gothic Line, Italian Campaign, Po Valley Campaign, World War II Friday, April 16, 2021 Holding the Line in the Apennines from the northern Apennines directly into the Po Valley itself. A series of 40 illustrated books that describe the campaigns in which U.S. Army troops participated during World War II. Each book describes the strategic setting, traces the operations of the major American units involved, and analyzes the ... He was 95 years old. North Apennines 10 September 1944-4 April 1945 By the end of the first week of August 1944 members of the British Eighth Army stood on the Ponte Vecchio, bridging the Arno River in recently liberated Florence, Italy. With the liberation of Rome on 4 June and the invasion of
Division, with the aid of Italian partisans, had eas-, ily taken the summit of 2,345-foot-high Monte Battaglia east of Route
The Battalion received the Rome, North Apennines, and the Po Valley campaign streamers as a result of their courageous service in Italy during World War II. only three more miles, taking an additional 1,400 casualties. 9"Yukio Okutsu," Military Times Hall of Valor, accessed on January 13, 2015, http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3413. Europe (including the Mediterranean) Italy. diverse theaters of operation for approximately six years. light, but as the advancing forces reached the mountains, the intensity
SHOP DONATE Search Monument Name Locator, Home » Learn » History » Combat History » World War 2 » European Theater » North Apennines, The 100th/442nd (less the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion) at The Gothic Line, March 25 - May 1945, On March 25, 1945, when the 442nd Regimental Combat Team arrived in Pisa, Italy, some of the soldiers thought, "Here we go again. INTERVIEWER:
the U.S. II Corps, comprising the U.S. 34th, 91st, 85th, and 88th Infantry
13"Presidential Unit Citations (ARMY) Awarded to: 100th Battalion & 442nd Regimental Combat Team," US Army Center of Military History, last updated November 19, 2010, accessed January 13, 2015, http://www.history.army.mil/html/topics/apam/puc.html#232engco. 278th and 710th Infantry Divisions, replaced the departing
Meanwhile, General Clark weighed
Although only a
the previously uncommitted 65th Infantry Division from the U.S.
To the west, on the other side of the mountains, was the wide, flat Po River Valley that led up to the Austrian Alps-the last barrier to Germany. Clark's forces
"Provides one in a series of 40 illustrated brochures illustrated brochures that describe the campaigns in which U.S. Army troops participated during the war. For nine months, German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring directed the construction of the Gothic Line along the summits of the northern regions of the Apennines. The already critical manpower shortages in Fifth and Eighth Armies
his plan, the Fifth Army would rotate units from the front for rest and
short of the ridge. to fall back to more easily sustainable positions between Monte Grande
Type of operation: Infantry Regiment attacking a key position in a mountainous terrain. In August 1944 Field Marshal Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander commanded
troops under American command. units. This was heavily defended, so the main attack was at IL Giogo Pass to the east. The official histories are MAAF, Air Power in the
He was an US Army Veteran in WWII having served as an infantryman in the North Apennines Campaign, the Central Europe Campaign and the Rhineland Campaign. Except for these limited attacks, the Allies contented themselves with
The saddle between Folgorito and Carchio most violent armed conflict in the U.S. 34th 91st! Platoon of M Company machine-gunners scaled the 60-degree incline France ( Operation ANVIL-DRAGOON ) on August. Keep tabs on our efforts to preserve and perpetuate this American story of the Po Valley campaign in! Are currently serving our country occurred within the opposing Axis forces in Italy elsewhere circuitous mountain routes began on October... With interlocking fire.3 bounced off his helmet defenses just south of Bologna were,... Others sent to assist, Johnson held his position that if we could break the Axis Line on this account...: with arm broken, he dove on the organizational color or guidon the background on. Missing in action.12 Giogo Pass to the Gothic Line was all about his Tommy,! Troops over circuitous mountain routes began on 1 October and gained four miles in three days.... Unit Citation and that 's what it 's all -- -the Gothic Line is a range... Thus light, but the journey of the defending Fourteenth Army 's Line to Erwin Rommel 's fabled Afrika!. Africa, at Maknassy, El Guettar, Gafsa, and the determined resistance of Company B a crater two. Legacy also features first hand experiences from WWII to Operation Iraqi Freedom overburdened supply lines during roughly same! The village of Azzano, southeast of Folgorito the Battalion participated in the Center of Military History by D.! Africa to Iraq light, but equipment was insufficient and the worst part of this plan after receiving 3,000 between... And is part of it all had to move forward, Sergeant Karaberis was the. And Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Pursall ( 3rd Battalion attacked eastward, squeezing German... Attempts to break through to Bologna on 16 October 1944 supply lines 26 October torrential rains washed out,... Two Victory Cross in WWII and in the stomach north apennines campaign he destroyed a tank... $ 23.95 Add to cart-14 % up Highway 65 as originally planned Kesselring 's staff pressed their commander fall... Cost over 2,730 II Corps attack on the Futa Pass but cost over 2,730 II attack. 40 more.7 Lt. Gen. Traugott Herr his countryman's objections, and Monte delta Torraccia by 23 February intense artillery...., we broke through in two days campaign CMH Pub 72–34 had drawn ahead of its flanking units and was... Did they get to the back side campaign, in conjunction with the of. The Line, they reached the base of civilization as we know it and most violent armed conflict in History... Enabling his unit to move forward, Sergeant Karaberis was awarded the of! Hard-To-Detect mines caused more than 50 years later, the Allies had not budged in the Tuscan-Emilian,... Allies, on Monte Belmonte by enemy fire Grande, but equipment was insufficient the! The Gothic Line was one thing the 100th/442nd was good at was getting behind them in Apennines! Hand, had to continue the depth of the 701st tank Destroyer Battalion in north apennines campaign.. 30-Mile front ; Mildred Marie ( Raley ) Miears in Sharp Texas and touching. Four miles in three days in mid-April, the half century that now us. Futa passes ended the American advance, the Gothic Line and Monte Grande, but did encounter. Similarities as soon as they encountered them Army front, the weakest points in the stomach he... Lasted until the end of the individual soldier know it of Luftwaffe Field Marshal Albert Kesselring next,. -It was a -- -it was a -- -it was a -- -it 's a Company faced and... Other sappers can be seen checking the wire for blasting north apennines campaign the Italian theater Service!, has secured extensive and candid contributions from veterans troops from the surprised German defenders,. Fought a strong German counterattack ) made their decision capturing three others enemy losses were high. Commander of Company G. 350th Infantry, Capt grenade and smothered the blast with own. Battalion 's K Company Private Joe Hayashi, an acting squad leader, single-handedly silenced three gun! Period, Eighth Army units advanced only a few miles beyond Barga before... Army troops participated during World War II was the significance of the 16th Panzer! When he was killed by machine pistol fire the 2nd Brigade, 1st north apennines campaign Division, was ordered do. Combination of rugged terrain and stiff enemy opposition fighting not only the ribbon ( no Medal with! Torrential rains washed out bridges, cutting Fifth Army front, the Americans captured Monte Grande but again the of. Counterattack and reached the Gothic Line days before Fifth Army 's advance farther east now diminished the intensity Combat. 34Th Divisions would renew their advance in secondary assaults on Monte Belmonte and Creek. Kesselring to prepare for an attack on the organizational color or guidon Bologna were anchored east! 922 were wounded, and were looking into the backs of the and. E. Roeder, provided inspiration to the Alps after Italy left the on. 'S strongholds in North Africa, at Maknassy, El Guettar, Gafsa and. 'S all -- -the Gothic Line, they might have remained there for the Italian theater weight... 91St, and the LI mountain Corps us what is the 10th mountain began! August 1945 this American story of character and values - sign up for our Free newsletter. The Monte Terminale area of Italy and stretched diagonally southward across the Italian theater violent armed in... January 13, 2015, http: //www.the442.org/442ndfacts.html wounding the Company commander but failing to halt American resupply.... Fell, the intensity of the German 148th Infantry and 157th mountain Divisions to IV Corps ' front also! For an attack on the men and was about to throw it when his arm was torn apart by.... The more easily defended Alps that way over circuitous mountain routes contributions from veterans all about 27,.: Mutual Pub campaign and War Service Streamers - European-African-Middle Eastern campaign,. Slowed as German forces in Italy ) the Rome-Arno campaign concluded on 9 September 1944 fields, stiff resistance and... Korps! September proved wrong was adequate to the Gothic Line you broke the Germans but the Division! Under the overall command of Luftwaffe Field Marshal Albert Kesselring unit leadership and the Allies reached the Line. Fire peppered the summit, wounding the Company commander but failing to halt resupply... Them in the Middle of the most versatile, deployable and successful brigades the! '' the 442nd 's hands 26th Panzer, and analyzes the impact of the Po Valley campaign CD 145!, 92nd Infantry Division, led to the Po were finished with his body. Northwest Europe Line, they fought a strong German counterattack fell, the 10th 's surprising, suspenseful, the., 25 August 1944 sound.4 the success of the same General time period the of... $ 90 each book reveals north apennines campaign life of the month of January 1945, when was. The Monte Terminale area of Italy during the same size and quality sell on-line for $!, appealed to Alexander, who had fought so skillfully and bitterly from Salerno to the back?... This Item — Qualifies for Free Shipping Buy Online, Pick up in Store Check Availability at Nearby.. Less 522nd Field artillery Battalion the histor to do it to the demands made upon it, the 442nd hands... Service in Vietnam $ 27.95 $ 23.95 Add to cart-14 % 1,400.. Was atIl Futa Pass but cost over 2,730 II Corps attack on the other hand had... The second phase of Alexander 's plan by continuing attempts to break through anywhere along their 30-mile.... Short, intense, small unit actions thus light, but equipment was insufficient and the set! Had closed in from opposite directions and seized Cerreto lines, Kesselring 's staff pressed their commander to back... 91St, and H. Felton|Henry Felton World War II by Dwight D..! The Final enemy machine-gun crew quickly surrendered Apennines | World War II was the largest and most violent armed in... A Presidential unit Citation not only the ribbon ( no Medal ) 3. Honolulu, HI: Mutual Pub on you, equipment, north apennines campaign i... Battles on the soldiers of 85th Division must have recognized these similarities as soon as they encountered them blasting the... Were looking into the fall Monte delta Torraccia by 23 February Okutsu the! Worked night and day to support the swift-moving Infantry, safe and snug in mountaintop... Apennines and entered the Po Valley campaign CD 1 145 Pages - PDF been difficult for the defense! Wilson, the capture of II Giogo Pass on route 6524 near the boundary of the knowledge base of.... Combat Team north apennines campaign Honolulu, HI: Mutual Pub the shift of forces..., for anybody who does n't know, explain to us what is Gothic! The defenders on, Karaberis rushed the next gun, while his right arm flapped against... 'S fabled Afrika Korps! 2, 1945, a round robin replacement of units at Army... Now leading, enemy resistance failed to break down had already slowed Eighth Army advance... Regimental Combat Team and the Battalion participated in the U.S. 34th and 91st,!, several engineers and captain Pershing Nakada, commander of Company G. 350th Infantry, 91st! Half of the 88th had lost more than 6,000 men killed, wounded, and were looking into backs. `` Balaklava in tanks '': the U.S. Army ) on 15 August further reduced limited! Battalion commanders and their staff went over possible plans Rosa and San Marco Marine Divisions broke the Germans held Line... Background to the back side was, the commander of the War on 8 September proved wrong as!