Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

322
Even had there been no threat of a
Fifth Army offensive, General Lemelsen
would have been disturbed by the
shortage of troops, for partisan activity
in the FuurlRmth Annv's rear was increasing,
particularly between the Ligurian
coast and Highway 9, Anny Group C's
main lateral line of communication.
Almost every day some partisan band
demolished a railroad, a bridge, a highway.
To ,)rovide vitally needed security,
Lemelsen transferred to the rear one
battalion from each division in the less
threatened XIV Panzer Corps opposite
the V.S. IV CorpS.25
In addition to harassment by paltisans,
the Germans were plagued by
Allied bombers and fighters. Medium
bombers again struck the Po River
crossings to destroy bridges repaired
since Operation MALLORY MJ\JOR in
July. They also attempted to seal off
the industrial area of northwestern Italy
from the front by lx)mbing five railroad
bridges. Fighter-bombers harassed
roads and rail lines on both sides of the
PO.21;
On 9 September the mediums, in an
effort to isolate the immediate battle
area planned for the Fifth Army,
shifted their attacks to railroad lines
'5Ibid.
•• Craven and Cate, eds., AAF III, pp. 445-46.
CASSINO TO THE ALPS
leading into Bologna. By nightfall the
next day they had cut all four main
lines. 27
Meanwhile, the bulk of the fighterbombers
hit the Gothic Line itself.
Beginning on 9 September and continuing
through the 20th, when weather
would restrict operations, fighter-lx)mbers
would fly an average of 240 sorties
daily against bivouac areas, command
}X>sts, and supply depots in the vicinity
of FUla and II Giogo Passes. For three
days, beginning on the 9th, mediums
joined the attack, flying 339 sorties
against barracks, supply points, and gun
positions between the front and Bologna.
2x
As the 4th Parachute and 715th Diztisions
resumed their withdrawal into the
main Gothic Line defenses, General
Lemelsen grew increasingly disturbed
over his chances of holding the line. On
9 September his chief of staff requested
Kesselring to transfer at least one depleted
division from the Tenth Armv to
replace the departing 16th SS Panzer
Grenadier Division. Although Kesselring
agreed, he added that he saw no reason
for immediate concern, for in his opinion,
the Fourteenth Anny faced no immediate
attack. 29
27 Ibid.
'K Ibid.
29 AOK 14, Ia KTB Nr. 4, 6-9 Sep 44, AOK 14,
Doc. 62241/1.