Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

324 CASSINO TO THE ALPS
enemy's outpost line, General Coulter's
85th Division was to relieve those elements
of the 91 st Division east of
Highway 65. The two divisions then
were to move against the two terrain
features commanding II Giogo Pass.
These were the 3,000-foot Monticelli
massif on the left of the pass and the
equally high Monte Altuzzo on the
right. General Keyes had also directed
General Livesay to deploy one of his
regiments west of Monticelli in conjunction
with a holding attack toward
the Futa Pass by General Bolte's 34th
Division astride Highway 65. In addi-
IL GroGO PASS
tion to taking the key height of Monte
Altuzzo, the 85th Division was also to
seize neighboring Monte Verruca and
other heights to the east adjoining the
sector of the British 13 Corps. (Map XI)
To defend II Giogo Pass the Germans
had constructed their G-othic Line
positions so as to take full advantage of
a watershed 3,000 feet high. On the
forward slopes, streams flowing southward
into the Sieve River had cut a
series of sharp irregular parallel ridges
and ravines. Except where rocky outcrops
and cliffs provided no foothold
for vegetation, stunted pines and scat-