Battle of Garfagnana
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Garfagnana (Italian: "Battaglia della Garfagnana"; German: "Unternehmen Wintergewitter") was an offensive of the Axis
forces in the western section of the Gothic Line
during World War II
. The offensive was even called in Italian: "Offensiva di Natale". It took place in December 1944 in northern Tuscany
's Apennines, near Massa
and Lucca
.
In late December 1944 the German 14th Army under General Kurt von Tippelskirch
, using a mixed Italian / German force of some eight infantry battalions, launched a limited objectives attack on the left wing of the U.S. Fifth Army in the Serchio valley in front of Lucca
to pin units there which might otherwise be switched to the central front. Anticipating some operation of this sort, the Allies had ordered two brigades from Indian 8th Infantry Division to be rapidly switched across the Apennines to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division. By the time they had arrived the Germans and Italians had broken through to capture Barga
and rout the so called Buffalo US Division. Reports from captured US soldiers indicated that they had intended to retreat to Lucca
and beyond, but decisive action by the Indian Division's Major-General Dudley Russell
stabilised the situation. Objectives achieved, the German / Italian force broke off the attack and withdrew.
Barga was recaptured one week later by the New Year, and the front in the western Gothic Line
remained nearly stable until late March 1945.
and his Defense Minister, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
, wanted to create for their Italian Social Republic
(RSI) an Italian Army, independent from German control. Furthermore they wanted some of the newly created Italian Divisions
to participate in a major offensive against the Allies
in the Italian peninsula.
They planned an offensive in Garfagnana
for two of their new Divisions (the "Monte Rosa" and the "San Marco") and a German Division (and possibly another motorized), with 40,000 men and air support: their final objective would have been the reconquest, from the Allies, of Lucca
, Pisa
and Livorno
in Tuscany. But the Italians lacked armaments, tanks and airplanes; furthermore only the Monterosa Division was ready in December 1944 for the offensive.
As a consequence the Germans created their own offensive, called Operation Wintergewitter under general Fretter-Pico's leadership, but with minor size and objectives: just 9,000 soldiers (mostly Italians) attacked in Garfagnana a small area of the Gothic Line, aiming to push the Allies back 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) and reduce their pressure in the Rimini
area.
Meanwhile, units of the U.S. 92nd Infantry Division moved to the Garfagnana sector, in November 1944, and advanced along the Serchio River
Valley against light resistance. However, an attempt to capture Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
did not succeed.
US Patrol activity continued until after mid December.
On 21 December 1944, Marshal Graziani and general Carloni visited the battalions of the Monte Rosa Division in the Garfagnana, in order to prepare the offensive. Following the Ardennes Offensive
in mid-December, Allied intelligence had considered the possibility of a similar Axis operation in Northern Italy. They had determined that the most likely objective would be the western coastal sector and as a consequence, the 19th and 21st Brigades of the Indian 8th Infantry Division were ordered from the central Apennine sector to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division on the 5th Army's left flank in front of Lucca. 19th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived on 26 December and were ordered by Willis Crittenberger, commander of United States IV Corps
, to take up position some 4 miles (6.4 km) behind the 92nd Division's positions. Indian 21st Brigade arrived two days later. As further insurance, Lucian Truscott
, U.S. Fifth Army's commander, placed two infantry regiments from 85th U.S. Infantry Division under Crittenberger's command and moved additional artillery into range.
On 26 December, several RSI military units, including four battalions of the 4th Italian "Monte Rosa" Alpine Division and the 3rd Italian "San Marco" Marine Division, participated in "Operation Winter Storm" (Wintergewitter) together with three German battalions.
This was a combined German and Italian offensive against the American 92nd Infantry Division. A total of 9,100 Axis troops (of which 66% were Italians), with 100 artillery pieces but no tanks, attacked 18,000 Allied troops which were equipped with 140 artillery batteries and 120 tanks, as well as support from 160 P-47 Thunderbolts of the Allied XXII Tactical Air Command. The surprise factor was fundamental in the attack, together with a cloudy winter front that was hoped to prevent the Allied aircraft from flying. XXII TAC P-47s were in the air throughout the day on the 26th, but continued to fly scheduled missions in Northeastern Italy until the severity of the breakthrough was known. XXII TAC retasked all missions on the 27th to support the 5th Army front and these were key in dislodging the Axis thrust.
The attack against the Buffalo soldiers (nickname of the 92nd US Division commanded by Major General Edward Almond
) was made in three columns: two by Italians and one by Germans. While German General Fretter-Pico would be the overall commander, Italian General Carloni would lead the attack operationally. All the offensive was under leadership of Italian Marshall Rodolfo Graziani
, who promoted the attack with Mussolini.
Their objective: conquest the small towns of Barga
, Sommocolonia, Vergemoli, Treppignana, Coreglia, Fornaci di Barga, Promiana, Castelvecchio and Calomini located north-west of Lucca
.
The Order of Battle was:
The next morning, the Axis columns occupied Piano di Coreglia, the main objective, and some Italian patrols went forward reporting that the enemy still was in full retreat: an entire Allied division had been defeated. Over 250 prisoners were captured with many weapons, food and equipment.Italian historian Pellegrinetti wrote that the Italian troops conquered all the villages of the valley up to the outskirts of Bagni di Lucca
: on December 27 late afternoon the main offensive ended, even if the next day there were small territorial consolidations. It has been a success with a penetration of more than 25 kilometres inside the Allies lines.
As troops of the 92nd Division streamed back, they were ordered to take up positions on the left flank of the Indian positions. All Allied troops forming the defence were placed under command of Dudley Russell
, commander of the 8th Indian Infantry Division. However, the Axis objectives were short of the Indian line and so the Axis attack was not pressed forward. By late afternoon on December 27, all objectives having been attained, the offensive ended and by the following day the Axis troops were pulling back towards their start lines.
On 29 December the Indian Division's reconnaissance regiment pushed north up the main road making no contact with the withdrawing troops and by 30 December the front line had been restored more or less to the pre-battle position. On 8 January the Indian troops were withdrawn into reserve The Alpini of the Monte Rosa Division maintained their new advanced line, 2 kilometres south of the positions they had on December 25, until March 1945.
Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
, who had promoted the attack in order to give military importance to the RSI, was extremely satisfied and wanted to continue the offensive. But the air superiority of the Allies stopped any further Axis attack to break south of the Gothic line.
Fascist propaganda of the RSI gave huge importance to the Offensive in Garfagnana, claiming it was a small Italian version of the Ardennes Offensive that happened in the same December 1944.
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces in the western section of the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The offensive was even called in Italian: "Offensiva di Natale". It took place in December 1944 in northern Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
's Apennines, near Massa
Massa
Massa is a town and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, the administrative centre of the province of Massa-Carrara. It is located in the Frigido River Valley, near the Alpi Apuane, some 5 kilometers from the Tyrrhenian Sea....
and Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
.
In late December 1944 the German 14th Army under General Kurt von Tippelskirch
Kurt von Tippelskirch
Kurt Oskar Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm von Tippelskirch was a general in the German Army during World War II.-Personal life:Kurt von Tippelskirch was born on 9 October 1891 in Berlin...
, using a mixed Italian / German force of some eight infantry battalions, launched a limited objectives attack on the left wing of the U.S. Fifth Army in the Serchio valley in front of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
to pin units there which might otherwise be switched to the central front. Anticipating some operation of this sort, the Allies had ordered two brigades from Indian 8th Infantry Division to be rapidly switched across the Apennines to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division. By the time they had arrived the Germans and Italians had broken through to capture Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
and rout the so called Buffalo US Division. Reports from captured US soldiers indicated that they had intended to retreat to Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
and beyond, but decisive action by the Indian Division's Major-General Dudley Russell
Dudley Russell
Lieutenant-General Sir Dudley Russell KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British and Indian Armies during World War I and World War II.-Early career:...
stabilised the situation. Objectives achieved, the German / Italian force broke off the attack and withdrew.
Barga was recaptured one week later by the New Year, and the front in the western Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
remained nearly stable until late March 1945.
Historical background
Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
and his Defense Minister, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
, wanted to create for their Italian Social Republic
Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic was a puppet state of Nazi Germany led by the "Duce of the Nation" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs" Benito Mussolini and his Republican Fascist Party. The RSI exercised nominal sovereignty in northern Italy but was largely dependent on the Wehrmacht to maintain control...
(RSI) an Italian Army, independent from German control. Furthermore they wanted some of the newly created Italian Divisions
Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano
The National Republican Army was the army of the Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945 that fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II....
to participate in a major offensive against the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
in the Italian peninsula.
They planned an offensive in Garfagnana
Garfagnana
Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy, today part of the province of Lucca in the Apennines, in northwest Tuscany, but before the unification of Italy it belonged to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, ruled by the Este family. For a short time, in the 16th century, it was governed by the poet...
for two of their new Divisions (the "Monte Rosa" and the "San Marco") and a German Division (and possibly another motorized), with 40,000 men and air support: their final objective would have been the reconquest, from the Allies, of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
and Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
in Tuscany. But the Italians lacked armaments, tanks and airplanes; furthermore only the Monterosa Division was ready in December 1944 for the offensive.
As a consequence the Germans created their own offensive, called Operation Wintergewitter under general Fretter-Pico's leadership, but with minor size and objectives: just 9,000 soldiers (mostly Italians) attacked in Garfagnana a small area of the Gothic Line, aiming to push the Allies back 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) and reduce their pressure in the Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
area.
Meanwhile, units of the U.S. 92nd Infantry Division moved to the Garfagnana sector, in November 1944, and advanced along the Serchio River
Serchio
At 126 kilometres the Serchio is the third longest river in the Italian region of Tuscany, coming after the Arno and the Ombrone...
Valley against light resistance. However, an attempt to capture Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, Toscana, central Italy. It is located at rises at the confluence of the Serchio and the Turrite Secca river, close to the intersection among the roads passing through the Apennine Mountains and the Apuane Alps.The local...
did not succeed.
US Patrol activity continued until after mid December.
The battle
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in mid-December, Allied intelligence had considered the possibility of a similar Axis operation in Northern Italy. They had determined that the most likely objective would be the western coastal sector and as a consequence, the 19th and 21st Brigades of the Indian 8th Infantry Division were ordered from the central Apennine sector to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division on the 5th Army's left flank in front of Lucca. 19th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived on 26 December and were ordered by Willis Crittenberger, commander of United States IV Corps
IV Corps (United States)
The IV Corps replaced the VI Corps in the Fifth United States Army's order of battle in Italy after Allied forces liberated Rome in the summer of 1944 when VI Corps was withdrawn to take part in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France. Initially the Corps had two divisions, U.S...
, to take up position some 4 miles (6.4 km) behind the 92nd Division's positions. Indian 21st Brigade arrived two days later. As further insurance, Lucian Truscott
Lucian Truscott
Lucian King Truscott, Jr. was a U.S. Army General, who successively commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, VI Corps, U.S. Fifteenth Army and U.S. Fifth Army during World War II.-Early life:...
, U.S. Fifth Army's commander, placed two infantry regiments from 85th U.S. Infantry Division under Crittenberger's command and moved additional artillery into range.
On 26 December, several RSI military units, including four battalions of the 4th Italian "Monte Rosa" Alpine Division and the 3rd Italian "San Marco" Marine Division, participated in "Operation Winter Storm" (Wintergewitter) together with three German battalions.
This was a combined German and Italian offensive against the American 92nd Infantry Division. A total of 9,100 Axis troops (of which 66% were Italians), with 100 artillery pieces but no tanks, attacked 18,000 Allied troops which were equipped with 140 artillery batteries and 120 tanks, as well as support from 160 P-47 Thunderbolts of the Allied XXII Tactical Air Command. The surprise factor was fundamental in the attack, together with a cloudy winter front that was hoped to prevent the Allied aircraft from flying. XXII TAC P-47s were in the air throughout the day on the 26th, but continued to fly scheduled missions in Northeastern Italy until the severity of the breakthrough was known. XXII TAC retasked all missions on the 27th to support the 5th Army front and these were key in dislodging the Axis thrust.
The attack against the Buffalo soldiers (nickname of the 92nd US Division commanded by Major General Edward Almond
Edward Almond
Edward Mallory "Ned" Almond was a controversial United States Army general best known as the commander of the Army's X Corps during the Korean War.-Early Biography:...
) was made in three columns: two by Italians and one by Germans. While German General Fretter-Pico would be the overall commander, Italian General Carloni would lead the attack operationally. All the offensive was under leadership of Italian Marshall Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
, who promoted the attack with Mussolini.
Their objective: conquest the small towns of Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
, Sommocolonia, Vergemoli, Treppignana, Coreglia, Fornaci di Barga, Promiana, Castelvecchio and Calomini located north-west of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
.
The Order of Battle was:
- First column (toward Vergemoli-Calomini): Italian Alpini Intra battalion; HQ defence company of 1st Reggimento Alpini; Divisional Reconnaissance group; Two battalions of 6th Marine Infantry Regiment (San Marco Division); One battalion of 286th German Grenadier Regiment (German 148th Infantry Division)
- Second column (toward Treppignana-Castelvecchio): One company Italian Alpini Brescia Battalion ; Two battalions of 286th German Grenadier Regiment;
- Third column (toward Sommocolonia-Barga): German Mountain battalion Mittenwald; Groups of Kesserling battalion; Italian 4th Alpini battalion.
Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca is a comune of Tuscany, Italy, in the Province of Lucca with a population of c. 6,500.-History:Bagni di Lucca was known for its thermal springs since the Etruscan and Roman Ages....
: on December 27 late afternoon the main offensive ended, even if the next day there were small territorial consolidations. It has been a success with a penetration of more than 25 kilometres inside the Allies lines.
As troops of the 92nd Division streamed back, they were ordered to take up positions on the left flank of the Indian positions. All Allied troops forming the defence were placed under command of Dudley Russell
Dudley Russell
Lieutenant-General Sir Dudley Russell KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British and Indian Armies during World War I and World War II.-Early career:...
, commander of the 8th Indian Infantry Division. However, the Axis objectives were short of the Indian line and so the Axis attack was not pressed forward. By late afternoon on December 27, all objectives having been attained, the offensive ended and by the following day the Axis troops were pulling back towards their start lines.
On 29 December the Indian Division's reconnaissance regiment pushed north up the main road making no contact with the withdrawing troops and by 30 December the front line had been restored more or less to the pre-battle position. On 8 January the Indian troops were withdrawn into reserve The Alpini of the Monte Rosa Division maintained their new advanced line, 2 kilometres south of the positions they had on December 25, until March 1945.
Consequences
All the objectives of the offensive were attained: the US 5th Army was tactically tripped out; Allied reserves were moved to a secondary sector; Italian Social Republican troops morale were supported by the success; the Axis gained a slightly better defensive situation on the Western Apennines, and indeed, the new front line stayed more or less intact until April 1945 with the Axis collapse.Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
, who had promoted the attack in order to give military importance to the RSI, was extremely satisfied and wanted to continue the offensive. But the air superiority of the Allies stopped any further Axis attack to break south of the Gothic line.
Fascist propaganda of the RSI gave huge importance to the Offensive in Garfagnana, claiming it was a small Italian version of the Ardennes Offensive that happened in the same December 1944.
See also
- Gothic LineGothic LineThe Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
- Gothic Line order of battleGothic Line order of battleGothic Line order of battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in Operation Olive, the Allied offensive on the Gothic Line in northern Italy, August - September 1944, and in the subsequent fighting in the central Apennine mountains and on the plains of eastern...
- Italian Campaign (World War II)Italian Campaign (World War II)The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
- Rodolfo GrazianiRodolfo GrazianiRodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
- Military history of Italy during World War IIMilitary history of Italy during World War IIDuring World War II , the Kingdom of Italy had a varied and tumultuous military history. Defeated in Greece, France, East Africa and North Africa, the Italian invasion of British Somaliland was one of the only successful Italian campaigns of World War II accomplished without German support.In...
- 92nd Infantry Division
- Esercito Nazionale RepubblicanoEsercito Nazionale RepubblicanoThe National Republican Army was the army of the Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945 that fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II....
- Army Group LiguriaArmy Group LiguriaArmy Group Liguria was an army group formed for the National Republican Army . The ENR was the national army of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Italian Social Republic...
