The preparations for the Allied offensive in April 1945 скачать в хорошем качестве

The preparations for the Allied offensive in April 1945

On the Fifth Army front while IV Corps carried out operations in February and March, the II Corps sector was largely quiet. The 34th Division carried out a two-battalion raid east of Highway 65 in February to seize high ground northwest of Pizzano and northeast of Mount Belmonte. But nothing greater than company strength patrols were undertaken in the rest of the month. The 91st Division subsequently replaced the division in the Idice Valley and Mount Belmonte sector. The 1st Armored Division with the 135th Regimental Combat Team attached relieved the 6 South African Armoured Division on the left flank of II Corps. On the Eighth Army front, the 8th Indian Division, which had been part of the Fifth Army reserve since January, returned to to positions in the Adriatic coastal sector. On 6 March, the 34th Division relieved the 88th Division astride Highway 65. On 13 March, the 10th Indian Division assumed command of the 85th Division sector in the Mount Grande hill mass. The Eighth Army extended its boundary westward to just east of the Idice River valley and Mount Belmonte. Axis forces were also reorganised. The Germans moved 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division and the 715th Grenadier Division out of Italy. The 29th Panzer Grenadier Division was taken out of reserve to hold the line opposite America’s 10th mountain Division in early March. The 334th Grenadier Division relieved the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division at the end of March to allow it to return to reserve near Modena. The 278th Grenadier Division extended its sector to cover the gap left by withdrawal of the 334th. Opposite IV Corps in the Serchio Valley, the Italia Division replaced the Monte Rosa Division, which was shifted to northwest Italy. German strength in Italy was reduced by the departure of the 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division the 715th Grenadier Division to the eastern front. Axis strength in Italy consequently dropped to 23 German and 5 Italian divisions; 17 opposed Fifth and Eighth Armies with 2 German divisions in reserve. 6 divisions were in northwest Italy and five in northeast Italy. In mid-March, Marshal Kesselring was called to Germany to take charge of the breached German defense lines along the western front. General von Vietinghoff, who had acted as Kesselring's understudy when he was injured in a car crash in October, was elevated to the supreme command. In March, the Italian Legnano Group was attached to II Corps in the biggest single reinforcement to the Fifth Army. It comprised about 9,000 men in six infantry battalions. Across the entire Italian front, both Allied armies started to prepare for the great offensive scheduled to begin in the middle of April. Front-line units were rotated. Supplies were accumulated. Heavy equipment was concentrated.