Page Three

PHASE I
OPERATIONS from 25 Aug - 21 Sep 44. The GOTHIC LiNE.

1. Introduction.

The following is an account of the operations of 21 Tank Brigade (Brigadier D. DAWNAY, DSO) between 25 Aug and 7 Sep 44, on the ADRIATIC sector of the GOTHIC LINE.

The Brigade was operating under command of 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION throughout. The attack on the RIVER METAURO defences began on 25 Aug. 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE with 12 R TKS under comd and 2 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE with 145 RAC under comd opened the attack. 3 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE was in reserve with 48 R TKS under comd. Strong and determined resistance was put up by the enemy in the difficult tank country NORTH of the METAURO. As soon as the main enemy line on the RIVER FOGLIA had been reached the Reserve Group was passed through. Finding enemy resistance now unexpectedly light, an attempt was made to break through with speed and push up the coast to RIMINI. This attempt was successful in overrunning the main GOTHIC LINE and the MONTE LURO feature behind it, and the coast at CATTOLICA was reached early on 3 Sep. A composite force was then formed with the object of advancing with all speed along the coast. But this force was held up soon after the start and it was evident that the enemy were going to put up a strong defence in the excellent defensive country SOUTH-WEST of RIMINI. The first hold-up was on the SAN MARIA RIDGE where paratroops put up a fanatical defence. The advance was finally held up on the RIVER MELA and patrols were sent forward to the RIVER MARANO. In the dry weather prevailing at the time these rivers did NOT in themselves present much of an obstacle but the enemy held strong positions on the high ground beyond them, from which they could dominate the battlefield.

2. Situation and General Plan.

(a) The advance of 2 POLCORPS along the ADRIATIC coast had by the middle of Aug 44 reached the line of the river METAURO, 10 miles SOUTH of PESARO, which was known to be the EASTERN point of the heavily fortified GOTHIC LINE.
The plan was then made for a three-Corps assault to be made across the RIVER METAURO to break through the main enemy resistance SOUTH of the GOTHIC LINE and so disorganise him that he would be unable to pull troops back in time to hold the line.
The order of battle of EIGHTH ARMY for the attack was 2 POLCORPS on the RIGHT with objective PESARO, 1 CANADIAN CORPS in the CENTRE and 5 Corps on the LEFT.

(b) Enemy Dispositions.

When the attack on the METAURO LINE began 278 DIVISION was holding most of the sector opposite POLCORPS. It was mainly this Division that was encountered between the two rivers. As 1 CANADIAN DIVISION neared the RIVER FOGLIA elements of I PARA DIVISION, which had moved in opposite the POLES on the coast, began to appear on the RIGHT flank.
Anti-tank defences were very light and it seemed that the enemy were quite unprepared for a strong armoured attack over the rough going inland from the coast, where the main weight of the attack fell. In the GOTHIC LINE itself, on the other hand, many elements prepared for SPs, PANTHER turrets or anti-tank guns were unoccupied when they were overrun. None the less, the felling of trees and demolition of houses on the FOGLIA showed that the enemy had intended this to be his main killing ground for the defence of the line.

Turn to the
Next Page