Up on the Gothic Line

Discussion in 'Italy' started by jamesmurrow, Jun 10, 2014.

  1. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Here I think, San Miniato, just to the south:

    Google Maps

    44.205412, 11.503572
     
  2. Giberville

    Giberville Junior Member

    Looks like mystery solved. Well spotted, thanks Tony. I did my trip on foot, staying in the excellent Albergo Ristorante Gallo in the centre of Castel Del Rio. It was not easy to walk south of the town, however. Tried every way possible (including following the Santerno river) and was stopped in my tracks each time. Walking along the road was just too dangerous. I am still a bit nervous about driving in Italy but for independent battlefield touring, it is necessary to have a vehicle!
     
  3. Giberville

    Giberville Junior Member

    Castel Del Rio shelling evidence from War Diaries...281 Field Park Company were based here working on stone crushing, cutting corduroy and making trench boards, even experimenting with snow ploughs! They suffered casualties from the shelling on several occasions in late 1944. Here is an example extract from their War Diary:

    281 Field Park Company Castel Oct 44.jpg
     
  4. Giberville

    Giberville Junior Member

    78th Div CRA reports further damage in December...large number of vehicles destroyed, including 64 Anti-Tank office truck. I guess this is related to the photo posted above?
    78 Div CRA castel shelling.jpg
     
  5. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    San Miniato from the perspective of 76th HAA Regt, who were converted from an AA role to a dual field and AA role. San Miniato 1.jpg San Miniato 2.jpg San Miniato 3.jpg San Miniato 4.jpg San Miniato 1.jpg San Miniato 2.jpg San Miniato 3.jpg San Miniato 4.jpg
     
    Giberville likes this.
  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Here is a photo which I am trying to figure out when and where it was taken. The soldier is an officer in the 67th Field Regt who were at San Clemente Monte Grande Nov 1944 to Jan 1945.
    It is odd because the view of what must be Bologna or somewhere similar nearby just does not look real. The nearest they got was Monte Castellaro and Monte Calderaro.
    Any ideas.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Looking at the photo again there is snow on one side of the trees which in theory makes that north as it is predominantly shaded from the sun..
    The sunlight is therefore from a southerly direction, which makes the gun to be pointing south westerly.
    The photo could have been taken anywhere in Allied territory but the plateau landscape could be quite distinctive.
    It snowed at San Clemente around about Christmas time but perhaps earlier higher up the mountains.
    What I thought was cloud in the background can be seen to be fairly steep cliffs now the photo is enlarged.
     
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Sorry for tagging on to this old thread, but I was wondering if anyone has run across some locations near Castel del Rio

    Pezzolo and Sassoleone I've found on the 1943 map.
    The one I haven't found is "Calanco".

    In March 1945 it seems to have overlooked German positions - possibly a transportation route - as 314th Anti-Tank Battery recorded many shots at some sorts of targets from that position over a period of a couple of weeks.

    edit: I think I've found it on the Fontanelice map west of San Clemente. Something like 975279.

    Screen Shot 2023-07-14 at 5.12.07 PM.png

    Would it make sense that anti-tank guns in this location would be able to observe and fire at targets? (Also what does the "C." part mean in the name?)

    Screen Shot 2023-07-14 at 5.18.23 PM.png
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2023
  9. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    There is an inherent danger regarding Italian names as they crop up all over Italy.

    Monte Grande Sector overlooking Bologna
    There was a farmstead on Monte Calderaro the northern most point of the allied advance in the Aurumn/Winter of 1944 called Calanco.
    It was used as an OP by 2 Royal Scots then by 6th Gordons.
    See attached
    No M10's but two Abandoned immobile Shermans left by the American 88Div and manned until Jan 1945 by 11 CAR.
    11 Car withdrew from the area in Jan 1945 being posted to NW Europe.
    British 1st Div were posted to Palestine in Jan 1945.

    The Irish Brigade were to the east of 1st Div in San Clemente Valley being supplied from Castel Del Rio.

    If you think this is of assistance please PM me. Its a bit complicated but I have written about it.


    See attached sketch map from A History of the 67th Field Regt.

    Monte Grande.jpg
     
    minden1759, 4jonboy and Chris C like this.
  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Well that's really interesting - thank you Uncle Target! I of course knew that place names repeat but I haven't seen them repeat so close to each other.

    Bottom line is, I need more information (will check the regimental WD to see if it gives any actual map refs); otherwise it is impossible to be precise.

    I want to know where the Germans were (i.e. where was the front line and how did it curve through the mountains?) and now that I think about it there are some pretty detailed maps in (of all things) a book on the Poles in Italy that I can look at when I get back home.
     
  11. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Chris C
    I've sent you a PM if you want more info. I will look through my many files spread over two computers and see what else I have got from various sources. Need to collate it all one day!

    PS
    There were American M10's left by the 88th Div on Monte Grande sector used by 11 Car as op and mg posts to deny their use by the German Paras. They became immobile due to the atrocious weather conditions.
    They were handed back to the American 85th Div by 11 CAR when they left in Jan 1945.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2023
  12. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Irish Brigade San Clemente supplied from Castel Del Rio.

    San Clemente

    Monte Calderado with Calanco and Rovine are not marked on their map
    They were on the northern limits of the defensive fire plan. Top left of the map.
    Giving views of Bologna and the Po Valley.

    This is part 6 I think San Clemente is in the much awaited Part 7.


    There should be a final episode of "All My Brothers" on YT soon unless I've missed it.
    .
    Monte Calderaro Maps, photos and views on here:



    Chris C should like this as the top left horn of the centre salient of the RED defence line is Calanco and Rovine.

    The tanks and soldiers emerging from the shelter are 11 CAR in the valley.
    The OP's were in the mountain tops on the edge of the defence lines. Frassinetto, Farnetto, Cerere and Caderaro.
    The trucks in the swollen river are American.

    Jeep recovery River Silaro San Clemente.jpg

    67 Field Regt Jeep recovery River Silaro
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2023
    minden1759 likes this.
  13. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Hi Chris and Uncle T,

    These are from 1 Loyals WD for December 1944. the two 'Calanco's' are referenced via including map references . The one Chris has on his map is 975279. The one Uncle T refers to is 995332 (marked on map Varignana Superiore | Digital Archive @ McMaster University Library).

    The two traces show company positions on the latter and the corresponding German positions on the other side.

    Regards,
    Gary.

    1_Loyals_Dec_44_0004.JPG

    1_Loyals_Dec_44_0010.JPG

    1_Loyals_Dec_44_0060.JPG

    1_Loyals_Dec_44_0059.JPG
     
  14. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Now knowing one of the opposing German units was FJR 4, their history throws up a couple of maps and sketches of their positions in this sector around this time.

    1_Loyals_FJR4_1.jpg

    1_Loyals_FJR4_2.jpg
     
    minden1759 and Uncle Target like this.
  15. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks Gary Black Cat to the rescue again!

    Would you have anything on the capture of Major Shepherd on 19th December 1944 such as a planned escape route for the snatch party, or was it an off the cuff event.

    They found his helmet on a path between Rovine (his OP) and Calanco (6 Gordons).
    They were believed to be either 1 or 4 Para. He died in Ferrara Field Hospital fifteen days later with a bullet in his left arm. (see Some Corner of a Foreign Field by JK Dethick).

    My theory is that they would take him to their local TAC HQ for Identification/initial interrogation on Monte Castellaro 600 yds from where he was captured.
    The following day a tracked vehicle was heard and shelled on orders from the CRA as he thought they were delivering Mortar Ammo for their next attack, where 11 Gordon Highlanders were taken. The returning vehicle could have taken any POW''s away to Bologna.
    JKD thinks they would have all ended up in the same POW Cage in Modena ready for transport to Germany.
    Could you be holding the key in your German records to what actually happened?

    I am still very much in contact with Major Shepherds grandson who I am sure would be interested.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2023
  16. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thought that I was finished with this story and WW2 but here we go again.
    Not sure my brain is up to it.
    Came back here while the family were away on holiday. They are back now.

    Ours not to reason why,
    Ours but to do......etc. etc.

    Monte Grande a.jpg
    Definitely not to scale
    My sketch map of Monte Grande Sector showing activity in Nov/Dec 1944
    Irish Brigade moved in bottom right. Castel Del Rio in the valley off the map to the south.
    You will see that the wartime map defensive lines concur with the roads around Monte Calderaro

    Google Maps
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2023
  17. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Coincidentally, I was in Castel del Rio yesterday.. IMG_5807.jpeg .
     
    Chris C, 4jonboy and Uncle Target like this.
  18. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    We premiered Part 7 on Friday at the Gothic Line Museum… we didn’t quite shape the caubeen for Mayor Alberto.

    IMG_5815.jpeg
     
    4jonboy and Uncle Target like this.
  19. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I will definitely be watching out for Part 7

    An incredible effort on you guys part.
     
  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Some of my early notes:
    Liberation of Palazzuolo sul Senio and Marradi excerpt from "Bologna Today"
    The British 1st Division advances north along the “Arrow Route”, the Casolana road that leads from Florence to Faenza through Borgo San Lorenzo and Marradi. The first failure of the Gothic Line occurs under their attack.
    On 21 September, Monte La Faggetta, which dominates the Casaglia Pass, is reached and passed and the advance continues in the Lamone valley.
    On 24 September Palazzuolo was freed, at the beginning of the Senio valley. Before leaving the valley, German troops blow up the bridge over the Senio river, the explosion causing serious damage to numerous buildings, including the parish church.
    With the destruction of other bridges in the surroundings, Palazzuolo remains completely isolated. Communications will be restored by the allies in the following days.
    The front on the Senio will advance slowly. The construction of the bridges on the "Arrow Route" will involve a considerable effort of the engineers. Among the Bailey bridges, the one in front of Casola Valsenio, almost 100 meters long and suspended almost 30 meters above the river, is the highest in Italy.
    On 29 November the Indian troops of the 8th division enter Casola Valsenio, which has been bombed several times from the air.
    On 25 September, thanks to the joint effort of the 8th Indian Infantry Division and the 1st British Division, the village of Marradi at the top of the Lamone valley is also liberated, but the front stops a few hundred meters from the village in the direction of Faenza.
    Brisighella will be taken by the Allies after about three months. After sixteen days of very hard fighting and with bad weather, on 16 October the British 1st division conquer Monte Cece, the main German stronghold, together with Monte Battaglia, between the valleys of Santerno and Lamone, strenuously defended by the grenadiers of the 715th division German (formerly their opponents in Anzio) and by units of Bersaglieri of the fascist RSI.
    The Gothic front remained blocked until April 22, 1945 in the Senio valley at the level of the Vena del Gesso, just 22 kilometers from Faenza.
    November the British 1st Division leave the “Arrow Route” to participate in the defence of the Monte Grande area, the junction point between the V and the VIII Army south of Castel San Pietro.
    In the last months of the conflict, the "Folgore" and "San Marco" battalions of the Italian "Friuli" Combat Group enter the line with the Allies in the Palazzuolo area.

    Monte Calderaro Rovine description.
    Nov 29th Two companies of Bosche attacked the Royal Scots on Castellaro, infiltrated behind and cut off five platoons. Remnants of Royal Scots counter attacked without success. Nov 30 Castellaro was in enemy hands.. A softening up program, Counter Mortar and Counter Battery programs followed. The 2nd Royal Scots were very much below strength and had difficulty defending Monte Castellaro from the beginning. They had not worked as a battalion in defence, not having experienced the defence of Anzio. The German 1st Para’s infiltrated the RS Company HQ area and cut them off. The RS had insufficient strength to counter attack, the remnants eventually withdrew to their Company HQ at Rovine and Callanco.
    The Sherwood Foresters were about to come out of line for a rest but were called on an SOS to attack from their lines on Mt Cuccoli. There then followed a number of confused plans until it was decided that “A” Company would attack from the Royal Scots lines and “D” Company from Mt Cuccoli. “A” Company formed up to move down what the Americans called “Purple Heart Lane” due to the losses that they had taken there. At the high point of the lane were two battered buildings called the “Tank House” alongside which were two knocked out Sherman tanks. The way on to Castellaro required the negotiation of a further 500yds of Purple Heart Lane out to the lea of Calderaro where the Royal Scots had their Company HQ at Rovine. From here a humped back bridge led its way for 800yds up to the isolated feature of Monte Castellaro straight ahead. To the left ran a very deep gully arcing around to the front of Mt Cuccoli, to the right the ground rose gently to the German positions overlooking the lane on a slight ridge to the right of Burzano. At 0110 hrs “A” Company moved out in light rain, under fire from enemy mortars, the two forward platoons moved along the hump backed bridge with Company HQ a hundred yards behind. It was so dark that when HQ company stopped to try to listen to a faint radio message, they lost contact with the leading “A” Company. When Coy HQ were within 300yds of the crest of Mt Castellaro they came under fire from Spandau’s and Bren Guns captured from the Royal Scots. The platoons became disorientated and scattered. The remnants reorganised in the gully below under constant mortar fire, then made their way up toward the enemy lines. They got within 200 yds of the crest when Capt Masters realised that they were running out of time and ordered a withdrawal to the start line where the radio was able to function. A message was received to return to base to avoid being caught under heavy fire in daylight. D Company had come under heavy mortar fire, finding the gully too steep and unpassable they withdrew.
    Looking at Monte Castallero the Google Map you will see Purple Heart Lane running east to west to the north of the village. A track turns off to the left to Rovine and Callanco. The lane carries on up to the right to Burzano which is on the right of Monte Castellaro. Burzano is where the tracked vehicles were heard the night after DCLS was captured.
    This story is significant as it clearly describes the environment. Very dark and easy to move about without being seen. It also tells us how poorly trained the infantry were after Anzio. It is an excellent description of the area around Rovine where DCLS was taken.
    I worked for five years with an ex Regular Sergeant Major who was a sniper in the infantry, he had night vision like a cat and could spot a frog in pitch black darkness in a wood at night, my other assistant was ex SAS over 6ft tall but could walk up to you in the dark and tap you on the shoulder before you realised he was there. They would never lose sight of their own patrol.
    The Germans had been fighting in mountains from the beginning of the war.
    The Foresters lost sight of their own men but the Germans were able to shoot at them and target them with mortars if not by sight then by sound. They probably got DCLS away down Purple Heart Lane in the dark where they could move quickly and have the lane registered on fixed lines of fire if the shooting started. They were less than 600 yards away from their lines when they took him. That is the length of a standard rifle range.

    US 88 Div Monte Grande October 1944 notes from The Blue Devils in Italy
    The 1st Battalion mission, to seize Mt. Cerrere, was of vital importance to the entire plan.
    Cerere, 1,000 yards southeast of Grande, was a prime point on the exposed right flank. To hold Grande alone would be impossible, leaving the troops open to fire from the right rear and to the possibility of being completely cut off.
    At 2220 hours, 19 October, the 1st Battalion pushed off with Company "A," commanded by Lt. John Ernser, in the lead. Leaving Hill 450, the troops struggled through deep mud, advancing slowly in the darkness and a driving rain. Climbing up the rocky slope, Lieutenant Ernser led his men to the crest of the mountain, meeting no resistance and encountering only light artillery fire. A large building on the highest point was surrounded and 11 Krauts were taken there. Companies "B" and "C" moved to the hilltop, joined "A," and Mt. Cerrere was organized for defence.
    Meanwhile, 2nd Battalion was driving through the night to reach Grande before dawn. At 2130 hours, Company "G," commanded by 1st Lt. Robert Kelly, jumped off for Del Chin, took it without resistance.
    Di Sotto was occupied next and halfway to Di Sopra the company drew fire from Krauts dug in around a large house. Deploying his lead platoon, Kelly paced the men in a smashing assault, killed four, wounded three, captured six and drove off the remnants of a full company.
    Less than an hour later the Germans hit back. Pfc. Frederick Gilland cut down five with his BAR before his position was overrun. With his tommy gun blazing, Sgt. Erwin Baker rounded a corner of the building, pulled up short as a dozen Germans came at him. With his back to the wall he killed four. Fire from the house dropped three more and the Krauts broke. Stumbling back down the hillside, they left 15 dead and wounded behind them.
    Pushing on to the north, Company "G" occupied Hill 581. At 0300 hours, Companies "F" and "E" passed over Hill 581, started up the slopes of Grande. A devastating artillery preparation softened the objective as our troops advanced and heavy concentrations were dumped on possible Kraut reinforcement routes.
    With the first grey light of dawn, 2nd Lt. Frank Parker with the 1st Platoon of Company "F" reached the highest point, the top of Mt. Grande. The rest of Company "F" moved up, occupied the northern part of the hill while Company "E" dug in on the reverse slope. Less than 30 minutes later, the Krauts attacked but were beaten off, the "Krautkillers" were on the knob to stay.
    At 1100 on the 20th, the 350th reported it had captured Mt. Cuccoli to complete the seizure of the entire Mt. Grande hill mass, most strategic height along the entire Fifth Army front at the time, commanding on a clear day a view of the Po Valley about 4 miles away, and Highway 9 to Bologna.
    To the 349th went commendations from Maj. Gen. Keyes and Brig. Gen. Kendall, to the regimental CP went Lt. Gen. Clark with congratulations to Colonel Crawford and the 349th for the taking of Grande, and reminders of the grave necessity of keeping it.
    On the 22nd, near Mt. Dogano, pint-sized Pfc. MacDonald Coleman of San Francisco, Calif., and the 349th, staged a one-man war and killed six, wounded one and captured 15 of a group of Germans attempting to prevent the establishment of a road block.
    The attack meanwhile, rolled on, with Farnetto falling to the 350th and Frasinetto to the 349th. The stone wall came at Vedriano where, with "stand and die" orders, the Germans beat off every attempt by the 351st to take the town. A full enemy regiment defended the town; heavy reinforcements quickly were brought up. Vedriano, the closest point to the Po Valley yet assaulted by any unit of the Fifth Army, remained in enemy hands.
    Ordered by Corps to hold up, the 88th dug in, looked down into the Po and waited for further orders, which would send it battling downhill to the plain it had fought so fiercely to reach.
    New orders did come but they were for relief and rest, and the Division moved to a rest camp where the "Blue Devils" rediscovered civilian comforts and luxuries they thought had ceased to exist.

    Monte Grande
    On the 3rd November Major Gunn led the 67th Recce Party into
    San Clemente Valley.

    The Regiment moved from Badia di Susinana on November 4th to Borgo san Lorenzo for a refit
    before heading north to lead the 1st Division into San Clemente Valley, relieving the US 88th Division who finally vacated it on 12th December.
    The 88th had fought their way as far as Monte Grande arriving on 17th October. Taking the Germans by surprise they set up a firm base in San Clemente Valley, they cut a Jeep track (The Boston Byeway) up the valley to fight their way onto Mt Cerere followed by Mt Grande, Farnetto and Frassineto.
    88th Division were well below strength, they lost 6000 men in the Apennines.
    Far more casualties than British Commanders would have accepted.
    The Division originally had 14,000 men the infantry were in three Regiments 349th 350th 351st. By the 20th October the 350th captured Mt Cuccoli to complete the seizure of the Monte Grande Mass the 350th took
    Farnetto, Frassinetto fell to the 349th but the 351st ran into trouble.
    Their 3rd Battalion fought its way onto Monte Calderaro on 23rd October. Company G attacked Vedriano two miles to the north east of Monte Grande. It stood on the road to Castel San Pietro Terme eight miles away and gateway to the Po Valley. They surprised 40 Germans who they took prisoner in the town. American signal interceptors heard the Germans calling for 1st and 4th Parachute Regiments to close in, retake it and hold it at all costs.
    The Companies fighting around Monte Grande could hear small arms fire but were tied down in fighting.
    E and F Companies tried to fight their way into Vedriano but failed. The sound of small arms faded and the German radio intercepts reported “Vedriano retaken 80 Americans captured.”
    The men of the 88th became demoralised to the point of breakdown and in need of rest.
    They were out on a limb in a long vulnerable salient with no support on their flanks.
    It was decided to relieve them immediately, replacing them with the British 1st Infantry Division.
    It was impossible to exploit a breakthrough to the PO valley, due to poor road and weather
    conditions. 12th November, the 88th went to their rest area near Florence.
    They never returned to Monte Grande.

    The Ground in San Clemente was a morass of mud churned up by tanks and heavy vehicles of the 88th,
    these vehicles were no longer of use off the roads, mules were the only means of carrying supplies.
    The river flooded almost cutting off the 67th guns from RHQ and he rest of the Regiment.
    RHQ was shared with “A” Squadron of 11 CAR (Canadian Armoured Regt) moved up from Marradi in the Lamone Valley to take up use of the abandoned American tanks which could not move under these conditions.
    They were used as artillery with the help of the 67th to provide harassing fire mainly at night on fixed fire plans, others were incapable off firing, so became OP’s or machine gun posts in strategic points of the defensive lines.
    The Boston Bye Way built for Jeeps was only passable with difficulty by
    men and mules. It could take hours to get to Monte Calderaro by foot unlike the original Jeep drive by the 88th.
    The RHQ building was a ruined mess and took much time to be cleared to provide an effective base for the planning of further actions. .
    1 Division organised defensive positions and fire programs, utilizing Machine Guns, Mortars and Artillery along with the abandoned Tanks and Tank Destroyers manned by 11 CAR in a defined Fire Belt.

    RHQ San Clemente Valley.jpg
    67FR & 11Car A Sqn HQ San Clemente

    11 CAR San Clemente Valley.jpg
    11 CAR

    Photos Courtesy the Mennell Family Collection
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2023
    bexley84 and 4jonboy like this.

Share This Page