Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

A DIVERSIONARY OPERATION
could be expected to conduct only
delaying operations on the Ripabianca
and the San Patrignano Ridges. 1
To the fieldworks along the San
Fortunato Ridge the Germans had
given the designation, the Rimini Line.
The positions included dug-in tank turrets
reminiscent of the fortifications of
the Hitler Line in the Liri valley.
Because the Rimini Line was the last
possible defensive position short of the
Romagna plain, the Germans could be
expected to defend it stubornly.
Leese's Plan
Since 8 September General Leese
had shifted the burden of operations to
the 5 Corps on his left f1ank, in order
to permit the I st Canadian Corps to
rest and regroup, for he planned to use
the latter to make the main assault on
the Coriano Ridge, the key to Rimini.
Extending northeastward for five miles,
from the village of San Savino to a
point on the coast five miles southeast
of Rimini and near the fishing village
of Riccione. the Coriano Ridge (overed
the southern approaches to Rimini. To
assist the Canadian corps, Ge neral
Leese had reinforced it with three of
his f()lir reserve units; the British 4th
Division, 3d Greek Mountain Brigade,
and British 25th Tank Brigade. The
fourth, the 2d New Zealand Division,
was to remain in reserve with the 2
Polish Corps.
On 9 September the Eighth Army
commander outlined a revised plan of
'Operations of British, Indian, and Dominion
Forces in Italy, Part III, Sec. B, The Eighth Army
and the Gothic Line and Romagna Battles. Unless
otherwise noted the f{)llowing is based upon this
source.
339
operations designed to carry the army
northward thirty miles beyond Rimini
to Ravenna and provide control of the
Romagna Plain. From there General
Leese expected to be able to turn the
(;erman Tenth Arm)"s left f1ank and roll
it up toward Bol(;gna and to make a
junction with Clark's Fifth Army.
In the first phase of the re"ised plan
Leese intended both the British 5 Corps
and I st Canadian Corps to converge
upon the Coriano Ridge-the British
from the left and the Canadians frontally.
During the lull General Leese had
reversed the operational roles of the
British 5 and I st Canadian Corps. The
5 Corps was to work its way around the
western flank of the ridge to divert
enemy attention from preparations
being made by the Canadian corps to
make the major assault against its eastern
extremity. The 700 guns that had
signaled the opening of the Gothic Line
offensive on 25 August were to fire in
support of the 5 Corps' three infantry
divisions as they advanced beyond the
Conca River toward the town of Croce,
five miles southwest of Coriano, while
the 1 st Canadian Corps' 5th Canadian
and British I st Armoured Divisions
were to exploit capture of the ridge and
secure bridge heads over the Marano
River. During the third phase the
Eighth Army (the I st Canadian Corps
then leading the way) was to cross the
Marecchia and deploy onto the Romagna
Plain. The 1st Canadian Corps
commander, General Burns, planned at
that time to employ either the 2d New
Zealand Division or the 5th Canadian
Armoured Division as an exploiting
force. To help the main effort by the
Canadians, General Leese impressed
upon the 5 Corps commander, General