Just reading this in Tiger Truimphs & wondered where it took place, anyone have any ideas? My bold lettering to highlight where I mean. The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946. Chapters 20-21. a squadron of 6th Lancers moved northward on escort duty, through Trento into the Italian Alps. Far up on the road to Austria, partisans brought word of a German division dug in on a rocky hillside under the snow-clad peaks, and determined to fight to the death. The armistice was two days old when Lieutenant Conisbee, with two Sikhs and six Jats, went forward to, investigate. In an eyrie well-nigh as impregnable as Cassino he found what survived of the men who had held Monastery Hill and Snake's Head Ridge---the First German Parachute Division. He was bluntly informed that the German commander would only surrender his force if met by an officer of his own rank. General Russell was far away, and an American general close at hand. Yet it was some consolation to know that Eighth Indian Division was represented by this small patrol at the capitulation of such formidable adversaries.
Hi Owen, That would be members of the Hermann Goring Regiment (see Luftwaffe Ground Troops). They took part in one of the worst of the German massacres in Italy. It was on Monte Sole, a few miles south of Bologna, in November of 1944. One of their generals was killed by partisans and they were allowed to take retribution. Hence, they may have had good reason not to give up. On the other hand, this division was widely known for its ruthless efficiency throughout the war. Trent and places further north just after May 7 were bizarre scenes of Allied troops rounding up wandering German soldiers, freeing Jews and others in camps and saving works of art being transported north at the end of the war. My guess is that they had a redoubt in the mountains before Brenner Pass, maybe around Bolzano. Was it the Eighth Indian Division that fought in the Casentino Valley in Aug-Sept., 1944?
Gillespenn - thought I had lost the 8th Indian but they turned up near Siena to relieve the 4th and 10th Indians - and go forward to enter Florence and beyond- the 4th then went over to Gemmano on Coriano Ridge and the 10th had a rest until re entering after Rimini towards Cesena as the 4th went off to Greece Cheers
Thanks, Tom. Do you know who went up the Casentino Valley north of Arezzo? Appreciate any info you have.
Gilespenn- bit of a dog's breakfast from Arezzo as most troops were tired and needed rest so the New Zealand div was brought over from their rehearsals for the Gothic line - and so the 6th Armoured - 6th South Africa Armoured - New Zealanders - 4th Inf Div- 8th Indian div all went pell mell to save the bridges over the Arno but again too late only the Ponte Vechio was standing- 5th US army meanwhile were absorbing the replacements of the troops which were sent off to the South of France landings - with the Negro Div(92nd ?) - 10th Mountain Div - the Brazillian div - all being acclimitized and unbelieving of the terrain ! Cheers
Thanks Tom, I just received an email from Brian telling me that same thing...that the 8th Indian div went on to Siena and then to Florence. And yes, when they got there the beautiful Santa Trinita Bridge was destroyed (the one to the left of the Ponte Vecchio). Getting to the Ponte Vecchio was the problem- the Germans blew up the buildings on the south side of the bridge to make it unusable, without actually destroying it. This is called pleasing Hitler without really following his orders. What I'm looking for are the troops who went directly north from Arezzo (Casentino Valley), not the Val d'arno which leads north and west up to Florence. Except for the rather active partisans this valley was not of particular importance, nowhere near the importance of Florence. Any help in this matter much appreciated. Regards, Giles
Gilespenn that must be on the route of Highway 69 - which I am now tracing on a better map of the region with your Casentino Valley running from Subbiano to Bibbieno - that was the extreme left flank of 8th Army's march to Rimini through the Gothic line for which Gen Clark insisted that he had the two British corps XIII and Xth on his right flank - I/ll need the other map to say what happened next .....thought so - had 6th Armoured continued on that Hwy 69 - eventually they would have hit Cesena -onhwy 71 - on the extreme leftflank of 8th Army around that same time was the 10th Indian Div - with 46thdiv - 56th Div - 4th inf Div - Canadians -the New Zealanders on the coast - so it's entirely possible that 6thArmoured shared a cup of tea with the 10th Indians as the were side by side for awhile. Hope this helps Cheers
