Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

428
ARTILLERY AMMUNITION BEING BROUGHT
FORWARD, 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION
occupy a series of lower ridges from
which roads descended into the Po
Valley. 19
General Hays had secretly assembled
his troops some two to three miles
south and east of the two ridges. 20 To
the right was the Brazilian Expeditionary
Force, holding with its three regiments
a three-mile sector between the
mountain division's right flank and the
Reno River. The Brazilians were to
cover the mountain division's right
flank. To make up for the mountain
division's lack of heavy fire support,
'"Fifth Army History, Part VIII, pp. 78-88; IV
Corps Opns Rpt, Feb 45; 10th Mountain Division
G-3 Jnl and file, regimental jnls and historical
narratives, Unless otherwise cited the following is
based upon these references.
20 Arrival of the division in the theater was not
announced to the Allied press until 23 Feb 45.
CASSINO TO THE ALPS
General Crittenberger attached the
I75th Field Artillery Battalion with 105mm.
howitzers, the 84th Chemical (4.2inch)
Mortar Battalion, two tank destroyer
battalions, and a tank battalion.
For the men of the 10th Mountain
Division, crossing the snow-covered
ground would be especially difficult
because of limited concealment provided
by nothing more than scattered
clumps of stunted trees. Vehicular
movement also would be difficult because
the few roads and trails crossing
the area were narrow and in poor
condition. The burden of transport
would fall mainly upon pack mules,
full-tracked "Weasels," and jeeps. Tanks
could, by skillful handling, be brought
forward in small groups as far as the
village of Querciola, a little more than a
mile southwest of Monte Belvedere.
Through interrogation of enemy
prisoners, the mountain division's G-2
had determined that the peaks and
ridges opposite both the mountain division
and the Brazilians were lightly held
by troops of the 232d Infantry Division,
with all three regiments in line across
an I8-mile front. Originally intended
only for rear area duty, most of the
division's troops were either older men
or convalescents intercepted en route to
their former units on the Eastern front.
In reserve were a fusilier battalion and
elements of a mountain battalion. 21
Into the Mountains
I n the bitter cold, as darkness settled
over the valley below Monte Belvedere,
teams of picked rock climbers slung
"Order of Battle of the German Army (Washington:
Military Intelligence Division, War Department,
1945), pp. 210-11.