World War 2 TalkCalendarContact Us
Old 17-09-2004, 07:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
Gerry Chester
WW2 Veteran
 
Gerry Chester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Originally Wallasey, Cheshire - Now a world-wide wanderer
Posts: 847
Gerry Chester will become famous soon enoughGerry Chester will become famous soon enough
The Battle for Gemmano and the Coriano Ridge
A Tragic Decision

By 4th September 1944 only the lightly defended village of San Savino stood in the way of 46th Infantry Division, supported by Churchills of the North Irish Horse, and the capture of the vacated Coriano Ridge - it was not to be. The Regiment's War Diary for the day reads:
"Plans are made for an attack on SAN SAVINO but the CO receives orders to form a Churchill firm base for 1st Armd Div to pass through. A Sqn form this base from Pt.151 to Pt.174." A surprise decision, ignoring the report by 46th Division that the ridge had been abandoned by the Germans!

The Adriatic sector of the Gothic Line comprised four defensive lines based on rivers. From south to north: Red Line - River Metauro. Green Line 1 - River Foglia. Green Line 2 - River Conca. Yellow Line - River Marecchia.

Launched on Saturday, 26th August, Operation Olive took the Germans completely by surprise, the Red Line was crossed the same day, Green Line 1 for days later and, by month's end Green Line 2 also breached. By this time, such were considerable number of casualties and loss of matériel suffered by the Wehrmacht, the Germans were facing a serious crisis, so much so that General Traugott Herr, commander LXXVI Panzerkorps, had ordered the withdrawal up to the Yellow Line north of Rimini.

The original plan, once the Coriuno Ridge had been captured, was that 1st Armoured Division, led by the Queen's Bays, would sweep forward far to the north, it was not to be. Whatever the reason for forming a "firm base" was, prior to occupying the Ridge, it was a major error - the Shermans of 1st Armoured, due to the difficult terrain, had not been able to keep up - over twenty-four hours elapsed before they were ready to advance.

The delay did nor escape the notice of General Fritz Wenzell, Chief of Staff of the 10th Armče. Acting on his own responsibility and without informing either of his superiors, Kesselring and Von Vietinghoff, he gave orders for units to set up defensive positions on the hill upon which Gemmano sits and the Coriano ridge.

These two decisions sealed the fate of thousands of soldiers on both sides and of several hundred civilians. The headstones in Gradara and Coriano Ridge War Cemeteries, bearing the names of all but a few of the 3,130 Allied troops who rest there forever, stand in mute testimony of the fiercest battle fought during the Italian Campaign. 1st Armoured ceased to be an effective fighting force, later being disbanded. Gemmano became known as the "Cassino of the Adriatic".



Copyright photograph reproduced courtesy Imperial War Museum
__________________
North Irish Horse
www.northirishhorse.net
Gerry Chester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-09-2004, 12:39 PM   #2 (permalink)
Paul Reed
Ubique
 
Paul Reed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Kent/France
Posts: 3,448
Paul Reed is a glorious beacon of lightPaul Reed is a glorious beacon of lightPaul Reed is a glorious beacon of lightPaul Reed is a glorious beacon of lightPaul Reed is a glorious beacon of lightPaul Reed is a glorious beacon of light
Thanks Gerry - when I visited Gemmano a couple of years ago I was even more amazed that anyone could possibly fight over that sort of ground; he was a hard enough slogg in good walking books, let alone under fire from mortars and MG42s.

This is a modern view of Gemmano:
__________________
The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 -

http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

Paul Reed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2007, 06:00 PM   #3 (permalink)
Owen
Top Moose
 
Owen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Under the stairs
Posts: 9,314
Owen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to all
Couldn't resist adding another gem from the IWM.
NA 18394
Description: Platoon commanders of 7th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Regiment are briefed for an attack on German forces in the village of Gemmano, 6 September 1944.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg NA 18394.jpg (49.8 KB, 7 views)
Owen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2007, 12:22 AM   #4 (permalink)
ourbill
Senior Member
 
ourbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lichfield, Staffordshire
Posts: 238
ourbill is an unknown quantity at this point
There is a site that has some history of the action, maps and photos. Site constructed in an english translation of a book originally written in Italian by locals of the area.

http://members.tripod.com/aries46/gemmoliv.htm

Last edited by ourbill; 25-03-2007 at 12:26 AM.
ourbill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2007, 12:46 AM   #5 (permalink)
von Poop
I Like Tanks
 
von Poop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Perfidious Albion.
Posts: 8,375
von Poop is a glorious beacon of lightvon Poop is a glorious beacon of lightvon Poop is a glorious beacon of lightvon Poop is a glorious beacon of lightvon Poop is a glorious beacon of lightvon Poop is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by ourbill View Post
There is a site that has some history of the action, maps and photos. Site constructed in an english translation of a book originally written in Italian by locals of the area.

http://members.tripod.com/aries46/gemmoliv.htm
Nice one. A really good read.
Cheers,
Adam.
__________________
It's only the Internet.
von Poop is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-03-2007, 09:03 AM   #6 (permalink)
Owen
Top Moose
 
Owen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Under the stairs
Posts: 9,314
Owen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to allOwen is a name known to all

Vickers machine-gunners of 6th Bn Cheshires in action at Monte Gemmano - 7th September 1944

From Pocket History 3
Owen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Promise Kept To Grandad kingsman64 60th Anniversary 7 14-09-2004 03:34 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:26 PM.
vBSkinworks


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.0.0