Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

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THROUGH THE WINTER 431 EVACUATING CASUALTIES OVER MOUNTAIN TRAIL chance had been en route from the Adriatic flank to the Monte Belvedere sector even before the 10th Mountain Division's attack had begun. Reinforcing were portions of a battalion of the l043d Infantry Regiment, the 232d Division's local reserve. Although the Germans failed to regain any of the lost ground the counterattack prompted a temporary pause in the American advance toward Monte della Torraccia. Meanwhile the troops of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force entered the fight to protect the 10th Mountain Division's right flank by seizing Monte Castello, about a mile southeast of Monte della Torraccia. Unknown to the Brazilians, the American drive toward Monte della Torraccia had precipitated an enemy withdrawal from Monte Castello. Behind a IS-minute artillery preparation, the Brazilian 1st Regiment converged on the objective from south and southwest and quickly gained the summit. Soon after nightfall the last resistance from a small rear guard ceased. The counterattack on Monte Belvedere at an end and the Brazilians moving on Monte Castello, the 85th Mountain Infantry during early after-
432 noon of the 21 st renewed the drive fi)r Monte della Torraccia. A fresh battalion, the 2d, led the way and quickly discovered that the Germans intended to make a fight of it. In the heavy combat that followed, casualties were high, including the 2d Battalion commander and his heavy weapons company commander. Three salvos from enemy artillery fire were particularly devastating until counterbattery fire silenced the guns. Throughout the night and well into the next day the battalion clung to positions 400 yards short of the objective, unable to push farther. By late afternoon of the 22d the battalion was down to some 400 effectives and was low on ammunition, food, and water. The battalion's condition prompted General Hays to relieve the 85th Mountain Infantry with the 86th. During the afternoon of the 23d the 3d Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry, came forward to make the final assault against the crest of Monte della Torraccia. As the battalion began to attack the next morning, tactical aircraft strafed and bombed hedgerows sheltering and concealing enemy gunners. Company I was atop the objective within an hour, and by early afternoon an of Monte della Torraccia and ridges north and northeast of it were in friendly hands. Although a battalion of German mountain troops from the 232d Division's reserve counterattacked vigorously, the 3d Battalion with strong artillery support held fast. By nightfall the entire complex of heights from the Riva Ridge to Monte Castello was firmly in hand. In a first full-scale battle action, men of the 10th Mountain Division had fought with courage and determination, CASSINO TO THE ALPS wresting a stretch of rugged terrain from the enemy at a cost of just over 900 casualties, of which 203 were killed. However deplorable any losses at all, that was hardly an alarming figure for a first engagement. Field Marshal Kesselring would later call the division "outstandingly efficient." 22 From General Crittenberger came the message: ". . . you have done a wonderful job. All eyes are on you. You are carrying the ball." That was a statement that General Truscott could heartily endorse, for carrying the ball was exactly what he expected the division to do when the army's offensive resumed in the spring. 2:1 Til,' Sl'cond Phasl' For the next step of the limited objective operation, the 10th Mountain Division and the Brazilian Expeditionary Force were to advance on a more northeasterly axis, generally toward the road junction town of Vergato, on Highway 64, twelve miles northeast of Monte Belvedere. The objective was another line of hill crests or peaks roughly 4 miles to the north and northeast of the positions gained in the first phase, whence the terrain the rest of the way to the Po Valley was downhill. The peaks would serve as the jump-off line in this sector for the spring offensive. From west to east, they were Monte Grande d' Aiano, Monte della Spe, Monte della Castellana, and Monte Valbura. Although scheduled to begin on 1 March, the drive had to be postponed for two days because of poor weather. 22 MS #C-064 (Kesselring). 23 lOth Mtn Div Opns Rpt and .Inl, Feb 45.
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UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
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The Author Ernest F. Fisher, Jr., g
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Chapta Contents PART ONE The Spring
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Chapter XXIII. STALE\,IATE IN THE \
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merly chief o staff of the 95th Inf
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PREPARING FOR A J\;EW OFFENSIVE Pic
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DIADEM'S FIRST DAY-II MAY 43 confir
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DIADEM'S FIRST DAY-II MAY stalled a
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68 unaware of the 338th Infantry's
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100 next operations. Meanwhile, lar
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108 sItIons were to be held in stre
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110 Monte Cavo, both rIsmg hundreds
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While the Americans tried to rest d
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In direct defense of the major stro
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PART THREE DRIVE TO ROME If I kllO\
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176 CASSINO TO THE ALPS TANKS OF 1S
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STALEMATE ALO:'\JC THE CAESAR LINE
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BREAKING THE STALEMATE 197 \\'ay an
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from the 88th Division's 350th and
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THE FALL OF ROME 338th Infantry rea
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INTERLUDE IN ROME two weeks this wo
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CHAPTER XIII Pursuit North of Rome
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238 CASSINO TO THE ALPS reached a p
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PURSUIT NORTH OF ROME southward-flo
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PURSUIT NORTH OF ROME 243 name of t
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PURSUIT NORTH OF ROME overlooking t
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254 pause to enable him to effect t
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THE PURSUIT ENDS Route 68. As the d
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280 ordering forward the 4th Indian
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290 CASSINO TO THE ALPS AERIAL VIEW
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PLANNINC FOR THE OFFENSIVE Minister
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PLANNING FOR THE OFFENSIVE each arm
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PLANNING FOR THE OFFENSIVE this. Th
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THE GOTHIC LINE OFFENSIVE BEGINS 31
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THE GOTHIC LINE OFFENSIVE BEGINS in
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322 Even had there been no threat o
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BATTLE FOR THE PASS tered patches o
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332 The counterattacks halted, Comp
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BATTLE FOR THE PASS tor, were at th
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BATTLE FOR THE PASS about it. Once
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A DIVERSIONARY OPERATION could be e
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344 portion of the corps northeastw
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A DIVERSIONARY OPERATION GERMAN PRI
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350 The Defense of Battle Mountain
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A DIVERSIONARY OPERATION last men d
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IN THE NORTHERN APENNINES However h
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362 ander had little choice but to
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368 Division commander, turned his
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372 CASSINO TO THE ALPS Leghorn to
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FROM RIDGE TO RIDGE promptly reinfo
Page 404 and 405: TOW ARD A WINTER ST ALEMA TE alread
Page 406: TOWARD A WINTER ST ALEMA TE own loc
Page 415: 390 tions encompassing Monte Grande
Page 427: 402 ance. Two days later the Canadi
Page 433 and 434: 408 was to shift additional units t
Page 436: STALEMATE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON T
Page 440 and 441: THROUGH THE WINTER The unsung heroe
Page 445: 420 to traverse the Brenner Pass by
Page 451 and 452: 426 CASSINO TO THE ALPS ground domi
Page 453: 428 ARTILLERY AMMUNITION BEING BROU
Page 463: 438 between Army Group C and OKW an
Page 467: 442 of the previous autumn and wint
Page 472 and 473: STRATEGIES AND PLANS had done in th
Page 476 and 477: STRATEGIES AND PLANS items of new e
Page 479: 454 forces still in northwest Italy
Page 486 and 487: BREAKTHROUGH ON THE EIGHTH ARMY FRO
Page 489 and 490: 464 billowing clouds of dust raised
Page 491 and 492: 466 sion prepared to move on Bastia
Page 493: 468 gade was at the same time to co
Page 496 and 497: BREAKTHROUGH ON THE FIFTH ARMY'S FR
Page 498 and 499: BREAKTHROUGH ON THE FIFTH ARMY'S FR
Page 500: BREAKTHROUGH ON THE FIFTH ARMY'S FR
Page 503 and 504: 478 exploit his vast superiority in
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480 CASSINO TO THE ALPS renewed IV
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BREAKTHROUGH ON T'HE FIFTH ARMY'S F
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PART EIGHT PURSUIT TO THE ALPS Now,
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RACE FOR THE PO 491 and small ferry
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RACE FOR THE PO 12,000-man Austrian
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496 CASSINO TO THE ALPS AMERICAN TR
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The Fifth Army's immediate goal bey
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TO THE ALPS Battalion started out e
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TO THE ALPS South African armoured
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506 AMERICAN INFANTRY ENTER VICENZA
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The campaign in Italy would -end as
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THE CAPITULATION The Cermans did as
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THE CAPITULATION ders to their troo
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88TH DIVISION IN ALPINE PASS
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540 the sobriquet "Smiling AI," Kes
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AAF AAI AAR Abn ACC ACMF ACotS Admi
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ANVIL AVALANCHE CROSSWORD DIADEM DR
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Logistical Support of the Armies, V
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INDEX McGarr, Col. Lionel c.: 135-3
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'" BOH/GNA q , Ii , , ti II q " q ,
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