by Mark Zuehlke
2 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 463.
3 Trumbull Higgins, Soft Underbelly: The Anglo-American Controversy over the Italian Campaign, 1939–1945 (New York: Macmillan, 1968), 184–85.
4 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 20.
5 Higgins, 183.
6 Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy: 1944–1945 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1989), 292.
7 Higgins, 172.
8 Bennett, 289.
9 Ibid., 290.
10 Higgins, 174.
11 Ibid., 175.
12 Ibid., 177.
13 Ibid., 179.
14 Orgill, 22.
15 Alexander, 4–5.
16 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 183.
17 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 348.
18 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 7.
19 Ibid.
20 Orgill, 31.
21 Alexander, 7.
22 Eric Morris, Circles of Hell: The War in Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: Crown Publishers, 1993), 341–42.
23 Ryder, 184.
24 Graham and Bidwell, 348.
25 Alexander, 8–10.
4: WITH THE GREATEST ENERGY
1 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 488.
2 Ibid., 470.
3 Ibid., 188.
4 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 12.
5 Ibid., 12–13.
6 Nicholson, 460.
7 Orgill, 24.
8 Nicholson, 461.
9 Ibid., 460.
10 Orgill, 24.
11 Ibid., 459.
12 Carl Bayerlein, “Retreat through Central Italy, 1944,” account in possession of author, translated from German (Alex MacQuarrie, trans.), n.d., 1–2.
13 Ibid., 2.
14 Ibid., 2.
15 Ibid., 3.
16 Orgill, 26.
17 Ibid.
18 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field Marshal Kesselring (Lynton Hudson, trans.), (London: William Kimber, 1953), 207.
19 Ibid.
20 Nicholson, 460.
21 Field Marshal Harold Alexander, “The Allied Armies in Italy,” National Archives of Canada, n.d., 1–3.
22 Ibid.
23 Nicholson, 266.
24 Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy: 1944–1945 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1989), 288.
25 Nicholson, 494–95.
26 Bayerlein, 8.
27 Ibid., 9.
28 Ibid., 9–10.
29 Nicholson, 497.
5: UNDER THE BOOT HEEL
1 Richard Lamb, War In Italy, 1943–1945: A Brutal Story (London: John Murray, 1993), 206–7.
2 Ibid., 207.
3 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field Marshal Kesselring, (Lynton Hudson, trans.), (London: William Kimber, 1953), 227–28.
4 Oviglio Monti, interview by author, 22 Oct. 2000, Rimini, Italy.
5 Amedeo Montemaggi, interview by author, 23 Oct. 2000, Rimini, Italy and correspondence 25 May 2001.
6 Lamb, 316.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid., 316–17.
9 Len Deighton, Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk (London: Jonathon Cape, 1979), 175.
10 Monti interview.
11 Ibid.
6: A TREMENDOUS NUT TO CRACK
1 William McAndrew, “Canadian Land Forces Staff Course: Operation Olive Battlefield Study, Eighth Army at the Gothic Line,” (Kingston, ON: Department of National Defence, 1984), 6.
2 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 9.
3 McAndrew, 7.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid., 8–9.
6 Ibid., 9.
7 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 177.
8 William McAndrew, “Eighth Army at the Gothic Line: Commanders and Plans,” ru si, March 1986, 54–57.
9 Ibid., 178.
10 Stacey, 9–10.
11 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 492.
12 Stacey, 10.
13 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by Greenhous and McAndrew transcript, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 93.
14 John Ellis, Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War (London: Andre Deutsch, 1990), 336.
15 Stacey, 10–11.
16 Ibid., 11.
17 “History: Royal Canadian Engineers First Canadian Infantry Division, 1 August 1944–1 October 1944,” National Archives of Canada, 3.
18 Ibid.
19 Stacey, 11.
20 “History: Royal Canadian Engineers First Canadian Infantry Division, 1 August 1944–1 October 1944,” 4.
21 A.J. Kerry and W.A. McDill, History of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, vol. 2 (Ottawa: The Military Engineers Assoc. of Canada, 1966), 225.
22 3rd Canadian Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
23 Stacey, 11–12.
24 Thomas A. Loten, correspondence with author, April 24, 2001.
25 British Columbia Dragoons War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 6.
26 Headquarters 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 6.
27 4th Canadian Princess Louise Dragoons Guards War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 4.
28 Nicholson, 498.
29 3rd Canadian Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, n.p.
30 Governor General’s Horse Guards War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
31 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War Two (Toronto: Stoddart, 1988), 206.
32 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
33 Nicholson, 498.
34 Stacey, 12.
7: WE BEGIN THE LAST LAP
1 W.G.F. Jackson, The Mediterranean and Middle East, vol. 6, part 2 (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1987), 122.
2 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 177.
3 Ibid., 178.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid., 180.
6 Ibid.
7 Field Marshal Harold Alexander, “The Allied Armies in Italy,” National Archives of Canada, n.d., 13.
8 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War Two (Toronto: Stoddart, 1988), 207.
9 Ibid.
10 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
11 Ibid.
12 1st Canadian Infantry Division (GS Branch) War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 19.
13 Ibid.
14 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
15 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 5.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid., 6.
18 Alexander Ross, Slow March to a Regiment (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 1993), 148.
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid., 149.
21 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, 6.
22 Ibid., 7.
23 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 23.
24 T.G. Gibson, “Account by Brig. T.G. Gibson, Commander 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade on the Action of 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade from 23 Aug to 22 Sep 44,” Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 1.
25 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
26 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1.967), 40–41.
27 Stacey, 20.
28 Ibid.
29 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 500.
30 Stacey, 26.
31 Ibid.
32 “Battle History 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade 25 Aug to 19 Oct 44,”National Archives of Canada, 10.
33 Ibid., 4.
34 Ibid.
35 Stacey, 27.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid., 28–29.
38 Nicholson, 503.
39 Ibid., 504.
40 C. Sydney Frost, Once a Patricia (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 1988), 276.
8: AH, CANNON!
1 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 604.
2 G.R. Stevens, The Royal Canadian Regiment, vol. 2, 1933–1966 (London, ON: London Printing, 1967), 150.
3 G.R. Stevens, The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919–1957 vol. 3 (Griesbach, ab, Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 180–81.
4 Beattie, 604–605.
5 J.T.B. Quayle, In Action: A Personal Account of the Italian and Netherlands Campaigns of WW II (Abbotsford, BC: Blue Stone, 1997), 194.
6 Major G.D. Mitchell, RCHA–Right of the Line: An Anecdotal History of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from 1871 (Ottawa: RCHA History Committee, 1986), 136.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 187–88.
10 3rd Canadian Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
11 17th Canadian Field Regiment, RCA War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 7.
12 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 21–22.
13 Beattie, 606.
14 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 32.
15 Beattie, 606.
16 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 504.
17 Ibid., 503.
18 Ibid.
19 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 47.
20 Stacey, 31.
21 Orgill, 47.
22 Stacey, 33.
23 Nicholson, 505.
24 “Battle History 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade 25 Aug to 19 Oct 44,” National Archives of Canada, 5.
25 Nicholson, 505.
26 Beattie, 607.
27 Ibid., 608.
28 Quayle, 188–89.
29 Ibid., 194.
30 Gordon Potts, “Battle Narrative, 25 Aug–29 Aug 44: The Royal Canadian Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.
31 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
32 Ted Shuter, correspondence with author, 27 Mar. 2001.
33 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War Two (Toronto: Stoddart, 1988), 207.
34 Shuter correspondence.
35 Stevens, Royal Canadian Regiment, 151.
36 Ryder, 188.
9: QUITE AN AFFAIR
1 “Account of the action of the Seaforth of Canada from River Metauro to River Marecchia–25 Aug to 21 Sep 44,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.
2 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
3 Major H.L. Glendinning, “Report on the action by ‘C’ Coy from 26 August to 2 September,” Appendix to Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
4 Ibid.
5 “Battle History 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade 25 Aug to 19 Oct 44,” National Archives of Canada, 6.
6 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
7 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 203.
8 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, n.p.
9 “Report on the action by ‘B’ Coy from 26 Aug to 31 Aug,” Appendix to Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
10 “Account of the action of the Seaforth of Canada from River Metauro to River Marecchia–25 Aug to 21 Sep 44,” n.p.
11 “Report on the action by ‘B’ Coy from 26 Aug to 31 Aug,” n.p.
12 Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 328.
13 James Riley Stone, interview by William S. Thackray. 13, 20 May and 3, 10, 17 June 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
14 Ibid.
15 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
16 Lt. Col. D.C. Cameron, “The Pursuit to the Gothic Line—22 Aug to 29 Aug,” The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, Canadian Army Overseas, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.
17 Ibid.
18 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
19 Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (Royal Canadian Regiment, 1979), 154.
20 RCR War Diary, n.p.
21 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
22 Gibson, T.G., “Account by Brig. T.G. Gibson, Comd 2 CDN INF BDE, on the Action from 23 Aug to 22 Sep 44,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 2.
23 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
24 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 507.
25 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 36.
26 Nicholson, 507.
27 Ibid., 508.
28 Ibid., 505.
29 Ibid., 511.
10: A GALLANT DO
1 “Battle History 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade 25 Aug to 19 Oct 44,” National Archives of Canada, 10.
2 Ibid.
3 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
4 Ibid.
5 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 23.
6 Alon Johnson, interview by author, 6 Oct. 2000, Victoria, BC.
7 Alon Johnson, interview by Ken McLeod, n.d., Victoria, BC.
8 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
9 Alon Johnson, interview by author, 9 Jan. 2002, Victoria, BC.
10 “Battle History 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade 25 Aug to 19 Oct 44,” 6.
11 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
12 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National De
fence, n.d., 36.
13 Farley Mowat, The Regiment. 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 206.
14 Stacey, 36.
15 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
16 Ibid.
17 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 14.
18 Gordon Potts, “Battle Narrative, 25 Aug–29 Aug 44: The Royal Canadian Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.
19 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, 14.
20 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
21 1st Canadian Infantry Division (GS Branch) War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
22 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, n.p.
23 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 183.
24 “Olive: The Battle for the Gothic Line and the Advance into the Po Valley: I CDN Corps Narrative of Events,” National Archives of Canada, 1.
25 Ibid.
26 Burns, 183.
27 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, 23.
28 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” National Archives of Canada, 2.
29 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, 23.
30 Ibid., 24.
31 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” 2.
32 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
33 J.T.B. Quayle, In Action: A Personal Account of the Italian and Netherlands Campaigns of WW II (Abbotsford, BC: Blue Stone, 1997), 194–95.
34 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
35 Stacey, 38.
36 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” 2.
37 Mowat, 206.
38 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
39 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 615.
40 48th Highlanders of Canada Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
41 Mowat, 208.
42 Ibid., 208–9.
43 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 509.
44 Ibid., 510.
11: MOST DIFFICULT AND UNPLEASANT
1 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Aug. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
2 Alon Johnson, interview by author, 9 Jan. 2002, Victoria, BC.
3 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.