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Operation Encore

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Operatoin Encore
Date18 February-5 March 1945 (15 days)
Location
Northern Italy
Belligerents
  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Major General George Price Hays General Eccard Freiherr von Gablenz
Units involved
Casualties and losses
US: 1580 casualties, 338 killed
Brazilian: 25 killed, 169 wounded		 Over 200 killed,
400+ taken prisoner

Operation Encore was the Allied offensive timed for February—March 1945, to break through the Gothic Line. This was initiated at the army instead of corps level. This comprised an assault of the 10th Mountain Division and the Brazilian Expeditionary Force to secure the high ground dominating Strada statale 64 Porrettana [it] where it crossed the Apennine Mountains (18 February—25 February 1945),[1] followed by a limited offensive that ended with the capture of the crossroads at Castel d'Aiano (3 March—5 March 1945)[2] Once these objectives were achieved, the Fifth Army could penetrate the northern Apennines to reach the Po valley as part of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy.

Background

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Following the capture of Rome 4 June 1944, the Allied forces proceeded north in two groups: the British Eighth Army (Lieutenant-General Oliver Leese) advancing along the coastal plain of the Adriatic, and the U.S. Fifth Army (Lieutenant General Mark Clark) to the west through the central Apennine Mountains. Before them stood the carefully prepared German defenses of the Gothic Line. General Clark's plan had initially been to drive through the Apennines at two points: the main body of II Corps would advance north along the Strada statale 65 della Futa [it], the highway that connects Florence to Bologna by way of the Futa Pass. When these troops encountered the expected enemy resistance, the 34th Division would launch a strong diversionary attack west of the Futa Pass, while the rest of II Corps would bypass Futa Pass to the east and attack the lightly defended Il Giogo Pass near the boundary of the German Fourteenth and Tenth Armies. This attack began 10 September 1944.[3]

However, the Apennines were a formidable terrain and despite reduced numbers and limited supplies the Germans proved to be stubborn foes in their well-prepared defensive positions. While the American divisions managed to advance past both the Futa and Il Giogo passes, it was at a high cost. Between 10 September and 26 October, II Corps' four divisions had suffered over 15,000 casualties. On 27 October General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, the Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, ordered a halt to these offensives.[4]

The Allies made one last attempt to break through the Apennines, using units of the recently arrived Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the 92nd Infantry Division. To the west of Futa Pass, the Strada statale 64 passed Mount Belvedere on its route to Bologna; control of Mount Belvedere would give the Allies control of the highway, allowing a breakthrough into the Po Valley. From 24 November through 12 December three unsuccessful assaults were made to capture the mountain, but despite Allied efforts each time they secured the peak of the mountain, German artillery drove them off the heights.[5]

A few weeks later the US 10th Mountain Division, the only American mountain infantry unit, which had been stateside impatiently waiting to participate in the fighting, arrived in Italy. The 10th arrived at Naples piecemeal starting 22 December 1944, with the last units landing on 13 January 1945.[6] From Naples they made their way by ship or by rail in forty-and-eights to Livorno, then by trucks to Pisa. From Pisa the men proceeded to Vidiciantico [it] which became divisional headquarters, and proceeded to prepare for battle.

Part 1: Battle of Mount Belvedere

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Map of the Battle of Mountain Belvedere

Previous attempts in November 1944 to secure Mount Belvedere [it] had ended in failure. The specialist 10th Mountain Division, under General George Price Hays, was assigned to secure it and nearby mountains. They were supported on their right by the BEF. Because the 10th Mountain was light on organic artillery, Major General Willis Crittenberger, commander of the IV Corps, lent them two field artillery battalions, a Chemical Mortar battalion, two tank destroyer battalions, and one tank battalion.[7]

The first move was to capture Riva Ridge to the west of Mt. Belvedere, where the Germans had observation posts that allowed their artillery to target any Allied advances up the forward slopes of that mountain. On the night of 18/19 February 1945 the first battalion of the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, augmented by a company from the second battalion, scaled the cliffs of Riva Ridge. Had the Germans learned of this night climb, American command estimated as many as 90% of the regiment would become casualties.[8] Fortunately for the battalion, they reached the top undetected by the enemy. Compounding the German's difficulties, at the time of the ascent the men of the 1044th Grenadier regiment were in the process of being relieved by the men of the 232nd Fusilier battalion, which contributed to the success of the capture of Riva Ridge.[9]

With Riva Ridge secure, the following night (19/20 February) the other two regiments of the division began their frontal assault on German lines: the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment advanced on the western slopes of Mount Belvedere, while the 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment advanced up the slopes of that mountain. To achieve maximum surprise, no preliminary artillery barrage was made.[7] The third battalion of the 86th Mountain Infantry advanced to the right of the 87th Mountain Infantry. Despite minefields and emplaced machine gun positions, the 87th Mountain captured two of the three villages on the western slopes, as well as the Valpiana Ridge, while the 85th Mountain Infantry had fought their way to the top of Mount Belvedere between 3:30a and 5:30a 20 February; one battalion of the 85th Mountain Infantry reached neighboring Mount Gorgolesco by 3:00a.[10]

The last peak of the chain of mountains — Mount della Torraccia [it] — remained to be taken. For this part of the battle, General Hays brought in the artillery assets, while British Spitfires and American P-47s were coordinated by ground spotters dubbed "Rover Joe".[11] However, supported by the recently arrived 741st Jäger Regiment, of the 114th Jäger Division, on 21 February launched a fierce counterattack on Mount Belvedere that stopped the American advance down the reverse slope but failed to gain any ground.[12] The second battalion of the 85th Mountain Infantry began their advance along the ridgeline from Mt. Gorgolesco towards Mount della Torraccio, only to be stopped by effective use of artillery some 400 yards short of their objective. By the afternoon of 22 February the battalion was down to 400 effectives; General Hays relieved their commander, and sent the third battalion of the 86th Mountain Infantry in their place. Following an artillery barrage of the German positions on Mount della Torraccio, on 24 February the third battalion moved forward to seize the summit of the mountain in hand-to-hand combat by 9:00am. The German Mittenwald Mountain battalion initiated counterattacks on the afternoon of that day that continued into the night, but failed to dislodge the men of the 86th Mountain Infantry.[13]

Meanwhile the BEF proceeded to assault Mount Castello [it], to the southeast of Mount della Torraccio, only to find the Germans had withdrawn from it prior to their advance.[12]

American casualties from the Battle of Mount Belvedere were 192 killed in action, 730 wounded, and 1 captured.[14] Brazilian casualties were 22 dead and 137 wounded.[15] German casualties are unknown, but American records note over 400 were taken prisoner.[14]

Part 2: Battle of Castel D'Aiano

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Map of the 10th Mountain Division's Advance to Castel D'Aiano

The second phase of Operation Encore began five days later. The American 10th Mountain would advance north, with the 86th Mountain Infantry on the left and the 87th Mountain Infantry on the right, to occupy four peaks that would serve as their line of departure. From west to east they were Mount Grande d'Aiano, Mount della Spe, Mount della Castellana, and Mount Valbura. The BEF would advance to the northeast to occupy Vergato which lay on Strada statale 64 Porrettana; occupying this town would sever both the German lines of supply and communications back to the Po valley.[16]

Lieutenant General Lucian Truscott, commander of the Fifth Army, had wanted to begin the advance on 1 March, but inclement weather prevented air support until 3 March, when the attack started.[17] The attack took the Germans by surprise: elements of the 114th Jäger Division were relieving 232nd Infantry Division at the time of the attack.[18] The 86th Mountain Infantry quickly seized Mount Terminale, then proceeded to the town of Iola di Montese, where they encountered stiff resistance; the town was captured with the help of the 751st Tank battalion.[17] In the fighting for Iola, Technical Sargeant Torger Tokle, a champion skier and the best known member of the division, was killed.[19] On the right the 87th Mountain Infantry captured the town of Pietra Colora on the first day.[20] Amongst the prisoners was the headquarters staff of the third battalion, 721st regiment, 114th Jäger Division.[18]

The following day the 86th Mountain Infantry captured the town of Sassomolare, and shortly before 3:30pm was in control of their final objective, Mount Grande d'Aiano. Meanwhile on the right the 87th Mountain Infantry captured Mounts Acidola and della Croce, and occupied Castel d'Aiano. The 85th Mountain Infantry came into action, capturing Mounts della Spe and della Castellana despite heavy German artillery barrages. Meanwhile the BEF advanced west of Highway 64.[21] The German commanders were forced to pull men from the 232nd Division which had been relieved the night before to stem the American advance; one German POW complained, "I don't mind being taken prisoner, but I surely hate losing out on my rest."[22]

The American success made German Field Marshall Albert Kesselring concerned this was the beginning of a major offensive aimed to capture Bologna. He decided he could not take a chance and committed his strategic reserve, the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division.[23] Its first unit, the 15th Panzer Grenadier regiment arrived at this point and initiated a series of counterattacks against the soldiers dug in on Mount della Spe. Despite the ferocity of the German counterattacks, the men of the 86th Mountain Infantry beat them back in determined hand-to-hand fighting, and the Germans settled on harassing them with artillery fire.[23]

Worried that Kesselring might grow concerned enough to develop defensive positions astride Strada statale 64, on 5 March General Truscott ordered the units to halt in place. The 10th Mountain extended their control over two additional features to the east, Mount Valbura and a second Mount Belvedere.[24] Meanwhile, between 10 and 16 March the BEF shifted their position to the left of the 10th Mountain, transferring its headquarters to the valley of the Panaro.[25] The Allies now held a six-mile front favorable for their advance down the valley of the Reno river and along the Strada statale 64.[12]

American casualties from the Battle of Castel d'Aiano were 146 killed in action, 512 wounded, and 3 captured.[26] Brazilian casualties were 68 in total, of which at least 3 were killed in action and 32 wounded.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ernest F. Fisher Jr., The Mediterranean Theater of Operations: Cassino to the Alps (Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, 1977), p. 425f
  2. ^ Isserman, Maurice (2019), The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America's Elite Alpine Warriors, New York: HarperCollins, ISBN 978-0-358-41424-7, pp. 185-193
  3. ^ Dwight D. Oland, North Apennines: 1944-1945, pp. 6-10 Washington DC: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 72-34. Last accessed 16 December 2024
  4. ^ Oland, North Apennines: 1944-1945, p. 22
  5. ^ Peter Shelton, Climb to Conquer (New York: Scribners, 2003), p. 121 ISBN 978-0-7432-2606-6
  6. ^ Harris Dusenbery, The North Apennines and Beyond with the 10th Mountain Division (Portland: Binford and Mort, 1978), pp. 236f
  7. ^ a b Edwin P. Hoyt, Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-1945 (Westport: Praeger, 2002), p. 192 ISBN 978-0-275-97478-7
  8. ^ Isserman, Winter War, p. 152
  9. ^ Isserman, Winter War, p. 154
  10. ^ Isserman, Winter War, p. 169
  11. ^ Isserman, Winter War, p. 173
  12. ^ a b c Hoyt, Backwater War, p. 193
  13. ^ Isserman, Winter War, p. 179
  14. ^ a b Isserman, Winter War, p. 180
  15. ^ Mascarenhas de Morais, The Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Washington: US Government Printing Office, 1966), p. 118 n. 34
  16. ^ Fisher, Mediterranean Theater, pp. 432f
  17. ^ a b Isserman, Winter Army, p. 188
  18. ^ a b Earle, Cpn. George F. Earle, History of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Italy, 1945, (Denver: Bradford-Robinson, 1945), p. 47
  19. ^ Isserman, Winter Army, p. 189
  20. ^ Isserman, Winter Army, p. 190
  21. ^ Isserman, Winter Army, p. 191
  22. ^ Earle, History of the 87th, p. 48
  23. ^ a b Fisher, Mediterranean Theater, p. 433
  24. ^ Fisher, Mediterranean Theater, pp. 433f
  25. ^ Mascarenhas de Morais, Brazilian Expeditionary Force, p. 130
  26. ^ Isserman, Winter Army, p. 194
  27. ^ Mascarenhas de Morais, Brazilian Expeditionary Force, p. 127 n. 38

Further reading

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  • Heinrich Boucsein, Bomber, Jabos, Partisanen (Berg am Starnberger See: Kurt-Vowinckel, 2000) ISBN 9783934531048

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