Oct Section 1944

1

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMMY

In Adriatic sector, severe rains and fog continue to impede progress of Eighth Army, concealing enemy troop movements, complicating supply lines, and forbidding use of armor on large scale. Elements of at least 6 German divs determinedly oppose T I Canadian and V attempts to cross Fiumicino R.

I Canadian Corps Corps troops (2d NZ Div on R and 5th Cdn Armd Div on L) make little advance on Adriatic front: Germans, still holding E bank of Fiumicino R. from coast to Route 16, maintain strong'pressure on 2d NZ Div which is established along E side of river from Route 16 to point approximately 3 mi, SW; farther upstream, against considerable enemy arty fire, 11th Brig of 5th Cdn Armd Div drives Germans to W bank and maintains firm positions along river.

V Corps Elements of 167th Brig of 56th Div cross Fiumicino R.' just N of Savignano (on Rimini- road) but are subsequently forced to withdraw because of bitter counter- attack. To L and SW, troops of 46th and 4th Ind Divs press toward road paralleling Fiumicino R.: 128th Brig of 46th Div gains some-ground in area 2 mi.-N of Tribola (SW of SantlArcangelo); 7th Brig of 4th Ind Div captures and surrounding hills to N. Considerable enemy shelling occurs along entire front during early hours.

X Corps Long L flank of Eighth Army stretches from Secchiano, 2 mi. NE of Mercatino, through on R., hence westward to area about 3 mi. S of S. 'Sofia (S of ) and 'then 10 mi; WI to Rocconi; this line is maintained by Lind Force on R and ]hbeeler Force on L; latter force has patrols ITMontriolo, at Spinello, and Ospedaletto; all in'area about 6-7 mi. S of Civitella di ; opposing these troops are elements of German 356th and 305th Inf Divs. Rc-grouping is taking place on Corps front.

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

Al. Because o; resistance, 6th Br Arn rr Ex~~!itl R $4

Oct Section.IV: St.i:DITERRaNEaN THEATER --t 19A4

1 along Route 67 (Dicomano-Forli road) in direction of Cont Rocca S. Casciano with Portico as initial objective; 61st Brig recaptures M. Fuso, l½ mi. N of Bocconi, against considerable opposition. To NW, 8Thn'.'Ind Div encounters increasing resistance along entire front, meeting severe opposition from elements of German 715th and 305th.Divs: 19th Brig gains.several hill positions between li. Fuso and Marradi, -while 17th Brig is held up in vicinity of Mi. di Grizzano, N of Marradi. On L flank in 1st Br Div sector, elements of '3d Brig reach slopes of M. Pianaccino (about 4 mi. NE of Palazzuolo) where they are halted by SA fire . ....

.IICorps Though the enemy has been forced to .withdraw following successful Corps drive through the , .he fights tenaciously from improvised strongpoints 'on advantageous terrain or, in small clusters of houses throughout mountainous region .between and Bologna. Principal enemy units along Corps front from W to E at beginning of month are 4th Para Div, 362d Inf- Div, and 44th Inf Div, reinforced by elements of 65th, 334th, and 98th Inf Divs. General direction ofCoqrps .drive now turns from NE to N and thrust of 88thDiv down the Santerno Valley is halted, as attack N is' made with main effort on E half of Corps front, This is first of series of coordinated attacks'planned for five or -ix day intervals, using refreshed troops of regts rotated' in reserve. All 4.'.divs jump off abreast at'0600 against

strong resistance.. - . .. . I'While 349th Inf of 88th Div makes slight advance NW of Castel del Rio, clearing village of Belvedere, 350th Inf repulses .oQunterattack against M. Battaglia, 4 mi. E of Castel.dcl Rio, on Corps extreme R flank. Aided by 6 tanks and 8 TDs, bn of 339th Inf, 85th Div,. attacks along ridge E of la Martina; other elements of. 339th capture Hill 886,. 3.2 mi.'N of Belmonte, in advance toward i. Bibele, W .of the R. RCT 337 attacks IE to gain control of hills along ridge between Idico and rivers. Ninety-first Div,attacks along Hwy 65, striking at , 4 mi, N 'of.Radicosa Pass, against heavy fire of all types. Limitedadvances made with support of Div arty, with slightly better progress on L of Div sector. Thirty-fourth Div advance toward M. Galletto, between Sanbro and creeks, is halted by urine field mi. N of M. Bastione (lO mi. Mw of Firenazuola). Jump- .1; 0 41. V 00 ; {i ,tg r .y of Montefredente, 168th Inf advances 1,200 47'lpt UUL ------')' ; -_g ll ir:, . *yW 147

Oct Section IV: IEADITERRANEAN TH 1944

1 yds. down Sambro Valley and isthen stopped by enemy strong- Cent point at church on Hill 789.

IV Corps Corps troops, holding 50-mi. front from po- sitions just E of Route 6620 (Prato-Bologna road) west- ward to sea are opposed by elements of 3 Ger-man divs (42d, 65th, and l6th SS). In area N of Castiglione,' 6th SA Armd Div (24th Guards Brig on R, 11th SA Arimd Brig in center, and 12th SA ivMtzd on L) maintains contact with enemy on line running westward from Setta R. 'to area S of M. Vigese and thence S to Cattarella where it turns W to Route 64. At 1800, boundary adjustments are made between II and IV Corps. On R flank, elements of 24th Guards Brig continue fierce struggle for M., Catarelto, midway between Setta R. and Route 6620; 3 early morning ' counterattacks from troops of German 35th Pz Grenadier Regt (16th SS Div) force units of Brig to withdraJ from summit of mountain and retreat S; W of 24th Guards Brig, elements of 11th SA Armd Brig meet little re- sistance in advance to positions N of Camugnano and are now directed against M. Vigese, prominent peak 4 mi. W of M. Catarolto. CCB, in area N of Pistoia, advances R 'flank elements (llth Arid Bn) along Route 64.as far as C. Gherardini. Troops of TF 92 (in command of central sector E of Serchio R.) make rapid strides along Route 12 as 3d Bn, 370th Regt., secures Cutlgliano, N of La Lima, and positions to N. Coastal advances are slight in TF Dutra sector (composed of Brazilian Expeditionary Force and TF 45); enemy SA, MG, mortar, and artv fire occurs throughout area.

Tactical Air Force continues to support Fifth and Eighth Armies: total of 454 fighters and fighter bombers scores excellent hits on close-support targets in and N of battle area, damaging several bridges, MT, and RR installations; RH cuts effected in 27 places; 35 A-20s bomb bivouac area S~' of Bologna with good results; Forli, Modena, Imola'and Faenza and objectives near Castelnuovo and Bologna are night targets for 56 A-20s and A-30s which start fires and also cause explosion in area N of Lugo (28 mi. ESE of Bologna). Same night 17 Beaufightcrs, patrolling N Italy, attack MT and RR installations, causing considerable damage. Targets in N Italy well hit by medium bombers: RR bridges at Miantovo, Borgoforte (7 mi. S.N'of Mantova)., Lonat EQzplo (23 imi. Ni of'), and E of Novara are, obj'ect've of~_ C civg11 Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

1 drop 163 tons of bombs with good coverage; 123 additional supply dump, Cont B-25s score effective hits on bridge, gas plant, and barracks at Piacenza (on Po R. W of Cremona) with 232 tons; 142 B-26s successfully attack RR bridges at Crema (E of Milan), Piazzola (N of Lake Garda), Galliato (NET of and iilan), Pavia (S of Milan), Peschiera (S of Lake Garda), Magenta and fuel dumps in N Italy with 230 tons. Adverse cancels strategic operations. Shipping targets. weather ' attacked by Coastal Air Force (CAF) 2 Beaufighters and3. Venturas beach 2 barges in N .Adriatic and strike small shipping off Sestri Levante in Gulf of .

Yugoslavia

Red Army .units which on 30 Sept. crossed the Danube and Yugo6slav frontier in vicinity of Turnu-Severin, Runmanian border town, thush-southward in NE toward Nis, major RR city on.Athens- RR, reaching Vrazogrnac, HE of of Zajecar; elements cross Timok R, to take , lE Vrazogrnac, Moscow announces. Sofia reports capture of VIasotinces.approximately 30 mi. SE'of Nis, by Bulgarians and ., although .do not announce this until the 4th. partisans claim further successes against rail objectives in Slovenia. Despite adverse ..weather, Balkan iir Force (BAF) continues to attack shipping, communications, and harbor· installations evacuate along Dalmatian coast and to harass German attempts to personnel and material. Eight Hurricanes and 4 Spitfires strike gun positions W of Metkovic, 20 mi. SSVI of Mostar, with unobserved results.' Ploca harbor, Croatia, bombarded by LCGs (armed landing craft); enemy shore batteries ineffectively return fire.

Greece and Aegean

In central , Germans reportedly evacuate Kastri, .by inland from Larila. Greek security bn (puppet troops left Germans) surrenders at Patras, important port on, NU Peloponnesus, of Greek at night. British 9th Comrnandos accompanied by a sq Sacred Regt move from Kithera to-Poros, islands off Peloponnesian coast. In the group, Kithnos,' Sriphos, Siphnos, and Ios islands believed free of enemy. Greek patriots declare I.. in the , liberated. successes against n; 7 Beaufighters make enemy planes...... 149

Oct Section IV: IMEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

2 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps Heavy shelling and mortaring continue throughout day and night along Corps front; severe rains hamper operations. In coastal sector, R flank of 2d NZ Div (3d Greek iMtn Brig) advances slightly in area 3 mi. SE of . Inland about 2 mi., reliefs take place in 5th Cdn Armd Div sector, as 12th Cdn Brig commences to take over command of 11th Brig; other troops, probing Cdn to Fiumicino R. in effort to locate suitable crossing site, encounter heavy MG fire. Patrols, of 56th and 46th Divs cross Fiumicino R. in areas N of Savignano and NV of 6ontalbano, respect- :ively; enemy positions remain firm and unchanged on far bank of river; 46th Div is now directed against PIontilgallo just across river. Farther S, Indian troops make good progress as they press toward Fiumicino: R flank of 7th Ind Brig of 4th Ind.Div moves N to consolidate ground gained just N of Tribola, while at dawn'L flank attacks ridge ZV of Borghi under heavy arty fire and outskirts is now on of S. Martino in Converseto; to in Galilea is captured S, S. Giovanni by 11th Ind Brig. Fourth Br Div comes under coiamand of Corps.

X Corps Reliefs and regrouping continue throughout Corps sector. Forward troops of Lind Force are established Sarsina.' in

U.S. FIFTH AR2Mj

XIII Corps Against increasing enemy arty, 61st 6th Br Brig of Arimd Div reaches M. Freddo, 3 mi, N During of Bocconi. night units of 1st Guards Brig of 6th Div Br Arid begin relief of 350th Inf Regt of 88th occupying Div, now l. Battaglia, 8 mi. N of Palazzuolo. gains Appreciable made along 8th.Ind Div front: 19th enemy Brig drives from f., Cavallara and iM.Altdo 2 mi. E arradi, and ENE of respectivety; units'of 17th Brig advance Route 6521 along (Marradi-Faenza road) past S. Adriano Martino, about m to S. 4 i. beyond Marradi. In 1st Br Div --- -. U14t- LOI adbrig make some, M. Pianaccino and are now directed' pa ri r

I 150 I

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

2 Senio R. in area about 3'fi";-NE of, . Pianaccino) iwhere Cont Germans are firmly entrenched.

II Corps General attack N continued, meeting vwith greatest resistance on Corps flanks. On R flank, relief of 350th Inf, 88th Div, occupying Mi. Battaglia, is begun *by: units of Ist guards Brigade, 6th Br Armd Div, Br XIII.Corps. From Belvedere, elements of 349th Inf' fight: NE up road toward its junction with Hwy 937 S of Sassoleone, while other elements approach junction from E.--Advancing about 2 mi. in area 9 mi. NME of. Fi.renzuola, 85th Div seizes. Hill 751 .and captures Spedaletto, on ridge N of Sillaro R.; to the R, enemy strongpoint at hamlet of Casa di Guzzo offers determined resistance. Reinforced by TD and tank platoons, elements of 91st Div encounter heavy opposition, as on preceding day, but clear and occupy Lionghidoro on Hwy 65, -8 mi. lMu of .,Firbenzu6la, .then continue advance N. 'Enemy counterattack developing along lateral road, running NV from ionghidoro stopped with sevore losses- to enemy. As *91st Div overruns *lfontepiano-obnghidoro defenses with capture of Miontepiano 'by363d In' during n'ight, enemy falls.back. to set up .defense line M',w Venere-i.'' a'st'ia-. Bibele, cutting Hwy ;65 'in viciriity of , almost 4'mi. N of tgonghidoro. sector, .Qnly.' slight gains.mad-e of S'aveha R. in 34th Div where village' of- Cedrecch'ia is cleared by 133d Inf elem.ents aftaor- heavy shelling 'and'.several attacks. Other elements striking toward',crest bf M.' Galletto are stopped by enemy SP and heavy .mortar fire.

IV Corps After heavy arty preparation, elements of 24th Guards Brig ('R) of 6th SA Armd Div resume early morning attack on Ti.Catarelto, regaining summit by night against lessening resistance; other units of this Brig, directed against Bucciagno, a few mi. W, are meeting stiff opposition; reliefs take place on remainder of Div front during after- noon. CCB troops advance approximately 2 mi. as 11th Armd Inf Bn moves along Route 64 as far as S. Pellegrino. Little change occurs in TF 92 sector; 2d Bn of 370th Regt begins movement to TF 45 zone. R wing (BEF) of TF Dutra moves ahead to position NE of Vetriano, W of Borgo a Mozzano; sporadic SA,M.G, and arty fire falls on units of UNC3)q303riF 'L ' 151

Oct Section.IV: 'PDI+ERRANEAN THEATER 1944

2 Adverse weather grounds all tactical and strategic Cont aircraft. Four Venturas harass small shipping in Gulf of Genoa, hitting vessels and jetty at Imperia; Beaufighters sink tug off Pirano, 14 mi. SW of Trieste, and hit 2 schooners in Trieste Bay.

Yugoslavia

Berlin reports increased pressure by Soviets in Danube R. bend on both sides of the Iron Gate. To strengthen front before Russians, Germans believed to be thinning out along Adriatic coast; elements reported moving from M.ontenegro into Serbia. Yugoslav I Corps' driving toward Sa'bac and the R. in NW.Serbia; II Corps has reportedly captured Rozaj (Montenegro) and encircled Grahovo (iMontenegro) and Trebinje and Bileca (Hercegovina). Partisans continue to harass rail targets, particularly in Slovenia'. Shipping in port of Zara is objective for 12.A-30s of BAF, while 9 Venturas bomb troop concentrations to SE and probably destroy MiiT workshop. Sofia reports successful bomb- ing by Bulgarian planes of Novo Solo area, SE Serbia.

Greece and Aegean

On NW Peloponnesus, British troops enter Patras, where some Germans remain; other hostile units withdrawing toward Rion, on coast NE of Patras. Enemy destroying stores and vehicles on ; evacuation of this island now well advanced. ' . ' -...... Three Spitfires score hits on IMT E of Perama (24'mi. W of Heraklion), , Coastal guns at are targets for Hurricanes. In night raids N of Crete in Cyclades Is., Beaufighters damage enemy plane W Qf Seriphos I.-and another W of I. Allied naval units remain active, penetrating into N Aegean in effort to cut off enemiy's sea communications.and prevent evacuation of garrisons farther S. In Gulf of, Salonika, French submarine, Curie, successfully makes night attack on convoy, sinking 2 vessels and probably another. During night HEIS (CL) shells 'Maleme airfield, Crete. *SS Tzar 'Ferdinand (Bulgarian cargo ship, 1,994 tons) sunk by enemy action at 39-11 N, 23-22'E."-

1 Alk4 ~ 152

Oct Section IV: MEDITERLRNEkN -THEATER 1944

3 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH AfMY I Canadian Corps Enemy resistance put up all along front with intermittent shelling and mortaring during day~ in- creasing toward evening; attack over Fiumicino R, post- poned because of high waters; reports indicate E bank of river cleared to Savignano. In area NW of Savignano, Cdn elements shell enemy inf troops moving N of . At night enemy Ju-87s strafe objectives about 2 mi. SW of Bellaria on coast.

V Corps Forty-sixth Div continues preparations to take Montilgallo, 2½ mi. SV of Savignano. Bitter German counterattack drives units of 7th Ind Brig of 4th Ind Div back into Borghi. Tenth Ind Div relieves 4th Ind Div, and, on L flank, S. Donate (8 mi. N? of San Marino) is occupied by 20th Ind Brig (10th Ind Div) later at night, It is estimated that about 400 arty pieces, excluding 150-mm Nebelwerfers, AT, and light AA guns, are facing the Eighth Army..

X Corps Heavy mortar fire in vicinity of Sarsina causes elements of Lind Force to withdraw temporarily. Spasmodic shelling takes place in Wheeler Force sector on L.

U.S. FIFTH iA'dY

XIII Corps British and Indian troops encounter strong. .resistance and adverse weather along entire front. On R, units of 61st Brig, 6th Br Armd Div, occupy M. Roncole, 2 mi. SE of Bocconi; patrols contact enemy on M. Freddo to Nb In area E of Marradi, 19th Brig of 8th Ihd Div is unable to hold positions on M. Cavallara, although other Indian troops make local gains on both sides of Faehza road. Third Brig of 1st Br Div secures some high ground in area E and W of Mercatale, on Senio R. 5 mni. NE of Palazzuolo, in spite of stubborn resistance.

II Corps Strong counterattack hits forward elements of 88th Div and supporting units on M, Battaglia, but they are not dislodged. Relief of 88th Div elements by Br L side of Idice R., 339th Inf, M. Bibele, clearing several uffers many casualties from 153

Oct Section IV:- 1944

3 arty, mortar, and Sa fire as it inches forward along Cant ridge between Idice and Sillaro rivers. Ninety-first Divt s 362d Inf occupies Monghidoro and captures Campeggio, E of 1Mionghidoro, then advances rapidly up to the Loiano position, where resistance becomes very stiff. 'At 1500, tanks are sent into Loiano, but after leading two are knocked out rest are drawn back and arty fire placed on town and on MiN.Bastia, just N of it. Troops of 168th Inf, 34th Div, capture S. Andrea and S. Benedetto, towns near road junction N of Montefredente, and 133d Inf captures M. Galletto, to the NE.

IV Corps During early morning, 24th Guards Brig of 6th SA Arnd .Div gains M. Catarelto as SS troops withdraw after fierce battle; patrols probe N along Route 6620 as far as Lagaro. Elements of llth SA Armd Brig of 6th SA Armd Div continue preparations for seizing M. Vigese, reaching lower slopes where they are counterattacked by elements of 36th SS Grenadier Regt. CCB makes firm gains along front;.llth Armd Inf Bn resumes advance along Route 64, taking Taviano, about 4½mi. beyond S. Pellegrino, while 81st Rcn Sq makes appreciable ad- vance farther U. Front line positions in TF 92 'sector remain unchanged with enemy resistance characterized b'y SA. and SP fire. TF Dutra is now dissolved and, at 1800, CT qfi BEF reverts to IV Corps control.

Maintaining support for Fifth Army advances 344 fighters and .'fightor bombers attack ba.ttle targets, 'cutting RRs in 12 places and scoring hits on strongpoints, guns,,bridges, and roads S of Bologna; Loidno ,and'Vergato (both 'in area approximately 20; mi. "S of Bologna) bombed with considerable damnage' ' enemy *planes destroyed on ground at Villafranca 'airfield and 4 destroyed and 9 damaged on ground at.Ghedi airfield;' als6 in" sa'me general area, supply dump, troop concentrations, MT, and repair depot are targets for 35 A-20s. Bridges, fuel dumps, and other targets are again objectives for medium bomber attacks: 144 B-25s strike RR bridges at Sesto Caie'hde"(NW'of'"..lant, Cameri, and Miagenta and road bridges Aat'Lonato Pb'zzbo'ad '. approaches to road bridge at'Galliate; 25 additional B-25s attack fuel dumps meanwhile 109 B-26s hit RR .bridge.-at Padua, Poggio Renatico (near Ferrara), Piazzola, Boara Pisani, Urmesa, and Nervosa causeway, Ceriano RR siding, and 'fuel dump with 214 tons of bombs. WitW 22 tons of bombs 22 Ak20s make.night. attacks on targets .intlPVaI. au P

HA .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Venms

.- 154.^~~, 'A,- _ 1~54 b A- & VL'i 7RMI , IU lE I

Oct Section IV: ,EDI'TERRM\NEHN THEATER 1944

3 fires and explosions; 6 Beaufighters destroy enemy plane NW Cont of Ravenna, while-12 additional Beaufighters hit LJT in N Italy. Weather again cancels heavy bomber operations.

Yugoslavia.

Soviets, in new thrust-into Yugoslavia, enter Voyvodina at points'S and SV' of Timisoara (Rumania), Moscow announces; driving, toward Belgrade, Red Army troops take Potrovgrad, Vrsac, and Bela Crkva and more than '50 other localities. S of Turnu-Sovorin, Soviets claim capture of a number of towns between Topolnica (S of Rumanian town of Svinita) on N and Vrazogrnac on S; operations in this sector reported difficult due to strong resistance from enemy mountain div recently committed here and to mountainous, thickly wooded terrain. While Soviets move in on Belgrade from E, Partisans advance toward capital from W, reporting capture of 2 strongpoints (Jakovo and Simanovci) W of , Slavonia. Among other successes claimed'by Partisans are capture of Brus and Aleksandrovac in Rasina R. sector of Serbia. Vigorous fight- ing reported in outskirts of Banja Luka (W Bosnia), and enemy attempt to reach the town from Novi via Prijedor has been frustrated.:'Rail stations on lbostar-Dubrovnik line in Hercegovina and on Sisak-Kostajnica line' in Croatia claimed ta.e n',by.Yugoslavs who also report successful operations against other rail objectives during past fewl. days, particularly against networks in Slovenia, Croatia, and Dalmatia; Stampetov and -Litija RR bridges in Slovenia seriously damaged recently, thus. :interrupting flow of traffic on Trieste-Ljubljana-Zidani Most line. Weather remains unfavorable. Four Beaufighters of Coastal Air Force (CAF) attack flak position at entrance to Gulf of Fiume and badly damage 2 small vessels. miinesweeping oper- ations continue in S Dalmatian islands.

Albania

Enemy in Sarande-Delvine area harassed by British Commandos and Partisans.

Greece and Aegean

Skirmishes reported along enemy withdrawal routes in NW a central GreGco engagement with 2.German bns which started 1U I^^^'ffP^ ^^'^^^^^Alb ' 'Grks mine Lamia-Dhomokos road. -I t --))

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRaNEAN THEATER -4P, it1%, 1944 A: * a/S4" A1

Enemy,remnants withdraw from Patras, NWV Peloponnesus, during night. Germans reported using and islands in the Cyclades as caique staging points, although garrisons have withdrawn. In the Sporades, Patmos-I. now free of enemy; harbor facilities at Samos I. reported blown. Hurricanes escorted by Spitfires strike and probably damage guns on N end of Corfu at Aikaterini, Enemy convoy of 4 vessels, operating in W iegean, hit by 14 Beauifighters which damage most of them. Carrier-based planes attack small shipping at Portolago, Loros I., and Levitha I. to W, setting fire to 1 vessel and strafing and bombing 2 others as well as numerous smaller craft. Seven Beaufighters from'Mediterranean bases continue night raids over SW Aegean, destroying 1 enemy plane. British SS, continuing operations in N aegean, obtains hits. on vessel in Gulf of Salonika. Six large assault craft NE of Piscopi, small island N.'of Rhodes, destroyed during night by PHiS Calpe and HMS Cleveland (DDs).. Same, night HMiS Colombo (cruiser) bombards Heraklion airfield, Crbte.

4 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

The Italian Corps of Liberation is withdrawn' for'reorgan- ization and ceases..to exist under its former title'.'

I Canadian .Corps. No change.,occurs in forward positions; weather .continues to hamper operations; enemy intermittently shells -outskirts-of Rimini.

V Corps British troops rep6rt active patrollihng little change in advance positions, and heavy arty in, forward area. Despiteweather, L flank of 10th Ind.' Div makes appreciablq.-gains, .advancing, as much as 4. mi. .'i last 2 days, as elements of.20th.Ind Brig take lMpntecchio (1i mi. W of San. Giovanni), Genestreto, and' S'zi to S and are reported:l..mi. .S of Sogliano. ,..

X. Corps .Mountainous terrain;and difficult weather hamper progress of Corps. troops; in Lind Force' sector on R flank, enemy still holds Sorbano and Tezzo, 2 mi..N.and I½ mi.. NE of-.Sarsina, respectively. Patrolling N to6','.:t NW of Sarsina, units g;in some 'round '. , Farther W elements ofg'iME; F [email protected] ha&,: mountains S of Spina l i6 *5 .He JoI e ;; in~ ~,,, t~ 7..-D -~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~X "IS .... 156

Oct Soction IV: MEDITERRaNEhN THEATER 1944

4 U.S. FIFTH ARMY Cont XIII Corps On R flank, forward troops of 6!st Brig of 6th Br Arlmd Div advance along Route 67 to area 1 mi. beyond Bocconi. Relief of 350th Inf Regt, 88th Div, by 1st Guards Brig of 6th Br Armd Div is completed, relieving units coming under operational control of.88th Div. Lower slopes of M. del Viglio, 4½ mi. Ni of Bocconi$ are reached by advance units of 19th Ind Brig of 8th Ind Div. Trbops of 1st Br Div resume attack for possession of mountains in area N of M. Pianaccino: 3d Brig captures M. -Ceco but is subsequently forced back by enemy counter- attack; other units secure Pt. 526, 1 mi. N of M. Ceco, ,thereby outflanking M. Ceco from N.

II Corps Relief of 350th Inf, 88th Div, by ist Guards Brigade, 6th Br Armd Div, completed, with relieving units coming under operational control of 88th Div. Elements of 351st Inf have been relieved on M. Cappello by 14th Armd Inf Bn of 1st Armd Div. Sassoleone, 3½1mi. N of ' Castel del Rio, is secured by 349th Inf. Eighty-fifth Div makes gains against lessening resistance iNE of Spedaletto ridge. On L flank, 339th Inf assaults Mi. Bibele, which enemy defends with SA, MG, and mortars. Relief of 339th by 338th begun. Ninety-first Div en-' counters heavy resistance; 363d Inf turns R in advance toward road junction S'of Loiano on Hwy 65. Against scattered resistances 34th Div captures ?Mi.Venere and reaches outskirts of i;onzuno, approximately 2 min. W of Loiano. Ninety-first Cav Rcn Sq reaches point N of S. Andrea in 34th Div sector, where .blown bridge blocking road down Saibro Valley delays its advance toward ob- jective of Setta Valley.

IV Corps On R flank of 6th SA Armd Div, 24th Guards Brig secures Lagaro, N of M. Catarelto on Route 6620; units of 11th SA Armd Brig repulse several more heavy counter- attacks as they attempt to take M, Vigese. Moving up Route 64 w;ith Poretta as objective, 11th Armd Bn of CCB captures Granaglione and Ponte della Venturina (both S of Poretta). In TF 92 zone, 3d Bn of 370th Regt holds high ground in vicinity of Cutigliano, while 2d Bn moves to assembly in TF 45 sector. Preparing for attack up Serchio Valley, BEF sends patrols N to probe enenty defenses. On R flank of TF 45, elements of 37W tRC r elieveMl17th -AAA Group and 39th LAA Regt /..-. ~ ~,.~ i' ,~~~ 157

Oct Section IV: NEDITERRhA 1944

4 and assume command of that sector; some enemy arty Cont falls on positions 'of 2d Armd Group on L flank of TF 45.

In support ofrFifth army operations, 56 A-20s effectively score hits on troop concentrations, MT park, and armmunition dump S.of Bologna; throughout day total of 672 fighters and 'fighter bombers continue to give excellent support to both Armies, attacking MT, strongpoints, roads, guns, RRs, and .other military targets in and near battle areas; during night 4 A-20s strafe Reggio'(between Parma and Modena), causing 2 explosions, and start 3 fires in area SW of Bologna; in sweeps over battle area, Mosquito destroys 3 MIT. Weather hampers medium bombers, although 42 B-2'5s score possible hits on 2 RR bridges in W with 82 tons of bombs. In N Adriatic,Beaufighters sink launch,.leave 3 schooners burning, and probably hit 6 small AKs; additional Beaufighters strafe MT and RRs in. IE Italy in Padua-Udine area. Five'AKs .in Gulf of Genoa attacked by 4 Venturas which score hits or near misses with 4 tons. Bridges in N Italy hammered by heavy bombers of 15th AF with 1,050 tons of bombs:; 12 B-24s. drop 370 tons on Trento- Mezzasola RR line with good concentration; Casarsa RR bridge hit by 45 B-17s and B-24s with 125 tons;. in Pinzano area 47 bombers unload 104 tons on 3 RR bridges and 1 road bridge with very good results; Ora RR bridge effectively hit with 156 tons' by 60 B-24s, while 14 B-17s attack Latisana RR bridge,..dropping 41 tons with unobserved results; viaduct at Avisio hit with 195 tons by 72 B-24s with probable direct hits; targets of opportunity ineffectively receive 59 tons from 22 B-24s; flak negligible during these operations. Thirty-five Wellingtons, 5 B-24s, and 8 Halifaxes make night attack on:San-.Benedetto pontoon bridge across Po R. with 96 tons of bombs; results unknown because of heavy cloud formation. ' USS Niblack and USS Plunkett fire at shipping at..San Remo harbor and gun positions near French-Italian border; area well covered,'

Yugoslavia

Driving ST' on Vrsac-Pancevo road (Voyvodina), Russians claim capture of , , Banat , and Banat Kraljevicevo and fan out to take Debeljaca and , J orf ancevo. SW of Tur 158

Oct Section IV: ivEDITERRiNEi N THE.iTER 1944

4 toward Nis partially envelop Zajecar with capture of Zvezdan Cont and Grijanc, N and S of the town respectively, and continue S to Vratarnica; to the ,1NT,Soviets announce capture of Bor, important copper mining town, and Brestovac. Soviets and Yugoslavs have established contact, Ivioscow announces, and together are clearing area W of Negotin. Partisans reportedly *eater Ilok, on Slavonia-Voyvodina border, but are subsequently -driven out. Sabac, NI' Serbia, encircled by Yugoslavs; in N Serbia S of Belgrade, Partisans report fighting W-ith roinf enemy in Arandjelovac-Topola area; Petrovac, on the 1i'ava R., and Vlasotince, SE of Nis, claimed captured by Yugoslavs, *although Sofia reported capture of latter on the 1st; in Rasina.R. sector, Partisans advancing on Kragujovac have reportedly driven enemy remnants in this area across the Morava R. In Hercegovina, Bileca claimed liberated by Partisans after several days of fighting and heavy fighting *in-progress at Trebinje. Fighting continues in TI Bosnia in Bahnja Luka suburbs. Partisans claim considerable damage to rail objectives, in Croatia, Istria, and Slovenia. In harassing sweeps over Yugoslavia, 44 fighters and RP aircraft destroy numerous 1iT, RR installations, 2 coastal guns, ammunition dump, and some small vessels. Shipping at Zara is objective of 6 L-30s, while farther S in Hercegovina, 9 Venturas and 9 i.~-30s bomb iMostar RR center, causing fires and explosions. Coastal 14ellihgtons attack targets of opportunity along Dalmatian coast.

Albania

Partisans report successful attack on convoy near Elbasan; in Berat area, enemy attacks Yugoslavs with some success initially, but counterattack restores situation.

Greece and Aegfean

Local actions continue in NVWand ; harass truck convoy at Tirnavos, NW of . Enemry with- drawal from Lttica accelerated. N coast believed clear. Small British detachment reported at Katakolon, W Peloponnesus. Corinth Canal completely wrecked; sides blown and both bridges destroyed. .Allied patrol on Samos I. accepts surrender of 1,000 Italians. Ids in' thlens area royed on ground and and 4 B-24s drop Oct Section IV: IvEDITERRANEIaN TH 1944

57 1,00-lb. mines in Danube, while 2 B-24s unload 12 100-lb. mines inEuripos Channel near Khalkis (N of Athens); flak intense, accurate:, and heavy. . 'AlliedDD successfully bombards enemy battery on N und of Corfu.. Coastal vessel and shore. battery at Mi-los I. in Cyclades group are hit by HIS Royalist (CL). French submarine, Curie, attacking convoy N of I. in N hegoean, destroys medium-sized vessel. Fighters from HIS Emperor shoot down enemy plane over Lialeme, Crete.

5 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH JARMY

I Canadian Corps Enemy holds positions on U bank of Fiumicino R. in strength and heavily counterattacks Corps troops attempting to gain bridgehead. In 2d NZ Div sector, enemy patrol engages elements of 3d Greek Litn Brig NVY of Bellaria, killing 3 and wounding 3; 6th NZ *Brig relieves 5th NZ Brig at 1730. Farther inland in 5th' Cdn Armd Div sector, 11th Cdn Brig (less 1 bn) takes over corIannd of 12th Cdn Brig.

V Corps In 56th Div sector, 169th Brig relieicves 167th and now holds entire froht with. 44th Rcn utdeor -tonmand; '.3d Ind Brig is concentrating'.1 mi. SE of'Stvignano. Indian troops make substantial. gains near headwaters of Fiumicino-R.: 25th Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div struggles 'for posession of San iMartino in'Converseto (midway be- tween Borghi and Sogliano), finding enemy resistance bitter; approximately .2 mi. SE, 20th Ind Brig repels counterattack and subsequently sends troops into Sogliano, also taking Vignola to S and high ground to SW.

X Corps Lind Force troops make progress in area N and NE of Sarsina: some troops attack and capture Sorbano, Tezzo, and high ground to W, while other elements, after reaching Finocchio (1½ mi. NW. of Tezzo), are driven back by strong Gorman counterattack; subsequently they are able to establish a co there following arty preparation; 65 prisoners taken by Corps troops in last 24 hours.

; Ar: tA S I 160

Oct Section IV: DEDITERPAFaiN THEhTER 1944

5 U.S. FIFTH iRMY Cent XIII Corps Germans make determined effort to hold their positions all along Corps front. In 6th Br Armd Div sector, patrols of 61st Brig probe enemy defenses in area 2 mi. E of Bocconi. Nineteenth Brig of 8th Ind Div, supported by heavy arty fire, engages enemy on N slopes of M. Cavallara but withdraws because of bitter oppo- sition; on high ground on W side of Route 6521, 17th Brig sends patrols to Ronzano, 2 mi. W of S. M.lartino. Mieanwhile some units of 3d Brig of 1st Br Div, operating on W side of Senio Valley, take M. Pozzo, Lionte del Puntale, and village of Baffadi (2 mi. below i, Battaglia), enabling other units of Brig to resume attack on i..Ceco from N and W; again summit of M. Ceco is secured but troops once more are pushed back by heavy enemy mortar and inf attacks. . ..

II Corps In another coordinated attaok N, rmain'effort again made on R. During night of 4/5, 349th Inf, 88th Div, meets stubborn resistance around Sassoleon,, particularly at Hill 587 on the N. First Guards Brigade continues defense of IM.Battaglia. Units of 339th Inf, 85th Div, capture M. Bibele and clear S. iartino, about 2½ mi. E of Loiano, while 337th Inf protects Div R flank by strengthening positions in vicinity of Sassonero, almost 4 mi. farther E, Elements of 362d Inf, 91st Div, supported by tanks, attack Loiano at 0625 after 1,000- round arty preparation, fighting from house to house, resisting counterattack in the afternoon, and finally digging in on N side under heavy fire from i,.Bastia. Situation confused by rain and fog. Scanello, near M. Bibele, on Div R flank, is secured and further advance N made E of Loiano. Resistance especially stiff W of Loiano, with EG fire from Bibulano and SA and SF fire from M. Bastia. Enemy maintains delaying positions and elastic defense, although pushed out of Loiano line. In 34th Div sector, ionzuno-Loiano road is cut by 133d Inf as Lonzuno is seized -before dawn. Bn of 168th, in fire fight for Hill 747, S of Vallese.

Lppreciable gains as Lbout 2 Li,. iE of IM. * W near M. Vigese; 11th ay counterattack in 161

Oct Section 1944

5 M. Vigese area. Eleventh Armd Bn of CCB, continuing Cont advance up Route 64, is now less than 2 mi. S of Poretta. Extensive changes occur in disposition of troops along Corps R flank: at 1200, 6th SA Armd Div and CCB are placed under direct control of Fifth Army in order to provide additional support for L flank of II Corps; objective of Div (with CCB attached) is to attack down Setta R. Valley, keeping pace with II Corps, and to maintain contact with IV Corps on L. Task Force 92, zone, E of Serchio Valley, is assumed by 107th AAA' Group at 0800. lMeanwhile, elements of 6th CT of BEF resume advance up both sides of Serchio R. against scattered arty and mortar fire, gaining about 2- mi. On extreme L of Corps, TF 92 (composed of 370th RCT and 2d Armd Group) takes over responsibility of coastal zone, relinquished by TF 45, at 1800.

Adverse weather restricts operations. Eighteen Spitfires, on rcn missions in N Italy, attack transport and small shipping with some damage to targets. Approaches to road bridge N of (NMWof Rimini) are objectives for 12 P-51s which drop 6 tons of bombs with near misses. Six Beaufighters, operating near C. Promontore, Istrian Peninsula, destroy 2- 3,000- ton tanker and hit 2 F-boats, leaving 1 listing; in same general area 2 lWellingtons bomb Rovigno, starting fires, and attack Cittanova. USS DD Niblack bombards RR yard in San Remo harbor.

Yugoslavia

Pancevo, just 8 mi.'NE of Belgrade, falls to Red Army troops operating in conjunction with Yugoslav Partisans, Moscow announces; more than 50 other localities taken as Russians expand holdings N and S of Petrovgrad in direction of Velika Kikinda, the Tisza R., and the Danube R.; gains N of Petrovgrad include towns of Aleksandrovo, Basaid, and Melenci; S of Petrovgrad on road to Pancevo, G. Muzlja, Ecka, Centa, , , Sefkerin, and taken; SE of Pancevo, Vojlovica and Starcevo captured. Enermy attempt to break Partisan ring about Sabac reported unsuccessful. On Croatia-Slavonia border, Partisan VII Corps units reach boundary of , cleaWhg|Klo^tr, i-mf a' e Virovitica, it is reporteji binBe eevi | captured by Dalmatian brigjt 9 =l, 4 | L 162.

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944 -~*

5 Adverse weather hampers air operations. Six Spitfires Cont concentrate on Zagreb area; in sweeps from Zara-to Fiume, 8 Beaufighters attack enemy PT'with unobserved results. Sofia reports successful attacks by Bulgarian planes oh communications in SE Serbia in- vicinity of 'Kriva Palanka and Kumanovo.

Ailbania

Since the first of the month, Germans have been moving N through'-Korea day and night, according to reports. It is believed that garrisons of Sarande and Delvine vwill vwithdraw as soon as evacuation of Corfu I. is completed. Bridge IE of Durazzo on coast is target for 3 Wellingtons; farther S additional Wellingtons bomb bridge N of Valona. Supporting land forces, LCGs successfully bombard enemy positions at Delvine.

Greece and Aegean

ELAS -harass enemy movement on Trikkala-Larissa road. On the Peloponnesus, Allied troops enter Rion, NE of P.tras~, `folloving enery withdrawal.. across the Gulf from Rion, about 500 Germans reportedly leave anterrion for Itea. Similar enemy force claimed captured by British at Navplion, on Gulf of . 'Small British detachment which landed on Peloponnesian mainland on 29 Sept. has accepted.surronder of security bn garrison at Tripolis. Kea I. in the Cyclades group used as enemy staging point, although reports yesterday indicate the garrison has withdrawn. Levitha I., bet'een Amorgos and Leros in the , captured by Allied landing parties from the HMS Aurora (CL) and HMS Catterick (DD)- assisted by bombardment of these 2 ships and strafing by fighters; 80 prisoners taken. Stampalia I., SE of Amorgos I., nowe clear of enemy. Operating over Salonika, 6 Mosquitoes destroy 2 enemy planes and damage 1; MT also damaged. Two Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires of BAF attack ammunition dump and encampment in sweeps over Aikaterini area, Corfu. Battery on SW1end of Rhodes shelled by MHS Calpe (DD). Allied minelayer (1227) lost by enemy action in Aegean at E. IP . . .. SP.,

_ %

--v 163

Oct Section 1944

6 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I.Canadian Corps Rain continues, and enemy shelling and mortaring slightly increases during morning. In 5th Cdn Armd Div zone, dummy barrage fired with little .nemy reaction.

V Corps During day 10th Ind Div on L makes good progress; 25th IIndBrig occupies S. Martino and moving, N establishes positions along.W bank of Fiumicino R. 1 mi. E of unopposed; advancing SW",elements of 20th Ind Brig. arcnow within 500 yds. of Strigara, 2 mi. ST of Sogliano; enemy resistance is bitter. V Corps plans coordinated attack for night 6/7: initial objective is the crossing of Fiumicino R. to be followed by R flank troops taking Cesena on Route.9, 8 .mi, beyond river. Bad weather.delays attack of 46th and-56th Divs on R and center, but at 2000, elements of 10th Ind Div, on L. near headwaters of river, establish bridgehead and push toward M. Farneto, dominating height NW of Sogliano, receiving heavy MG and arty. fire as they progress.

X Corps Patrols maintain contact with enemy all along front.

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

XIII Corps Weather continues to hamper operations along front. Activity in 6th Br Armd Div sector is limited to patrolling. Forward units of 19th Brig of 8th Ind Div are attacking Hill 585, just S of M.. del Viglio, in face of LiG fire; to W, other units receive considerable MG, mortar, and arty fire. Third Brig of 1st Br Div prepares for another attack on IM.Ceco, engaging enemy zweith harassing arty fire.. Seventy-eighth Div comes under command of XIII Corps and is relieving 88th Div on R flank of II Corps; units of 38th Brig take over command of elements of 351st Regt of 8Sth Div and 14th Armd Inf Bn of 1st armd Div (attached to 88th Div) on M. Cappello. 164

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

6 II Corps Seventy-eighth Br Div, now under XIII Corps Cont command, has almost completed relief of 88th Div on R flank of II Corps, E border of which. is to be shifted 'W about -5 mi. Elements of 351st'Inf, -88th Div, and of CAk, 1st Armd Div '"bn Sl. Cappello are relieved by -elements of 78th Br Div. .ittack on Hill 587, N of Sassoleone, by 349th Inf continues., In 85th Div sector, 337th Inf repulses enemy counterattack during early morning. ?Elements of 338th Inf have' .'rached iM. Bibele and cormmence attack N toward Castelnuovo di Bisano, relieving 339th Inf. Ninety-first Div attacks at 0600 f6llowing arty 'preparation. Resistance lessens on Div R flank, where 361st Inf advances in rain and fog through settlements N of Scanello. Elements of 362d Inf capture MI. Bastia and, during night, commence assault on M.i Castellari, while other' elements at- tacking along Hwy 65 witfi units of 361st Inf take Casoni, NNE of Loiano. Bibulano, 'a'short distance IVT' of Loiano, is captured by 363d Inf. RCT 168 of 34th Div takes Rioveggio, 3½ mi. W of Mionzuno, following German withdr'aal from Hill 747, and 133d Inf advances N on ridge leading to Monterumici hill mass., Ninety-first Rcn Sq continues screening mission along L flank of 34th Div.

army Troops Sixth SA Armd Div moves forward in 3- pronged advance. On R flank, elements of 24th Guards. Brig push N along Route 6620 which follows Setta Valley and are now directed at Pian di Setta; to E, 34th Div of II Corps is contacted at Ripoli. In center, Royal Natal' Carbineers (RNC) of 12th SA litzd Brig, after assuming- responsibility'for securing M. Vigese, attack objective at 0530 and capture it later in day. Guarding L flank alonig R,, CCB (attached to 6th SA, Armd Div to.''giv it additional tank and inf support) makes * effective gains by occupying Poretta on Route 64 and territory 1- *mi" N,

IV Corps; Troops of 107th AAA Group complete reorganization along 20-mi. front extending from boundary of 6th SA Armd Div near Pontepetri to Bagni di Lucca. Brazilians re- sume advance toward objective, Castelnuovo, R wing patrols pushing as far as Bar:ga4mi SE. At 0600, TF 92 begins ~ ~ ia ,iast/S ![ogalve' b.y.* Cauala, mountain guarding SX 0ro~ ';hvoss 2d Bus, 370th RCT, attacking 165

Oct So ction IV::VEDITERRANEAN T] 1944

6 abreast on R flank, and 434th and 435th AAA Bns on L Cont make gain of almost 1 mi. despite heavy rains and bitter German counterattacks.

Weather continues to ground planes. Balkan AF again attacks Istrian Peninsula: 8 Beaufighters score hits on RR station E of' San Quirico (14 mi. SSE of Trieste), industrial buildings N of Carnizza (11 mi. NE of Pola), MT at Pisino (25 mi. WSW of Fiume), lighthouse off Trstenik I. (off E coast of Cherso I.), and guns and searchlights on Lussinpiccolo, Lussino I.

Yugoslavia

In Voyvodina, Red-'rmy troops are approaching Velika TRikinda, near Rumanian border, and to the SW reach the Tisza R. at Novi Becoj, Koscow reports.' In conjunction with Partisans, Soviets SW of Turnu-Severin have reportedly en- circled enemy garrisons at iMilanovac and Klokocevac, S of Danube bend near Rumanian town of Svinita, and Zajecar, NE'of Nis; gains-made all along line in this sector with deepest penetration westward toward liorava R. at Zagubica. Partisans continue to drive toward Belgrade from lTas Russians close in from E; Obrenovac in N Serbia is iimmediate objective of Yugoslavs in this region. In Miiontenegro, Cetinje, Podgorica, and Grahovo reported invested by Partisans. Partisans harass enemy cormmunication lines and hostile. columns attempting to safeguard these -over wide area of Yugoslavia; rail networks in Slovenia reported so paralyzed that Germans are obliged to switch rail traffic to Udine (Italy)-Villach (Austria) route. : Off Croatian coast, 8 Beaufighters score hits on possible enemy PT near Rab I. Hurricanes destroy enemy hq on Zirje I. (36 mi. MI of Split) and attack gun sites.

Albania

Enemy convoys hard hit by Partisans; 2 are forced to return to Tirana and Elbasan after trying to get through all afternoon. Convoys in Kruja area also attacked; enemy be- lieved to be evacuating points near here. Spitfires continue strikes oli6oemmunications along, . coast, particularly in Resan (68, oiSStl' IO "f l')'-Ioj pa|

area.~~~~ ' j 1,;,H*'"".,f !< * , 1 j'S-I~~ INgaokttw t Gaid artFJyij Pr a

Oct Section IV: IEDITERRlIUEAN THEATER 1944

Greece and Aegean

Considerable force of RaF and British commandos now on Greek mainland with mission, chiefly, of maintaining order in areas vacated by enemy. Germans withdrawing in large numbers from Athens and Piraeus for 'Salonika. Remaining ammunition on Rhodes reported blown up by enemy. Simi I., IM of Rhodes, believed clear of enemy. Airfields throughout Greece successfully attacked by., fighters; 35 P-38s strafe Sedes and iMikra/Mdlegalo airfields in Salonika area with good results, damaging 2 hangars and 3 gun positions as well as destroying 13 enemy planes and damaging 8; Eleusis, Tatoi, Kalamaki, and Megara fields attacked by 53 P-51s which destroy 5 'planes, ammunition dump,. MG, and oil dump and damage 10 planes. Mosquitoes and Beaufighters destroy enemy plane at night over Athens area. Two B-24s mine Khalkis Straits with 6 tons of mines. During night HiS Tuscan and HMS Termagant (DDs) engage enemy force near entrance to Gulf of Salonika, sinking 1 DD as well as armed trawler and large caique. Enemy shore battery at Piscopi hits HMS Farndale (DD) on patrol duty.

7 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH _ERI

I Canadian Corps Enemy shelling occurs in forward areas; attack scheduled for early morning is postponed because of heavy rain which makes tank movement impossible; arty deception concentration fired during afternoon causes increased enemy arty fire. Germans raid forward positions of 2d NZ Div later at night, causing some casualties.

V Corps R flank of 56th Div undergoes- heavy shelling; L flank remains along Fiumicino R. in area SVW of Savignano unable to cross because of swollen condition of river and enemy opposition; patrols to river receive considerable MG fire. At 1915, 128th Brig of 46th Div attacks across Fiuiiicino R. in area E of Montilgallo, establishes bridge- head, and reaches town by midnight against little re- sistance. Troops of 138th Brig relieve 25th Ind Brig. Despite opposition, particularly on L, 20th Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div reaches slopes of M. Farneto where it is :heavi:iy *unter ttackblieved my (bei to be elements *JX| t; ^. ''^oo ad tie btablished in Strigara :o . 167

Oct SQdctioh IV 1944

.7 on extreme L flank SW of Sogliano. Cont X Corps On R flank enemy spasmodically shells Sarsina throughout day. N of Spinello, patrols of'WVheeler Force engage Germans in fire fight, causing them to withdraw.

U.S. FIFTH ARMYZ

XIII Corps Germans continue strong resistance marked by frequent counterattacks. In area midway between Bocconi and iMVarradi, elements of 19th Brig of 8th Ind Div capture Hill 585 and hold it despite 3 enemy counterattacks; meanwhile, against moderate resistance, other units of 19th Brig reach summit of M. Cavallara during morning; later in day, 21st Brig relieves 17th Brig and takes over responsibility for area N of Route 6521. Resuming attack on Ivi,Ceco, elements of 3d Brig of 1st Br Div make unsuccessful attempt to gain objective under cover- of darkness. Seventy-eighth Br Div continues to relieve 88th Div.

II Corps Enemy delaying position vicinity-of Loiano is overcome and small advances are made on Corps R and L flanks. On the E, 349th Inf of'88th Div seizes Hill. 587, 4 mi. SE of . First BI' Guards Brigade continues defense of Battaglia, Cappello, and Carnevale features. Heavy resistance blocks advance in 85th Div sector, but several hills and Castelriuovo di Bisano, N of M, Bibele, are seized by elements of 338th Inf, other elements of which advance toward la Villa, pn the other side of the Idice R. RCT 362 continues assault of M. Castellari against intense SA, mortar, and arty fire, and 361st Inf advances slowly toward 1i, Castellari from Casoni under heavy mortar and MG fire. Farther E, numerous isolated fire fights occur in the fog and 91st Div forces continue advance N during the night, as enemy becomes disorganized under heavy arty fire. Small advances made in 34th Div sector against scattered resistance, During night, bn of 135th Inf relieves 133d Inf on ridge line S of Monterumici, as 133d starts to outflank hill mass from the W, First Armd Div (-CCB) is attached to Corps. CCA is detached from 1st Armd Div and attached to 88th Div. Oct 19hL

7 .r¥my Troops Firm advances made on 6th SA Armd Div front. Cont In Setta Valley area, positions 1 mi. beyond Lagaro are reached. To W, units of llth Sa Armd Brig secure Collina, 4 mi. N of Camugnario, while task of capturing Li. Stance, 2 mi. farther N, is assumed by elements of Frontier Force Rifles (attached to llth SA armd Brig), a units of which reach drest of mountain by late afternoon. Troops of 12th Sh Mtzd Brig occupy Vigo on W slopes of M. Vigese unopposed. Patrols of CCB, continuing ad- vance along Route 64, are within short distance of Silla, at confluence of Silla and Reno rivers.

IV Corps Elements of 107th A~,, Group remain in positions but are engaged in extensive patrolling; rainy weather continues to hamper operations. In Serchio R. Valley, BEF troops make substantial progress, taking Coreglia and Catarozzo (approximately 2 mi. E and S of Barga, respectively) where they are halted by demolitions and muddy terrain. In TF 92 zone, R flank troops of 370th RCT resume attack on M. Cauala, gaining some ground against stiff resistance; W of Route 1, 2d girmd Group, supported by tank fire, pushes slowly forward over flat terrain.

Adverse weathor cancels medium bomber operatnioA... and restricts others. Total of 129 fighters and fighter' bombers successfully attacks gun positions and enemy strongpoints in battle area. French CL, Emileo Bertin, and USS Eberle (DD) bombard enemy shipping near Imperia, hitting medium-sized LV,' an F-lighter, and smaller craft; enemy returns fire veith no damage,' During night coastal forces, operating off iraestra Pt. at mouth of Po R., sink 2 schooners and damage 2. Same night USSJouett(DD) encounters E-boats in Gulf of Genoa S of C. della Miele; no damage reported.

Yugoslavia

Mioscow announces capture of RR junction and town of Velika Kikinda near Rumanian border and more than 40 other localities; enemy ; or el±graae and in vi- ~ontinue to hammetr at enLemy !ion with Red Army offensive, :, Topolo, Klococevac-Plavna, Nis- eas. Fighting continues at Banja )arad claimed bv Partisans: from Dalmatian coastal towvn of Imotski, enemy reportedly moving E to Sarajevo, Bosnia. ' tn

Oct Section IV: .IEDITERRANEhN TI 1944

Coastal roads and bridges in Dubrovni] targets for 3 Wellingtons. Inland, 35 fighters continue to harass communications throughout Yugoslavia and Albania.

Albania

Three Wellingtons attack Durazzo harbor and 2 bridges in same general area with unobserved results.

Greece and Aegean

Large-scale vlithdrawal of enemy from continues. W/T control and possibly Naval Command moved from Athens to Salonika. Elements of Corfu I. garrison identified in S Albania. Nisiros I., Nt.of Piscopi, reported clear of enemy. Seven Mosquitoes and 3 Beaufighters make night attack in Salonika and Araxos areas with good results. Transport W of Perama, Crete, is target for 4 Spitfires. Carrier planes sink large caique and damage another in Euripos. Channel and sink medium-sized vessel W of I. HMS Black Prince (CL) and HMS Terpsichore (DD) sink passenger ship, large caique, and LCT 12 mi. .N of Skiathos I. in N Sporades. British coastal forces, operating at night in oegean off coast of Greece, sink 2 ARBs (repair ship, battle damage).

8 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps Heavy rain continues on Corps front. Enemy troops (lst Para, 26th Pz, and 90th Pz Grenadier Divs) still hold NW bank of Fiumicino R.

V Corps In 56th Div sector, 43d Ind Brig passes to command of 10th Ind Div. Forward troops of 128th Brig (46th Div) beat off enemy threat in area of Montilgallo and resume attack W and SW against heavy opposition; supporting tanks begin river crossing at dawn. Tenth Ind Div makes good progress in advance beyond Fiur.icino R.: during morning foward elements of 25th Brig secure San Lorenzo in Scanno, 1 mi. SW of Mlontilgallo, and ridge SWI despite strong enemy r-esistance; 20th Ind Brig successfully drives off Ge~ic:ermt ak 'Qnl; -

Farneto and consolidates pos'%iions -na . aeaea kh- q, tU.7~> 170

Oct I 01. i. ..t 74,i .4.

8 high ground to S preparatory to drive NE toward S. Paola Cont (1i mi. W of Roncofreddo) which town is taken later in day; advancing toward Montecodruzzo, W of W. Farneto, advance troops of 10th Ind Brig, after passing through 20th Brig, arc just S of objective when halted by severe counterattack.

X Corps Enemy carries out local withdrawal E of Savio R. Late at night forward elements of Lind Force are established on M. Pietra, 3 mi. IN of Sarsina. Fourth Ind Div comes under command of Corps at 1200.

U.S. FIFTH RIfY

XIII Corps E of Bocconi in 6th Br -.rmd Div sector, units of 61st Brig attack 1. Orlando from vicinity of M. Roncale but arc unable to gain objective because of. heavy arty firc; other units, advancing along Route 67, are within 500 yds. of Portico, 2½ mi. NE of Bocconi, meeting heavy shell fire; M. Freddo still held by enemy. In 1st Br Div sector, units of 2d Brig gain 2 hill positions MJ of M. Ceco, while at 1530, unit of 3d Brig attacks i. Ceco against bitter resistance, gaining summnit; continuous enemy counterattacks are repulsed with heavy loss to enemy.

II Corps S. Apollinare, 4 mi. N of Caste! del Rio, is occupied by 351st Inf, 88th Div. To the NE, 349th Inf seizes il Falchotto hill, 8 mi. E of Loiano, and later advances upon ridge leading to M. dellc Tombe, about 6 mi. N of Castel del Rio. CCA of 1st Armd Div is detached from 88th Div. Several hills are gained in 85th Div sector. Tank and TD elements aid 338th Inf in clearing enemy from farm houses in area NE of Borgo di Bisano. Between this area and Sillaro R. enemy recaptures Hill. 407 in 337th Inf zone, during night of 7/8, but it is won back and many PWs taken during day. With onc bn astride Hwy 65, 361st Inf, 91st Div, ad- vances NE of Loiano to capture Barbarolo and other .-.. ' % tttspEtff , C^QakyJEs then swings M to cut Hwy g.$59Qfl la, Irtuna; bei oC§enemy lines, only,; mi. S l ~' ( ' v :W " i~ · |i- i cd,.n- fire fight throughout night. o the abou.t halfw ay between Loiano .and Livergnano, i. Castellari :is seized during, night of 171

Oct Section IV.: - .ivEDIT-ERRPlEAN THE 1944

8 8/9 by 362d Inf after stiff fight. Ene n - of sr an-- comerr 1 - - __ xls l L. UUn.&U Inlr LzjuJ-JLV irOnlb. .CiLem OIUl )4 ULIV SUi1z-L LI outpost bridge over Setta R. near iiMurazze. CCA of 1st Armd Div moves to 34th Div sector.

Army Troops R flank elements of 6th SA -xrmd Div advance slightly in area N of Lagaro. By dawn 2 units of FFR (Frontier Force Rifles), fighting on M. Stanco, are pinned down by heavy curtain of fire and forced to with- draw to Prada, 1 mi. S; patrol sent to relieve them believed lost. In 12th SA :itzd Brig sector, patrols of RNC approach Riola on'Reno R., reporting enemy withdrawn. On ~ flank, elements of CCB are held up by cx-tensive mine fields and demolitions

IV Corps Little progress made along 107th u'iAGroup and BEF fronts. Enemy resistance from troops of German 42d Div toughens along coast. In TF 92 sector, 2d Bn, 370th- RCT, reaches upper slopes of M, Cauala but is driven back by heavy mortar and arty fire; units of 2d Armd Group on L flank make slight advance despite strong SIA, mortar, and arty fire.

Mediumr-and heavy bomber operations again canc.illed because of weather. Four Venturas and 4 Beaufighters attack barges at Sestri Levantc and damage 2 large schooners off Lussinpiccolo, Lussino I., respectively. US DDs successfully bombard targets at Ventiri:glia. Yugoslavia

Driving westward toward Morava R., Red Army units assisted by Partisans take a number of towns from Petrovac (on the Milava R.) on the N to (W of Zajecar) on the'S, inclusive, Moscow reports; although Yugoslavs claimed capture of Petrovac'on the 4th, a later communique confirms Mroscowts announcement. In SE Serbia, Kriva Palanka falls to Bulgars after several days of stiff fighting, Sofia reports. Adverse weather continues. P-51s concentrate against shipping and enemy communications. Sofia claims traffic on Nis-Skoplje RR interrupted S of Vranje by Bulgarian aircraft.

Albania

Skirmish reported by Partisans arid rrmans at Tirana.

.&'mA1 172.

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEhN THEATER 1944

In support of ground troops, 4 Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires attack gun positions at Sarande with unobserved results. Continuing support for Allied land forces along Albanian coast, HiS Wilton and LCG bombard mainland and report good results against German troop concentrations and gun positions.

Greece and Aegean

For the past week considerable enemy traffic has passed along road from ALrta tb Yannina, W Greece; enemy movements also noted on Yannina-E.Lotsovon road. German Embassy is moved from 1thens to Salonika. Following surrender of 250 troops of a Greek security bn in Corinth, small group of British Special Boat Service enters the town. Additiohal Cyclades islands now believed free of enemy are: Thermia, i',ykonos, Sikinos, Pholegandros, and Anaphe; Angistrion in Gulf of also reported clear. Throughout day and night coastal forces operating off Psara, W of Chios I, in Aegean, sink merchant vessel, hit 400-ton lighter, and leave 750-ton .tanker on fire. On W shore of Gulf of Salonika in N Aegean, carrier planes hit ferry, small vessel, and attack transport; navy planes also successfully attack merchant vessel in Gulf of Petalia, E of Athens.

9 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH 1RMY

Heavy rains continue with weather improving during day.

I Canadian Corps Light shelling and mortaring in for- ward sectors; no change in positions. Fiumicino R. is swollen to 30 ft. wide and 4 ft.. deep, running too fast for inf without ropes. Patrols of 5th Cdn Armd Div cross river in area just N of Savignano.

V Corps After beating back enemy attempts to infiltrate sector, troops of 128th Brig of 46th Div consolidate positions in vicinity of 1antilgallo and high ground SW; 138th Brig completes relief of 25th Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div on Gattona ridge N of Roncofreddo, while 25th Ind Brig is concentrated in area just E of town. Little progress made on Corps L flank: Indian troops report ehemy still strong in Roncofreddo, in area N of

m % t 173

Oct Secti 1944

9 S Paolaand in Ciola Araldi (N of M. Farnoto); 10th Ind Cont Brig continues to mop up enemy resistance in S. Paola area; 20th Ind Brig maintains contact with Germans in M. Farneto section.

X Corps First Br Armd Div takes over responsibility of 10th Corps sector; 18th 'Brig relieves Lind Force and assumes command of R sector; Elbo and Wheeler Forces assume responsibility of center and L flank, respectively. Rcn units find lMontecastello and Ucercato, about 4-5 mi. downstream from Sarsina clear of enemy. Elbo Force patrol to Campiano, 2 mi. NW of L. Pietra, draws fire from enemy position just to E.

U.S. FIFTH A.iY

XIII Corps Troops of 6th Br armd Div make some progress on both sides of Route 67: 26th Brig reaches Portico, receiving some bazooka fire, and moves 1 mi. N up Portico- road where it is held up by mines and enemy fire; to NM[, Cannetole is occupied by 61st Brig. Units of 19th Brig of 8th Ind Div contact enemy but report no progress. Third Brig of 1st Br Div is now established' on i,.Ceco and slopes to W. -With completion of relief of 88th U.S. Div by 78th Br Div, boundary between XIII and II Corps is shifted to N side of Santerno Valley, widening XIII Corps front by about 6 mi. Seventy-eighth Br Div assumes command of 1st Guards (holding Mi. Battaglia, N of Baffadi) and 38th Brigs (holding M. Cappello); elements of 38th Brig make small gain 3 mi. N of Castel del Rio.

II Corps New boundary between II and XIII Corps N of Santerno R.' drawn just W of Sellustra Creek, goes into effect at 0800. Eighty-eighth Div R flank now protected by 38th Irish Brigade of 78th Div, under operational control of 88th. Strong resistance encountered by 88th Div forces at Gesso, 5 mi. N of Castel del Rio, and at base of Li. delle Tombe, 2 mi. NW of Gesso, Attack on Montcrenzio hill mass N'lof Sillaro R. bend is begun by reinforced 337th Inf of 85thj piy ., Fighting fgoes on- through day and night, as ef afinst-bb rn |r f Palmona and la Villa. Enemy .oput-rattXa s 9 | p | along Hwvy 65 with inf and tafiksg' f rm A- forced back only after fierce fire fight.' One co of r 174

Oct Section IV: MEDITERR^NErN THEATER 1944

9 361st Inf is driven into building on S outskirts of Cont Livergnano under intense fire from enemy MiG and mortars onnear-by hills and in town. Other elements of the Div scale cliff of escarpment, running E and LVI of Livergnano, to plateau at point N of Bigallo, 1l mir ESE of Livergnano. Two cots reach pluateau but soon find themselves at bottom of saucer-like depression, surrounded by enemy on higher ground. CCA of 1st Armd Div is attached to 34th Div.

array Troops Rain continues to hamper operations, Activity on R flank limited to patrolling. Troops of FFR, resuming attack on I`.Stance, are stopped by heavy mortar fire. Some arty falls on forward positions of CCB which now as-sumes command of L flank along Route 64.

I-V Corps Patrols continue active in 107th-AA± Group and BEF sectors with little change in forward positions. Second Bn of 370th RCT resumes offensive against Mi. Cauala at 0300 and by 1900 gains objective; later it:is again forced .to withdraw because of heavy mortar and arty fire; on L flank, 435th ii Bn, supported by tanks, seizes ceametary N of.Querceta on Route 1.

Missions again restricted by weather. In direct support of ground troops, 24 light bombers and 172 fighters and fighter bombers attack roads? bridges, gun positions, troop concentrations and transportation in and N.of battle area; targets hit include road leading N through Bologna and bridge SVJ of .Modena. TVwo schooners in Lussino Channel in NE Adriatic are targets for effective raid.by 2 Beaufighters. USS Gleaves and USS Jouett shell bridge and ammunition dumps in Ventiriglia area near French-Itarian border. During night MGB (663) is mined and sunk offlMaestre Pt. in N Adriatic.

Yugoslavia

n Voyvodina, Russians crossTisza R. between St. Becej and St.. Kanjiza; taking St. Becej, Mol, Ada, Scnta, and St. Kanjiza, iMoscow announces. No gains reported by Moscow to the S, and Berlin claims Red Army is halted S of Danube by reinf Germans. .ther. Twenty-one Ven ays in harbor of Zara, cau Lters score hits on ene 175

-1 UCt- I Gcction 1V;.aMUJ 'N ' riLara 1944

Albania

Sarande falls to British 40th Commandos following street fighting; British 2d Commandos holding heights overlooking port. Partisans reported engaging enemy at Qafe Thancs,nearStruga. Sporadic enemy air and arty activity reported in Berat area, Berat airfield receiving a number of shells. Two Wellingtons bomb Durazzo, while 8 Spitfires and 8 Hurricanes attack gun positions at Delvine, damaging buildings and causing fire and explosions. HUS Belvoir (DD) and LCG continue to shell Albanian coast near Dolvine.

Greece and Aeoean

Germans continue evacuation of Attica and Aegean islands. Greek units reported occupying Corfu I.; some enomy believed to remai4n in Corfu town; guns and shore installations at Levkimmi said to be demolished. German garrison on I. moves to. I,, it is reported. mov-in on Crete as Germans, reportedly 250 strong, depart from Heraklion during night. VWithfair to good results, 19 Wellingtons attack Tatoi, Eleusis, and Kalamaki airfields near athens throughout nighty *dropping 44.35 tons of bombs with hits on landing ground, hangars, and buildings. Carrier-borne planes, operating against shipping in N Aegean, sink 5 caiques and set fire to several other vessels.

10 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARIY

Boundary adjustments made between I Cdn and V Corps.

I Canadian Corps Regrouping commences in Corps area as 2d NZ Div moves inland to begin relief of 11th and 12th Brigs- of 5th Cdn Armd Div which go into reserve; Cumber- land Force with 3d Greek Mtn Brig and Landell Force under command assumes command in coastal sector. Front lines undergo some enemy shelling and mortaring.

V Corps Fifty-sixth-Div activity limited to patrolling. During early hours troops of f28th;Brig of 46th©D aireeI - relieved by l-39t. Brig which liter secures Pts. 147 ta | . | 176 c -

Oct Section IV: iMEDITERR^iNEaN THEATER 1944

10 203 in area just W 'and SWlof Montilgallo, respectively, Cont and sends patrols . as far as la Crocetta (2-- mi. SilT of Savignano)j farther. units of 138th Brig reach . Throughout,-morning R flank (25th Ind Brig) of 10th Ind Div advances line by securing Roncofroddo against slight opposition, whilelo0th Ind Brig occupies Monteleono, 3 ni. W; 20th Ind Brig again drives back enemy counterattack in M. Farneto area.

X Corps Spasmodic shelling occurs in Tezzo and Finocchio areas from enemy positions on M.ISasso to NE. .Jheeler Force makes slight gain S of S. Sofia.

U.S. FIFTH ,R1..Y

XIII Corps In area N of Route 67, i. Freddo and ;. Collina arc occupied by 61st Brig of 6th Br Airrxd Div as enemy withdrans; 26th Brig units continue fighting 'for Portico. In 8th Ind Div sector,'patrols of 19th Brig report Scarzana and high ground N evacuated by enemy; other units of Brig are directed against 1. Casalino, 1- ii.INE of Li. Cavallar a, securing W'slopes of mountain under consistent and accurate enemy shelling. Patrols of 3d Brig of 1st Br Div,. probing enern defenses in area SE of Mercatalo, receive considerable. enemy.'fire; 2d Brig relieves 3d Brig astride 'Senio Valley. Positions of 7.8th Br Div remain uncAanged; forward troops of 38th Brig pushing N from Ml.Cappello are heavily mortared.

II Corps Coordinated Corps attack only par'tially. .successful, operations especially difficult-because of steep escarpment across 91st Div front. Slight advances made on R and in center; almost none on L. Eighty- eighth Div forces-repulse enemy counterattack supported by flame-throwlers at Gesso3; between.Sillaro and Santerno rivers, N of Castel del Rio'. Eighty-fifth Div attacks against stiff resistance in vicinity of i -onterenzio; mud prevents bringing up of armor to aid 337th Inf. To the W, H'ill 349 is captured and strong enemy position at la Villa is outflanked by 338th Inf. Advance elements of 91st Div are cut off in "mouse- *trap" at Livorgnano. Enemy assaults 361st Inf units caught in building on S outskirts of Livergnano with point-blank tank and mortar fire, the action resulting Other units, Mj 't ®e: of almost entire co. 7 - -

: v? .', &? : nt4-. .O'-r+-.on+A TV. TT1;W.TRRA1NR ,, 'ra E~" 1944 ?

10 .on plateau just S of Casola, "fight throughout day as Cont enemy attempts to drive them off escarpment. Difficulty of supplying these troops and evacuating wounded hampers operations. Enemy attacks also at la Fortuna on Hwy 65 and resists strongly at Hill 409, on Div R flank SE of Barbarolo. oen of 362d Inf are ordered forward to assist embattled units at Livergnano and encounter bitterest sort of fighting as enemy holds stubbornly to positions. Town is bombed and shelled in N part. The 363d Inf, now commnitted on R of Div sector, attacks N with object of aiding 361st elements fighting on escarpment, but meets heavy resistance -and is driven back by mortar and LG fire N of Rantigola, 2½ mi. SE of Livergnano, and no attempt is made to move any of 363d Inf up on tho escarpment. .'Thirty-fourth Div forces are held in place S and STI of :.onterumici hill mass by strong enemy resistance.

Army Troops On R flank of 6th SA Armd Div, units of 24th Guards Brig push down Setta Valley, reaching Pian di Setta, about 2½ mi. N of Lagaro. See-saw fighting continues for MI. Stanco: following arty preparation, RNC passes through FFR and, at 0500, attacks and almost gains crest of ii.Stance; by mid-afternoon, R flank elements are so heavily attacked from enemy positions at Grizzana that entire RNC is forced to withdraw from mountain.

IV 'Corps Eleionts of 107th AAa Group continue patrolling with advance troops as far as Piansinatico, 'iTof Cutiglian-o on. Route 12. No advance made on remainder of Group front. In TF 92 sector, 3d Bn of 370th RCT begins preparations to scale cliffs guarding E approaches to M. Cauala. Troops of 435th AAA Bn make slight gains N of Querceta. ,

Total of 83 light and fighter bombers and fighters gives support to armies' advance in battle area; direct hits result on RRs, bridges, gun position, and miscellaneous transport. Fifteenth AF bombers attack targets in N Italy: Ilestre and Treviso (E and S) RR yards are objectives of 108 B-17s, supported by 94 P-38s, which drop 276 ,sonsbonbs, . ~ fair i to good results; bridges over Piave, R.hit by 63iB-24sIwi : ' !. unload 153.75 tons on Piave Susegana (N of^-TeeViso)Landi i- j Dona di Piave (E of Treviso) RH bridge with fair 'togo --resuls.M i· 1 ftb

Oct Section IV: iEDITERRANEAN. THEATER 1944

10 Twenty-four V^eliingtons, 9 B-24s, and 6 Halifaxes make night Cont attack on Verona E RR yards, dropping 101.9 tons of bombs with unobserved'results; 1 Wellington and 1 B-24 missing. Medium bomber operations cancelled because of weather. In N Adriatic, Beaufighters report cannon strikes on small shipping, and 2 Wellingtons attack Rovigno and 3 MTB's S'of Umago (19 mi. W of Trieste). USS Jouett (DD) fires more than 40OOrounds at bridge near French-Italian border.

Yugoslavia . .

Soviets SW of Pozarevac cross Morava R. to take Velika Plana on Nis-Belgrade RR and link up with Yugoslav I Corps, it is reported; a'number of other towns along the river claimed by Red Army. Partisans engage in widespread attacks against enemy columns, transport, and transport facilities. In Serbia, enemy in -Nis-Soko Banja area reported... strongly attacked from-the S; Germans withdrawing.across Greek frontier into S Yugoslavia hit constantly, particularly in Bitolj, Prilep, Kavadarci, and Strumica areas, and Kavadarci claimed occupied by,Yugoslavs; hostile' tank column has reportedly moved NE from Skolpje to take Bujanovce; in W Serbia, Partisans announce capture of Uzice and report fighting to the S in Sjenica area. Fighting also reported in vicinity of Podgorica (Montenegro), Dubrovnik (Hercegovina), and Banja Luka (Bosnia). Several villages claimed taken by Partisans in 1iontenegro and Hercegovina, and Pec-Andrijevica- Podgorica line cut, blocking escape of enemy by sea. Pasman I., off Dalmatian coast, reported clear of enemy. Cormmuni- cation lines in Voyvodina, Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia effectively raided; in Slovenia, Germans have repaired the Stampetov bridge on Trieste-Ljubljana line, and Yugoslavs report capture of Sevnica on Zagreb-Ljubljana line. Si:x --30s bomb Nin, just N of Zara on Dalmatian coast. Total of 39 fighters carries out offensive sweeps in Yugo- slavia, hi-ating barracks and RR yards at Kriz (32 mi. SE of Zagreb) and damaging several caiques and a trawler along coast; 3 e.o-mmy planes shot down in combat.

Albania

sing position' . r. afe Thanes *aw to Struga. 179

Oct Section IV 1944

Two German launches captured by HMS Belvoir (DD) off Albanian coast, N of Corfu; 20 prisoners taken.

Greece and Aegean

Greek guerrillas report successful forays along enemy withdrawal routes in Macedonia. Considerable enemy movement reported to Salonika and , largely from Attica and Crete. From Corinth, British Special Boat Service patrol reaches Megara, finding it clear. Allied forces now reported in Araxos-Patras area are: 2 cos of Highland Light Inf, . sq and 1 flight of RAF Regt, and 1 plat of Engineers.-- Three Beaufighters make night attack on MIvT in 'N Crete. Aircraft from HdiS Hunter attack harbor installations at Syros I. and Portolago on Leros I.

11 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH iARMYP

I Canadian Corps Regrouping is now complete and troops begin Fiumicino R. crossings as enemy falls back to' Rigossa R., line. Sector is held by Cumberland Force on R, 2d NZ Div in center, and 1st Cdn Div on L. In Cumber- land Force area, 3d Greek Mtn Brig drives off enemy raids on positions along Fiumicino R. in area W of Bellaria and now has patrols on far side of river; 2 mi. upstream patrols of Landell Force contact Germans across river near S. Angelo while probing toward the town. After gaining W side of Fiumicino R., forward elements of 5th NZ Brig of 2 NZ Div occupy Gatteo, N of Savignano, establish 2. bridgeheads in area just to S, and secure S. Giovanni., W of Savignano. First Cdn Brig of 1st Cdn Div passes through 169th Brig of 56th Div and advances rapidly V .along Route 9, leading units reaching E bank of Rigossa R. 1 mi. S of (4 mi. from Cesena).

V Corps Further Fiumicino R. crossings made as tanks and inf of 169th Brig of 56th Div cross over on bridge built S of Savignano. Fifty-sixth Div goes into Army reserve. Despite some resistance, forward elements of 139th Brig of 46th Div continie 'N, advance,,^ypushing too,

Balignano from la Crocetta SandestablMbhingtrpr ', s .ifil'

Massa and Badia to W; Monti-not abo-bbui i.~VI rla ' Crocetta, is secured by bn of 138th Brig7' PRl-fth*Iad

' i fl * 180

Oct 1944

11 Div sector, elements of 20th Ind Brig take Ciola Araldi Cont but heavy enemy shelling causes them to withdraw, vwhile to SW, 10th Ind Brig occupies Montecampo ahd Moontecodruzzo without opposition;'later units of German 29th PG Div make unsuccessful .counterattack in this area. Forty- third Brig reaches S. Maria Riopetra on L flarnk, 2 mi. beyond Sogliano.

X Corps Advance along Route 71 (Bagno-Cesena road) continues as patrols of 1st Br Armd Div (-on R) roeach M. Sasso in face of heavy opposition. Farther W, Elbo.Force overcomes cnemy resistance on M. Rullato, ?.[ of'M. Pietra, but is forced to withdraw because of enemy strength; other troops of force take Bucchio-.to W.' On L flank, patrols of Wt~heeler Force report M. Gignola, MN of Spinello, clear. Fourth Ind Div is now under Corps' command.

U.S. FIFTH ARMIi

XIII Corps Heavy rains hamper operations; cnemy tenaciously holds high ground positions. Patrolling continues on 6th Br Armd Div front. -In.8th Ind Div .. sector in area 3 mi. E of Marradi, units. of 19th Brig dri've backi counterattack from enemy attempting'to gain E foothills of M.. Casalirio; to NW, enemy intermittently shells and mortars front line positions of 21st Brig. Patrols of 2d Brig of.-1st Br Div remain active in area between Mercatale and Baffadi along Senio R..; 66th Brig takes over R portion of Div sector. Strong German opposition encountered 'in 78th Div zone: 1st Guards Brig repulses bitter counterattack in area just SWT of M. Battaglia, taking 83 prisoners; during day enemy launches 4 separate attacks on M. Battaglia in effort to retake mountain; 38th Brig improves positions in area approximately 3 mi. N of Castel del Rio.

II Corps Eighty-eighth Div continues struggle at Gesso, capturing tonn by noon. Elements of 350th Inf capture M. della Tombe but are driven off by counterattack. Eighty-fifth Div's 338th Inf, beating off severe counter- attacks, captures M. For.4ja., one of Corpst initial go di Bisano and on W several hills arc taken renzio. Advance N of

-010- -~~A .;, ~, ~'181 1 / . ~4'

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

11 91st Div still blocked by resistance at Livergnano and Cont on plateau to SE. Elements attempting to enter the town are driven back by formidable German forces in well protected positions in N section of it. There is also heavy SA fire from enemy occupying caves in near-by cliffside. Elements of 363d Inf by-pass resistance N of Rantigola to reach escarpment. During night, 2 co t s scale the cliff and are soon engaged in fire fight on R of 361st Inf elements on plateau. Supplies to forces on plateau must be carried by hand over the-.escarpment. CCA of 1st Armd Div relieves elements of 34th. Div on Corps L .flank, E of Castiglione-Bologna road,- as 133d and 168th Regts go into reserve preparatory to commitment in a sector NE of Div's present zone. Ninety-first Cav Rcn Sq is attached to CCA.

Army Troops R flank elements of 6th SA Armd Div make -appreciable gains, forward units advancing to area 1 mi-. beyond Pian di Setta followed by remaining units. Germans launch 4 severe.counterattacks on troops of RNC attempt- ing to take M. Stanco. Leading elements of 11th Armd Bn of CCB enter Silla.

IV Corps In face of heavy ar.ty and mortar fire, .6th .CT of BEF advances on each side of Serchio.R., taking Barga and gaining positions N -of Gallicano (about 2½ mi. W of Barga on W bank of Serehio R.) which are subsequently lost; Brazilian troops are. then ordered to .hold positions because of danger of enemy counterattack. , During evening, 2d and 3d Bns of 370th RCT resume attack on Li,. Cauala, crossing Seravezza Creek and commencing climb up-mountain. Enemy SA fire occurs in 2d Armd Group zone.

Continuing ground support, 24 light bombers and 461 fighters and fighter -bombers score hits on fuel dump, guns, strongpoints, and bridges; targets especially well hit in Cesena area. In IE Italy 25 B-24s -drop 45.25 tons of bombs on Casarsa RR and road bridges over Tagliamento R. with excellent results, making RR bridge impassable and damaging road bridge in 4 places; Trieste harbor receives 15 tons with slight damage. Road .and RR bridges, :munition.factory, and ammunition dump in N Italy are effectively struck by 280 B-25s and B-26s. Six Be.ufighters, attacking shipping in Gulf of Trieste, hit vessel off C. Salvore and stril|o|g.a f| Gradpf !4 g, Wellingtons again bomb Cittanovaial |dvignCA '9Fo e

-~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ . 182

Oct Section IV; IEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

11 Wellingtons, 11 B=24s, and 6 Halifaxes continue night attacks Cont on Verona RR yards, successfully hitting main RR center with 158 tons of bombs; fires and explosions result.' USS Gleaves (DD),supporting AMs off Ventimiglia, -shells German shore battery. On E coast MviDD,mined off Pesaro while returning enemy bombardment, is taken in tow. MTBs on patrol in N Adriatic engage 2 enemy MTBs off Parenzo.

Yugoslavia

Knjazevac town- and RR station, betwoen Nis and 'Zajecar in E Serbia, falls to Russians, Moscow reports. Red Army and Yugoslav'.troops mo¥ving up toward Belgrade. Considerable enemy traffic reported advancing N from areaa, Voyvodina,. afttr crossing Danube by pontoon bridge. 'Sofia' reports capture of Bela Palanka and Leskovac, cutting Sofia- Nis and Nis-Skopljc RRs. Further successes claLmed by Partisans in S Serbia: casualties inflicted on enemy column near Veles; rail objectives on Kocane-Strip-Vels- line-- effectively hit; Dragas area S of Prizren cleared. Yugoslavs announce fall of Bonkovac, N Dalmatia, after 4 days of fighting during which 19th Div distinguished itself. Targets on rail lines radiating from Zagreb, Croatia, successfully raided during past few days. Twenty-nine Venturas and A-30s effectively attack Ston on neck of Polejac Peninsula, hitting SI. section and quay and striking oil storage tanks at Susjepan, causing some dama'ge. Operating over Yugoslavia, 14 Spitfires harass enemy communications. Unable to bomb primary target, 5 B-24s unload 11.25 tons of bombs on unidentified Sava R. bridge with unobserved results; 9.75 tons also dropped on Dravograd (W of Maribor in Slovenia) RR yards. Approximately 10 mi. MN of Zara, British coastal forces (1 PG and 3 PTs) engage 1 or more enemy convoys off Vir I. in 5-hour action; results include 4 F-boats sunk or destroyed, 2 F-boats beached and torpedoed, and another possibly damaged.

Albania

Germans withdraw from Llogara Pass to Valona under cover of darkness after booby trapping abandoned equipment and cratering road at top of Pass. Just off coast from Valona, ass-enoJiI rapogted viacated by enemy. Germans appear to be gN {'t j ~ b y.{- · l ;bridge on Sarande-Delvine road Oct Section IV: IEDITERRANEAN 1944

reported blown by enemy.

Greece .and Aegean

Germans withdrawing from delayed.by mines and wrecked bridges; 3 bridges reported down in vicinity of Elasson, on Larissa- road. Germans declare Athens an open city. Athens, and Piraeus believed largely evacuated, but considerable enemy -force remains in Attica. Submarine assembly base at' Salonika reportedly demolished. W'ithrawal of hostile garrisons from Aegean islands becoming'increasingly difficult due to. presence of Allied naval units in northern area. White flags observed'on Corfu I. Syros I. reported evacuated, but.36 Italians remain.' Only Italians reported still at Scarpanto I. In N Aegqan carrier-borne planes carry out 2 heavy bombing attacks on small craft, sinking 3 E-boats and damaging 6 LC, flak escort, and trawler; naval planes also cutA:thens- Salonika RR line, and. hit RR installations. SS.Ypanis (Greek cargo ship, 1,459 tons) sunk by enemy action at 37-56- N, 23-40 E.

12 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH AERIZ

I Canadian Corps Entire front line of Cumberland Force in coastal area is under heavy M,'G and mortar fire. Both divs (2d NZ and 1st Cdn) have tank and' support wveapons across Fiumicino R.; advance of 2d NZ Div is delayed by mines, demolitions, and weather. Significant gains made on L flank as 1st Cdn Div secures 3 bridgeheads over Rigossa R.; troops attempting to bridge Rigossa R. in area S of Gambetolla are halted at river by fierce enemy resistance.

V Corps Forty-sixth Div advances R flank of dorps as 138th Brig takes Longiano and ridge to W and 46th rcn patrols reach Calisese. About 2 mi. SW, HMontenovo and Pt. 345 are occupied by 10th Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div without opposition; remainder of Brig then prepares to attack Li. Bora, 3 mi. SW of Montenovo. After securing S. Maria Rioiptra, 43d Ind B.ig,;. lOth Ind Div, advances . NW toward 1i. della Erta but is'stoppedb eavyen I RE fire just short of objective.

ob__IF . ;-- ...~a~ ~...

J /1 j 184

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

12 X Corps On R flank of Corps, 18th Brig of 1st Br Armd Cent Div captures M. Sasso. Elbo Force reoccupies M; Rullato; village of Rullato is still held by enemy.

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

XIII Corps Enemy mortar and arty fire increasing on front'line positions of 6th Br Armd and Sth Ind Divs, Despite'' heavy fire, elements of 66th Brig of 1st Br Div make slight gaiinin hills E of Mercatale. In 78th Br Div sector, enemy shelling is decreasing; on L flank, 11th Brig, coming into front lines makes contact with 351st Regt of 88th Div at la Morea, 5 mi. N of Castel del Rio,and prepares to attack hill SE of Gesso in effort to 'assist 351st Regt's attack on M. Spaduro to' N.

II Corps Gesso is mopped up by 351st Inf, 88th Div, and Hill 462, SE of it, is captured. M. delle Toinbe is recaptured by 350th Inf which consolidates position'. In 85th Div sector, position on M. Formiche'is strengthened and an' adjacent hill captured by bn of 338th Inf supported by tanks. Road leading N f'rom Monterenzio crest is cut at Poggioli by bn of 337th Inf and troops dig in there to prevent enemy from bringing up supplies and replacements. During night, bn of 361st Inf, 91st Div, attacks to out- flank Livergnano and cut Hwy 65 N of town. Some pr'-ogress made on W as TD fire demolishes buildings on that side of Livergnano. On E side, crest of- Hill 603 is neared after difficult struggle up cliff wall where Germans held cave positions. Large forces of heavy and medium bombers attack targets along Hwy 65, S of Bologna, with some targets bombed only 350 yds. ahead of front line positions. Tanks and TDs pound enemy in cliff-wall caves. Arty fires constant missions of neutralization or interdiction all day. On 361st Inf R flank, an HMG platoon is surrounded and captured and an inf platoon forced to retreat in course of attack on Hill 592. On extreme L flank of Div, 362d Inf is in bitter,close fighting around Ca di Boschi, before and after occupying town. At midnight, thi sector is taken over by 34th reserve.

tt1.1%Ad,4,I on 6th SA Armrd Div front: g remain active on R flank; in '-~ -3 a rea S of M1. Stanco, units of RNC of 12th SA uitzd Brig 4-ft'L~~ - - _. .135

Oct Section IV: 1EDITERRANEAN THEAM 1944

12 are pinned down by heavy, accurate arty fire. uommana Cont of 12th SA Mltzd Brig sector passes to llth SA Armd Brig.

IV Corps Brazilian troops maintain positions and send patrols N in contact with enemy as far as Sormmocolonia, Treppignana, and Castelvecchio (all N of Barga). Third Bn of 370th RCT continues advance on M. Cauala, gaining summit at 0730; exceptionally fierce enemy arty and MG fire which lasts throughout day forces units to with- draw at 1830. German SA and arty fire hold 435th AAA Bn in coastal area to small gains.

In direct response to Fifth Army's request for support in Bologna drive, Tactical and Strategic Air Forces commence air assault in effort to destroy enemy's supply dumps and lines of communication, principally between M. Grande and M. Sole in II Corps area. The 827 heavy bombers dispatched on this operation represent the greatest number.yet sent from Italian airfields over one target area; total of. 697 B-17s aad B-24s (out of 827 dispatched), supported by 76 P-38s,.successfully hammers tactical targets with 1,272 tons of bombs; objectives include bivouac areas, stores depot, 2 barracks, industrial installations, ammunition depot.. 3 storage dumps, and 2 munition factories; main RR station at Bologna virtually destroyed.; Allied plane losses limited to 5 bombers and 1 fighter. Further aiding drive to Bologna, force of 318 medium bombers strikes targets in Bologna area, hitting troops and dumps with, good results, Concentrating · on close-support targets in rear of battle sector, 470 fighter bombers and 123 fighters attack RR lines and yards in Bologna-Ravenna-Cesena-Ferrara areas, score hits on guns, bridges, ammunition dumps, bivouacs, and MT, and destroy 30-car ammunition train W of Modena; at Bologna airfield 1 enemy plane is destroyed, 2 damaged, and 2 probably. In N Italy, Bronzolo (N of Trento) RR yards are well hit at night by 51 Wellingtons, 11 B-24s, and 6 Halifaxes with 148 tons of bombs. Two additional Wellingtons continue day raids on Civittanova and Rovigno. Fighters again attack objectives in N Italy: 6 Beaufighters hit transportation with considerable success, while 5 more damage small vessel off Cherso I. and docks and power lift at Albano. HiS Loyal and HMIiS Lookout (DDs),operating in support of Eighth Army, fire approximately 1,000 rounds at Germn;\. f R lJ 1 batteries and defensive positions nea, '.n| c o, ;4 :;' m A of Rimini. Allied mine, sweeper sunk !. .. & of !^ .... Ahtn with 7 casualties. . Oct .. Section IV: DITERPtANEkN THEATER 1944 . : ...

12 Yugoslavia Cont T:aiS ... a, SW of Szeged (Hungary), Red Army troops take Subotica and Horgos in Voyvodina; SE of Belgrade in Serb1a, Soviets reach Smederevo and take more than 60 other places, Moscow announces. Approaching Nis, Yugoslavs report ousting Germans from position W of Bela Palanka. Fighting in progress at various.points in S Serbia where 4 German divs are re- portedly withdrawing from S Balkans: mtzd column attempting to roach Ohrid is pushed back to Bitolj. with heavy -casualties; Berevo, on Brezalnica R. near Bulgarian border, claimed captured by Partisans; enemy personnel and MT on Velos-Skoplje road hit; Vranje., between Skoplje and Nis, taken by German tank column from Kumanovo, and fighting reported on Kumanovo- Kriva Palanka RR line; .rail lings and bridges damaged in vicinity of Kacanik; Brod, S of Prizren, reportedly captured by Yugoslavs who also blow bridges on Prizrei-Djakovica-Pec road. In liontenegro, Partisans driving, toward -Podgorica' report capture, of Bioce and 2 other small towns, 'Cajnic'e, SE Bosnia, falls to Partisans who are moving toward Visegrad, Yugoslavs announce; enemy columns routed in E Bosnia. Hostile forces being mopped up in N Dalma-tia. Harassing attacks against targets on rail.lines leading to Zagreb, Croatia,' continue. . ,,. . Coastal and Balkan., planes concentrate on t.rgets along Adriatic coast: single V.ellington bombs Dubrovnik; 16 Spitfires attack roads .nd RR transport and bomb Ston and Devrska in Dalmatia; shippingg at. Senj, Croatia, .:is objective-'for 6 Venturas; 12,Be'aufighters in shipping sweeps attack troop- laden boats, siIning l, dmaging'.2, '.and setting fire to another, as well as damaging. 3 sohooners in Arsa Channel;'

Albania

Hq of British 2d .SS Brig now established in Sarande (S Albania); in the course of operations in this area, British claim over 620 prisoners and Partisans at least 100 mnore; British casualties are 81, of which 14 are killed. Delvine reported abandoned by enemy after fall of Sarande. To the NE, Germans appear to be withdrawing at night from Korca area'to (Greece) and Struga; Partisans wreck a portion of Korca-Florina road. Elbasan, SE of Tirana, be- lieved to be tihe most heavily fortified area in Albania. Farther N, Partisans ha,-.i.ecently inflicted considerable 187

Oct Section IV: ,EDITERRANEA 1944

damage on enemy positions and convoys in Durazzo, Tirana, Kavaja, and Kukas areas. Six Beaufighters set fire to barracks and destroy observation post just SE of Tirana.

Greece and Aegean

Athens, except for N suburbs, believed free of enemy, and its port, Piraeus, reported clear. In Piraeus area., al important shipping, except for a concrete barge and a schooner, has moved to Volos or Salonika or has been scuttled,; scuttled ships include the John Knudsen (9,000-ton tanker), Carola (1,350-ton AK), Celsius (300-ton coaster), and the floating dock containing the San .IMartino(DD). In addition, enemy reportedly has carried out- extensive demolitions to ground installations in Athens-Piraeus area before withd-av;ling, although main electric supply and Miarathon dam unharmcd. Offshore in Gulf of Aegina, Aegina I. bombarded, by IFB- Colombo '(CL) and entered by'patrol of British Spe'cial Boast Service from Poros I. which finds Perdhika and C. Tourlo clear; Fleves I. shelled by HiiS argonaut (CL), although enemy is believed to have withdrawn; few Germans balieved to - remain on Salamis I. Elements of British 2d Pare Brig (I co of 4th Para Bn with 1 tr of 2d Pcra sq--Royal Enginiees) land at Megara, W of Athens, to secure airfield, suffering 25%' casualties due to high wind. Approximately 1,000 Gertians reported still on Euboea, off'E coast of mainland. Germans apparently determined to keep Volos-Larissa road open.; ELAS report successful raid on large enemy column advancing up this road; Volos harbor filled with shipping. Other Greek units active against Athens-Salonika RR, reporting scve-ral successful forays recently. Small British conmando detachn.oent from · Sarande, Albania, lands on Corfu I. during late evening; rem- nants of German garrison, about 60 Imen, surrender in !MEcorner of the island.

13 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH 2aR,

± uanadian Corps In coastal a- defending positions along L b Brig of 2d NZ Div attacks andt of Savignano, but is forced to' AW enemy strength in to'n. First.Cdn Brig of Ist Cdn Div Oct iion IV: NEDITERRANEaN THEATER 1944

13 makes some progress in advance W from area S of Cont Gambetolla as it establishes-unit on far side of Rigossa R. despite heavy counterattack and moves to within 2 mi. of Bulgaria.

V Corps In 46th Div zone S of Route 9, 46th Rcn troops maintain bridgehead over Rigossa R. N of Longiano in face of sharp opposition; farther W, '138th Brig elements find Casalo ovacuated and gain hill positions to N, but report Carpinota, 2 mi. W of kiontiano, held by enemy in strength. Tenth Ind Div continues to expand its holdings with troops of 10th Lad Brig at Sorrivoli, 3-1- mi, -1. of Roncofreddo, and on iM.Bora; M. Chicco, about 2 mi. MN of Miontecodruzzo, is reached by 43d Ind Brig' in spite of heavy arty fire from enemy holding position just to N.

X Corps In 1st Div sector, 18th Brig captures 'Pt. 598, NE of Finocchio, but is counterattacked and driven back to area E of Finocchio.

U.S. FIFTH dhRMY

XIII Corps On R flank, Germans hold 61st Brig of 6th Br Armd Div to small advance in area 1 mi. S of Portico. Enemy remains firm throughout 8th Ind Div sector; 19th Ind Brig makes slight gain in fighting for possession of M. Casalino which is still held by enemy in strength. Seventy-eighth Div encounters bitter resistance from strongly fortified enemy positions; against stubborn opposition, 11th Brig attempts to move N to S slopes of M. la Pievo (height 2 mi. N of la Morea).

II Corps Crossing Sillaro R. W of Hill 339, elements of 350th Inf, 88th Div, cut in behind enemy troops in the valley and reach positions over 1 mi. N of valley. In 85th Div sector, strongly defended hills SV' of Poggiolo on lMonterenzio hill mass are seized by 337th Inf vwith tank support. During night of 13/14, 339th Inf moves forward to relieve 337th. One bn of 168th Inf, 34th Div, is attached to 33$;bhi~f at midnight and nre-iares to move on M. Formiche. Ennemy seems to fter a tremendous arty barrage; vergnano occupied. Although a continues strong during morning, Ao"dw-

Oct Section IV: IVEDITERRa-d\EN THEATER 1944

13 Querceta, l mi,. NE of Livergnano, is taken during night Cont and elements of 361st Inf, 91st Div, by-pass enemy on two hills and swing W toward Hwy 65. A number of enemy strongpoints on the escarpment E of Livergnano and at Livergnano are reduced and Div lines straightened and flanks secured from Casolina on the L to Qucrceta on the R. Enemy strongpoint NE of Monterumici overcome by 135th Inf, 34th Div, attacking up E side of Savena Creek, with elements of CCA, 1st Armd Div, assisting as holding force.

Army Troops Sixth SA Armd Div renews effort to reduce M. Stance: during early hours, elements of-24th Guards Brig supported by tank, 4.2-in. mortar, and arty fire launch diversionary assault E of Grizzana; meanwhile, following 15-min. arty preparation, elements of 12th SA -Mtzd Brig attack mountain, gaining crest by 0600; after bitter struggle troops are firmly established by after- noon but enemy continues to hold 6ut on lower slopes. CCC (consisting of elements of Special Service Bn, Prince Alfred's Guard, Natal Mounted Rifles, and llth Anti-Tank Regt) are now established in area N of Castel di Casio, E of Poretta. To NV, troops of CCB attack Bombiana, 5 mi. N of Poretta, against light opposition, securing towvn before noon.

IV Corps No change occurs in front line positions of 107th AA Group although patrols probe N as far as Montefegatcsi, approximately 4 mi. due N of Bagni di Lucca. Brazilian troops make slight gains E of Serchio R. in area N of Barga; enemy MG and mortar fire heavy. In TF 92 sector, Germans continue to hold M. Cauala .against efforts of elements of 370th RCT.

Total of 818 fighters and fighter bombers maintains excellent pressure on enemy strongpoints, gun positions, supply dumps, bivouac areas, bridges, roads, and small 'shipping with considerable success. Weather restricts medium bomber operations, although 59 of 228 B-25s and B-26s attack RR bridges at Cento, Castel Maggiore, and Bondeno, all N of Bologna, and RR defil at San Ambrogio and Avio, both E of Lake Garda, as wio dampr v gumi of battle line. During ni | eaufigh|ers stri * s, t and communications near Ferrarai laving trin of' 20 ~ars~ burning. Several small vessels in N Adriatic receive hits 190

Oct 1944

13 from additional Beaufighters; meanwhile single Wellington Cont again bomb's"'harbor installations at Rovigno. French DD, Fortune, bombards troops and vehicles in Bordighera area near French-Italian border.

Yugoslavia

SE of Belgrade, Soviets and Partisans claim capture of Topola and Iaadcnovac,' cutting RR line and highway from -Belgrade to Kragujovac; several other towns, including D. Satornja, SV' of Topola, seized; Partisans report drive on Avala, just SE of Belgrade. Reports indicate that bulk of German 1st I'itn Div passed through Topola en route to Belgrade. Air operations are again concentrated on coastal targets. Wellingtons bomb shipping at Budva (45 mi. SE of Dubrovnik) and jetty at Dubrovnik; shipping and harbor installations at Split'successfully attacked.by 15 '-30s which hit 22 vessels and cause explosions in dock area; Spitfires strafe transport in harbor at Bar. In support'of ground forces 52 fighters harass communications, claiming considerable damage. Heavy bombers (on mission to Vienna) drop 2.5 tons of boimbs on Maribor, Slovenia.

Greece and Aegean

Preparatory to allied landing, rcn group lands on Piraeus where it is reported that Germans left Piraeus and -Athensfor Thebes at 0400 hours. British patrols. probing eastward from Megara. 'RAF Regt detachment reported moving to Sparta to accept surrender of Greek security troops. ELIS claim capture of enemy party returning to Athens to try to wreck central power station. During night British 9th Commandos and sq of Greek Sacred Regt sail for Piraeus and Kalamaki airfield. Elsewhere on Greece, Greek units harass enemy communication lines in Macedonia and Thessaly with good effect. It is reported that 50 Germans, possibly entire garrison, surrender on Aghios Georgi&s I., S of Athens. At I., Cyclades, 65 enemy garrisoning the island are holding out in building in Naxos town. Enemy evacuation of'Syros -I.,Cyclades, confirmed. Hostile garrison on Lemnos I. reported greatly reduced. On Crete, Germans abandon Retima for Canea, it'is reported. Eleven Vonturas bomb shipping at Volos with xce-llent re . all vessels in inner i 1 01

Oct Section IV; IvEDITERR^i 1944

harbor, including barge Laudon, corvette Brigitte, and 2 unidentified vessels; 4,400-ton Adriana left listing and on fire. Six A-30s' and 4 Spitfires bomb Maleme airfield, straddling runway; bursts observed in target area.

14 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH hRMYf

I Canadian Corps L flank elements of Cumberland Force begin attack across Fiumicino R. in area about 3-4 mi. N of Savignano; enemy spasmodically shells and mortars front lines of 3d Greek Mtn Brig during early hours. iAt 2000,5th NZ Brig launches another attack on S. Angelo and establishes troops in town by midnight. Advance units of 1st Cdn Brig supported by tanks push to within 200 yds. of Bulgaria against light opposition and begin attack on town.

V Corps Fierce fighting rages in 46th Div sector for possession of Carpineto and ridge to N which fall to 138th Brig later in day; over 140 enemy prisoners captured. Tenth Ind Div, pushing slowly W toward Savio R. with 10th and 43d Brigs abreast, makes appreciable advance: 10th Brig is now in E outskirts of Diolaguardia (W of Sorrivoli), while 43d Brig secures M.. Chicco to SV and beats off several counterattacks. Farther S, rcn units reach Savio R. in area N of Mercato.

II Polish Corps at 0800 II Pol Corps assumes command of X Corps sectdr and 1st Br Grmd Div and units under command pass to command of II Pol Corps. Cerfoglia, approximately 3 mi. N of Sorbano, is occupied by 18th Brig of 1st Br Armd Div. Patrols of Elbo and Wheeler Forces continue active.

U.S. FIFTH ARlIY

XIII Corps Light arty falls in 6th Br Armd Div sector. activity of 8th Ind and 1st Br Divs limited to patrolling and regrouping; 21st Brig of 8th Ind Div relieves elements of 1st Br Div in M. Toncone area (3 mi. NE of Palazzuolo) and extends L flank to include ilgn l S fp In 78th Br Div sector, German res'L ce~coBimuiesnal7 f on L flank, llth Brig, attackinig:A alPlev/ll is^ hnlt |I 192 U N

Oct Section IV.: EDITERli]Ei-N THEATER 1944

14 at foot of objective by enemy troops (believed to be 334th Cont Div) armed lith flame-throwers; approximately 100 casualties are sustained by attacking trQops. II Corps Elements of 88th Div approaching li. Spaduro, E of M. delle Tombe, are driven back to hill from which advance started. Other elements approach Castel S. Pietro-Fi'renzuola road in vicinity of S. Clemente. Elements of Br 78th Div relieve 351st Inf units in vicinity of Gesso ridge.-N of Monterenzio, 339th Inf, 85th Div, encounters strong re- sistance from German strongpoints on hills. Units of 338th Inf moving N along Idice R. clear Fiumetto of enemy elements. Very slight advance made by 91st Div betiweer2Ltvergnano and M. Gormiche, as pockets of resistance are mopped up near Livergnano and in vicinity of escarpment.. On top of escarp- ment, elements of 361st Inf proceed V'from Casola across rough terrain and under constant enemy arty and mortar barrages, to dig in 75, yds. from well dug in enemy E of Livergnano. During night of 14/15, arty lays down sound screen to enable bulldozer to repair hole blown by enemy in Hwy 65 on a hillside where it prevented armor and trucks from entering Livergnano in support of inf. First Armd Div takes command of former 34th Div sector on"Corps L flank at noon, T~wo regts of 34th Div move NE to mnew zone between 91st and 85th Divs. On Corps L flank, Montevumici is attacked by 135th Irf, attached to 1st irrmd. Eighty-first Cav Rcn Sq relieves 91st Cav Rcn Sq. Enemy maintains program of harass- ing arty fire. ; , Army Troops In 6th SA Armd Div sector, leading troops of 24th Guards and 12th S. M1tzd Brigs, attempting to socure lateral road running between Plan di Setta and Vergato, find enemy withdrawn from Grizzana and high ground t-o E. Farther W, elements of CCB repel German counterattack on M. di Bombiana, just N of Bombiana.

IV Corps Patrols of 107th -thi Group contact enemy in area just E of Piansinatico. Elements of BEF, advancing along Serchio R., roach S. Piero, about 2 mi. W of Barga, against MG, mortar, and arty fire, Germans continue hold on lMi.Cauala. Mediumn bomber operations cancelled because of ¥weather. Fifth army receives excellent support from total of 388 fighters and fighter bombers which attack military targets, particularly in Bologna-Cesena area; 4 bridges hit, RRs cut, roads cratered, and numerous hiT and small vessels destroyed or damaged; 1 enemy plane destroyedl near Bergamo. In Gulf of Venice, Beaufighters score hits on MV (; .amage smaller vessels, while

I*~ 193

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEaN THEATER 1944

14 later at night 9 Beaufighters attack transport at Ostellato (16 mi. SE of Cent Ferrara), causing fires and explosions. Four Wellingtons strike E-boat and small vessel off Caorle (29 mi. ENE of Venice) and score probable hits on 3 more E-boats. Buildings and vehicles near French-Italian border are again targets for French DD.

Yugoslavia

Russians and Partisans tighten ring about Belgrade; village 3 kilometers-SE of the Capital city claimed taken, as well. as several neighboring towns; a number of towns along IMorava R. between Nis and Kragujevac also claimed; German counterattacks reported unsuccessful. Sofia announces fall of Nis to Bulgarian and Yugoslav troops as of 6:00 p.m., but Soviet and Yugoslav announcement made on 16th. Coastal Wellingtons again bomb Dubrovnik. Continuing attacks along coast, 14 A-30s and Venturas hit harbor instal- lations at Karlovac, Croatia, and quayside at Dunta Doli, just E of Ston., Towns of Ston and Osjle to NE are targets for Spitfires and Hurricanes w'ich 'attack with good results. In sweeps over Yugoslavia, 29'additicnal Spitfires destroy trans- port, while 14 RP Beaufighters5 and' 6 P-51s cut RR line between Litija and Zidani Mos,t in Slovenipa; 2 enemy CR-42s encountered near Zagreb destroyed. Targets at 1.:aribor,' Sloveriia, are hit by heavy bombers; RR yards attacked by 6 B-24s wjhich drop 14 tons' of bombs with .generally poor results';"47' B-24s unload 132 tons on RR *bridge, claiming one' direct hit and rnany near misses; flak .is accurate and hpavy.

Albania

Partisans now hold Delvire and are moving "i'nand against reportedly negligible resistance. Germans withdraw from Valona after firing town and blowing up coastal defenses.

Greece and Aegoan

GermaA forces.remaining on'Greek mainland now estimated to be 80,000. ' believed virtually free of enemy; Greek units break into Yannina and fighting is in progress in the town. In Miacedonia, Germans reported accelerating their withdrawal from Salonika ara4, and holding line from Stavros to Lake Doiran as barrier i 194 'u II,

Oct Section IV: I,.EDITERIE^N THEaiTER 1944.

claimed by.Gredk guerrillas in Macedonia, particularly in Tempe Pcass, area. additional elements of British 2d Para Brig dropped at iMgara; bulk of Brig now concentrated in this region. British 9th Commandos and sq of Greek Sacred'Regt find Piraeus and Kalcnmaki airfield free of enemy and subse- quently enter Athens with elements of 2d Para Brig:. Salamis I. in Gulf of Aegina reported clear. Allied troops assisted by light naval units are closing in on the few enemy remaining on Naxos I. Elements of Rhodes I. garrison claimed withdrawing by air. Operating over Albania and Greece, Spitfires and P-51s attack transport, bomb MIT park near Korea, and strafe troop trains and roads, ialeme airfield bombed by 4 A-3Os; bursts seen Ofr buildings and dispersal areas..

15 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARIff

Strong, attacks of I Canadian and V Corps cause enemy withdrawal all along front, particularly in Indian sector where opposition is-offered by R wing of German 76th Corps.

I'Canadian Corps In coastal area elements of Cumberland Force enlarge bridgeheads over Fiumicino R. 3-4 mi. N of Savignano; heavy I'G and mortar fire on R of line. R flank units of 5th NZ Brig of 2d NZ Div mop up in S. angelo and thrust Ni, reaching road junction, while remainder of Brig takes Gambettola without opposition. In 1st Cdn Div sector, advance units of 1st Cdn Brig push up Route 9 to within 3 mi. of Cesena.

V Corps Enemy is making strenuous effort to hold Montereale, last important feature between front line and Cesena. At 0500, 138th Brig of 46th Div attacks W toward i. del Pine and captures it despite considerable resistance; enemry spasmodically shells front line troops; Calisese reported evacuated; Div is now along line parallel to Savio R. in area about 1½ mi. E, meeting bitter resistance. In 10th Ind Div sector, 10th Ind Brig secures Diolaguardia and Monte dela Vacchio just to S.

to patrolling and with- UP port enemy has 195

Oct Section 1 1944

15 drawn frozm Civorio (on Borello R. NW of M. Pictrr) and Cont from high ground just TE.

U.S. FIFTH ARMJY

XIII Corps Bitter opposition continues all. along front; oxtensive domolitions, mountainous terrain, and tough enemy opposition bring forward movement almost to halt. Patrols of. 6th Br Armd Div engage enemy patrols in-area N of F. Frcddo; 2½ mii. NW in area 5 mi. E of iarracdi, 3 severe German counterattacks force troops of 19th Brig of 8th Ind Div to withdraw to positions 1½ mi. SLJ. Seventy-eighth Br Div makes 'little progress N of Castel del Rio: 38th Brig is unable to advance from M.. Cappello area, -while *11th Brig resumes attack for possession. of. M. la Pieve in face of stiff opposition.

II Corps Extensive shifting of bn units takes place throughout 88th Div. Counterattack repulsed by 350th Inf at 1800. advance of 350th N of Sillaro R. brings L flank of 88th Div abreast with advance olements of 85th and 91st Divs.. Eighty-fifth Div troops makc good advance to NE; 339th Inf captures Casa ,Nova, about rii. N of li.ontorenzio. Ninety-first Div forces clear Livergnano and high ground dominating town, after thre lays Cof 1 fierce combat. iAttack of 361st Inf along Hwy 65 .makes good progress, although entire regtl zone is svept'b3t intense enemy arty fire and advance elements are forced to withdraw wvhcn lifting fog exposes themr to onemy fire. from every direction. Excellent progress made by 363d Inf, which attacks at -0500 without arty preparation. Taking over regtl sector of 338th Inf, 85th Div, to the W of Hwy 6531 in the Idice Valley, 34th Div assures command of a new zone, between 91st and 85th Divs, at midnight. CCA of 1st _Armd Div fails in atte.pt to capture Hill 482, directly E of !Mionterumiici.

[rxny Troens Sixth SA Armd Div continues .advance between Setta and Rcno rivers, taking Veggio and CaMpiaro, both IMN of Pian di Setta, as well as high ground N of Grizzana. Some shelling occurs on CCB front farther IT.

IV Corps activity limited to patrolling; enemy opposition consists of iiG-, mortar, and arty fire. No further progress made in attempt to take v'. C u IIn 196

Oct Section IV: IMEDITERRiNEAN THEATER 1944

15 In support of ground forces,. 506 fighters and fighter Cont bombers attack targets in Bclogna area and other objectives in N Italy with excellent results, scoring hits on roads, guns, bridges, troop concentrations, and RRs;'supply depot and CP destroyed and explosion seen in repair shop; guns silenced in Cesena-Imola area; jetty at Porto Garibaldi, tug in Po estuary, and guns damaged; RR lines hit near Vorona, IMiradndola (W of Forrara), Firenzuolo, and. Bergamo.. Road and RR. bridges in N Italy are objectives for 302 rmedium bombers; results include hits on road and RR bridges at Romaino "di Lomberdi, Galliat, Mihagenta, and Lonate Pozzolo. and.-3 RR. bridges at Piacenza, Piazzola, as well as .&n approaches to RR bridges .at Calcinato, 'Lntebello (between Verona -and Vicenza), and Padua; fuel dump at Treviso also bombed. Operating in Triesto .area, 2 Wellingtons attack Roviogno9a:d;: Cittanova with unobserved results, while later. at ;ight, '9 Beaufighters attack' .LT in Logosanto area N of Comacchio. TWeather cancels heavy bomber operations during day. During night 13 T6illingtens drop 28 tons. of bombs on pbntoon bridge at San Benedetto, hitting approaches; 63 heavy bombprs make night attack on Opicina RR yards at Trieste, dropping 63 tons with good results,

Yugoslavia

SE of Belgrade, Soviets take Pozarevac and, farther S across the LIorava R., Krusevac, Moscow reports. Yugoslavs report street fighting in Belgrade, with units of Partisan XII Corps and Red Airmy participating. Westward escape routes being blocked. Yugoslavs have reportedly taken Livno, Bosnia, and continuedS and SE to capture several enemy strong- points. Another strongpoint, E of , Croatia, claimed by Partisans. Weather restricts Coastal and Balkan air operations. Venturas bomb Split, while A-30s attack Dunta Doli and start fires in h-rbor installations. P-51s destroy CR-42 in Sisak area, Croatia.

Albania

Reports indicate that German Hq Staff has been flown out of Tirana. Considerable enemy traffic reported passing along Tirana-Scutari and Scutari-Prizren roads; enemy withdrawing by sea from Durazzo to Trieste,- reports indicate. Germans i vitg"fromi Tirana to Kukes said to be detouring in order to ; > . JJ^ i ^ b | "%, ',„*,/. J 1-a I U 19'7

Oct Section I 19QLL

get through. Partisans reportedly attacking at Elbasan and successfully raid enemy column moving from there to Librasht. Partisans drive off enemy force of 200 attempting to res'lore Korca-Florina road at point where,it was wrecked 3 days ago. MiIT in Durazzo area attacked by,5 Spitfires; 3 destroyed, 6 damaged.

Greece and Aegean

Allied task force (British cruisers Orion, Aurora,`jc[,. and Black Prince; 4 Allied DDs; other British and Greek naval units) transporting British III Corps and Greek troops to Greece anchors off Piraeus at 1730 hours. Arrival of task force delayed by minefields;. 3 minesweepers as well as 1 motor launch sunk off C. Tourlo; Petronella (Dutch water tanker, 2,770 tons) sunk off C. Kalauri. Piraeus pert facilities severely damaged by departing enemy. Thebes reported evacuatedc' enemy withdrawal from this town leaves the whole of Attica clear. On N coast of Gulf of Corinth,, Itea and, to the NT, liAmphissa now cliaimed free. of enemy. Greek units report capture of Yannina, in Epirus, andi clmul 155 Germans and 300 Italians taken prisoner. Hostile garrisun on'Naxos I. surrenders; prior to surrender, 4 Beaufighters damage the building in which garrison was resisting., Lemnos I. garrison said to be preparing for withdrawal by sea. Berlin reportedly orders garrisons of Crete, Rhodes, and Leros to defend themselves and to cease evacuation operations. Carrier-borne planes continue operations in N Aegean, concentrating on road and water transport; numerous 5MT, an ammunition ship, and a coaster destroyed, transport attacked near Volos.

16 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH A1PEX

I Canadian Corps L flank units of Cumberlanld -Forccd- are now on line along SE bank of Rigossa R. in area. 2 mii. *E of S. Angelo; enemy holds, SE;.bank from there to coast. Leading units of 5th NZ Brig of 2d-NZ Div, supported by tanks, occupy Bulgarno .(Nof Gabetteola) wiith'no oppo- sition but resistance increases as -troops move SE. tid- vancing astride Route 9 .Caaqdians continue to.ard' Ces0ena and 1st Brig (lst;Cc .jDiv> isnow within 2 mii4 o_ tovin. . * Eg|: r M 4i flS W1 W3 198 UNCLASSIFIED Oct Section IV:; EDITERRaiNEIiN THEATER 1944

16 V Corps Enemy opposition increasingly bitter along 46th Cont and 10th Ind Divs fronts,. Elements of 139th Brig relieve 138th Brig and strengthen positions near M. Romano, receiving very hneavy fire from enemy defensive positions near Aicquarola, 2 mi. N of Diolaguardia. In 10th Ind Div zone, 25th Ind Brig relieves 10th Brig (loss 1 bn) S of Montereale and prepares to attack enemy positions on this featureo; 1 mi. farther SW, 43d Brig occupies M. Lorenzo without opposition and sends patrols W to Savio R. Rcn elements cross Savio R. to find onemy has withdrawn from Taverna and Formignano (on Route 71 W of river),.

II Polish Corps Some elements of .st Br j:rmd 'Div reach'Ciola, 32 mi. NW of [er.cato; farther 17, remainder of Div advances 1 mi. :in area E of Ranchio. Regrouping continues in Corps area.

U.S. FIFTH -RaIRY

*XIII Cores Eighth Ind Div regroups and prepares to assault strongly fortified enemy positions: on R flank, 17th Brig assumes command of 19th Brig (which goes into reserve exc.pt 1 bn); on L, 21st Brig makes ready to attack troops of German 715th Div which are dug in on Ii.Pianoreno, 1,I. Romano, and M. Giro (all N of Route 6521). In S&nio Valley area, 66th Brig of 1st Br Div launches series of attacks to S and N of ld. Ceco.in effort to support drive of 21st Brig of 8th Ind Div; enemy resistance severe. Eleventh Brig on L of 78th Br Div begins relief of 351st Regt of 88th Div in vicinity of Gesso ridge, and new boundary between 78th Br and 88th U.S. Divs, extending L flank of 78th Br 'Div' 1l mi. 1V, is established.

II Corps Early morning coordinated attack is launched by 5 divs, each conmitting a fresh regt. Main effort made in center of zone. Heavy resistance against both flanks necessitates limited objective attacks to widen penetration, that is, to secure R flank by seizing the Granhde-Cerere feature, to improve positions in center and on the L, and to secure L flank by seizing - Adone hill mass. Enemy resistance especially strong at Hi. delle Tombe in line of advance of 88th Div. New boundary goes into effect on R flank between 88th Div UNCLASSS~~~~mx 199

Oct Section IV: 1944

16 and 78th Br Div. with 78th assumring command of units -in Cont its zone which includes Gesso, formerly held by 351st Inf. Baccanello, on E bank of Idice R.,is captured by 338th Inf, 85th Div, as it continues advance towardc: .. Fano. ..In center of Corps zone, 168th Inf of 34th Div attacks N and reaches outskirts of Tazzola, 2½ mii. NE of Livergnano, while 133d Inf passes through 91st Div . zone to attack M. Belmonte, reaching point 2 mi. SD of'' Pianoro without opposition. Elements of 363d Inf, 91st. Div, attack. t.o assist 133d Inf, 34th Div, in assault on 1. Belmonte, 3 mi'. NE of Livcer-nanc, but make 'little headway. RCT 362 attacks through 36 1st elements in,. attempt to take Lucca, directly ':-of Livergnano, antd advances slowly along. Hwy 65 in face of heavy 6enmy *iM, and ShA fire. Extensive arty, cannon, and mo-rtar ire.s are laid on draws and gullies in immlediate line of.! advance, and fighter bombers pound gun emplacements,- wooded areas, and bivouacs on M1.Belmontc. '"lrtificial moonlight" furnished by searchlights in Corps real.r near .i.onghidoro aids alvance of troops during clark and cloudy night. n.zone of 1st armd Div, 135th Inf 'rAots heavy resistance 1 mi. W of Hwy 65, INE of M.onterurici.

Arnly Troops No progress made along 6th SA Aimd Div .front excQpt on R flank where'forward units .of 24th Guards Brig are approaching Rioveggio, about 22 mi. beyond Pian di Setta; 12th SA iMtzd and 11th SA irrmd Brigs consolidate gains made in area SW and prepare for attack on Mi. Salvaro, 2 mi. N of Grizzana.

IV Corps Torrential rain delays operations. Brazilian patrols under intense MG and imortar fire. in TF 92 zone, troops of 2d Arrmd Group repulse 30--man ene.my counterattack with arty and SA fire.

Weather continues to restrict operations. Despite weather, however, 36 A-20s and 518 fighters and fighter bombers success- fully concentrate on troop concentrations, strongpoints, and communications in and N of battle area, striking RR lines, roads, and bridges as well as bivouac areas, gun positions, supply dumps, and barges. SeveraI ;'~l - ;a't a ' storage tank of S Lussino I. in crg a Yh/ i 4 Beaufighters. During nirght, 16 A-29s| and 4 g | ... *i ..ia. _a.-** 1r\ n rJ^ 40UU0 W W. I~,~,'

Oct Section IV: .MEDITEPRRaiEAN THEATER 1944

16 operating against communications in Po Valley, cause explosion Cont at Ravenna and destroy and damage MT.

Yugoelavia

Germans, Yugoslavs, and Russians report street fighting in Belgrade;.detcrmined house-to-house resistance being put up by- eneriye Moscoyw claims capture of 1,500 Germans in suburbs. .Fall of Nis, important rail center on the Liorava R., announced by Soviets and Yugoslavs, just 2 dclays after Sofia announces it; farther' S in the Morava R. Valley, Allied troops -have reportedly taken Leskovac (claimed by Bulgars on 11 Oct.), Lebano, Grdelica, and Vranje. Enemy loss of control of Morava R. Valley threatons his entire line of coemunications and.cuts off convenient escape routes. Elements of German 1st Mtn and Prinz -Eugen Divs reportedly move W ;through Nis. In Bregalnica R. Valley of SE Serbia, Partisans claim capture of Pehcavo. Sofia reports fall of Prokuplje, S\J of Nis. Yugoslavs claim. capture of Tomislavgrad, SE of Livno in S Bosnia, .except for single fortified buildling. On Dalmatian coast, Germans wvithdrawing from Dubrovnik. Sdccessful actions against rolling stock in Croatia and Slovenia claimed. In sweeps over Yugoslavia, 4 Spitfires harass enemy communications. Installations at Podgorica, N of Lake. Scutari in Montenegro, effectively, hit .by 8 A-30s. Through- out day total of 82 fighters and fighter bombers attacks shipping, transport, and 2 gun positions along coast, as well as enemy hq at Tomislavgrad, Bosnia. During night 51 Wellingtons, 20. B-24s, and 6 Halifaxes unload 201 tons of bombs on Zagreb RR yards with' good concentra- tion, causing violent explosions and large fires. Bulgarian AF reported active against communications near Kunanovo.

Albania

Strong enemy pressure from Struga has forced Partisans out of positions in Qafe Thanes area gained on 10th. Hostile column ambushed on Yannina (Greece)-Korca road.

Greece and Aegean

hAdvance seaborne elements of British III Corps land at ~ -[ ,:.u. Shd~opff , Brig, 23d Armd Brig used as f ad sreem.ta co)..mand of Lt. Gon. R.. .iM. nOt,See'nqnr-.i ni T~ 1944 ......

Scobie; all British forces in Greece under cormmand of III Corps whose chief mission is to maintain ordcer. Remainder of British 2d para Brig flown to lMegara. Allied coastal force lands troops on Lemnos I. at dawn; landings made at Kastron, on W coast. Volos area again hit as 8 Venturas attack jetties- and 0 1, 00-ton.vessel in harbor with good results.' Operating against Crete, 3 Beaufighters score hits on,runwayT at ,1alelile airfield, while 4 .Spitfires probably hit anmmunition Cump SE of Vamos (E of 'al*.)ie) . In N Sporades, HLS AL-rg~onaut and HHiS Termagant sink vessel carryin-, 200 enemy and Siebel ferry, respectively.

17 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARI.lY

I Canadian Corps In coastal area enemy is mithdrawing beyond. Pisciatello R. as Corps troops push forward on broad front. Patrols of Cumberland Force reach position 1 .ri». N of So..Angelo; heavy mortaring occurs duri-ng morning, followed by light. shelling. Fourth NZ ArTid Brig .comes into..action on, R flank ..of 2d NZ Div and moves line .tb .miithin 500 yds. of. Pisciatello R. in area. about 12 mi. N of Bulgarno; .5th NZ Brig overcomas. oznemy resistance in advance on Ruffio (l½rmi. N -of Bulgarno), taking tovin and gaining S bank of river. In 1st Cdn Div sector, 2d C.dn Brig. moves. in on. R of 1st -Brig and progress continues..on 2-.rig.. front with leadin .troops at river 1V of. Ruffio in contact with on -ay-. 1ist Brig patrols probe across river ,but are orc.re. to iithdraw because of, heavy shelling.

V Corps iAfter gaining . Rormano, arnd cmano ricdge 139th Brig of 46th Div repels counterattack in that area; particularly fierce fighting takes place through- out,day; Brig captures at least .70 prisoners. Tenth Ind Div advances its line as 25th Brig secures objective /iHontereale and is now advancing N to outskirts of Acquarola against little resistance; patrols of 43d Brig report Roversano, just. ; of Mlonter.eale on E si de of Savio HR., still held by enemy; about 3 rmi. upstreamt, 20th lndC Brig patrols contact Gor.la_ans in arca I\ I .of Borello (town at confluence of Borello ancL Savio rivers).

. F\0MjA-9 ; 202

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRAiNEAN THEiTER 1944

17 II Polish Corps In area about 6 mi. N of Sarsina, R Cont flank troops make some progress ,as 18th Brig of 1st Br Armd Div occupies Tombetta and M. di Vecchiano i'hich was shelled by enemy during morning; enemy has with- drawn from Linaro'on Borello R, in same general area. In center sector, Elbo Force reaches Ranchio and ridges running W and N'W. Meanwhile on .L flank -Wiheeler Force elements directed against Kr. della Faggia, mountain ovcerlooking Borello R., gain S slopes of objectivoe.

U.S. FIFTH R~MY

XIII Corps On R1in 6th Br Armd Div area, 26th Armd Brig, assumes cormmsand of 61st Brig sector, while latter Brig is tc take over responsibility for 38th Brig, 78th Div, sector in 11. Cappello area N of Castel del Rio; shelling and mortaring are considerably reduced a4long Corps' R flank. S of Route 6521, elements of 17th Brig of 8th Ind Div secure. I. Casalino after bitter struggle; 21st Brig launches' attack on Pt. 768, about 1"mi. E.o' H. Pianaccino' gaining little ground ..because of very heavy resistance. First Br Div makes local advances in vicinity of M. CeCo, boginnihg attack at 1830 and seizing 2 hill positions despite harassing fire. Units of 78th Br Div continue relief of 351st Regt of 88th Div and consolidate holdings on Gesso ridge.

II Corps RCT 349 of 88th Div clears and occupis 'S. Clemente on Castel S. Pietro-Firexnzuola road and garrisons hill N of S. Clemente. Continuing advance NE, 85th Div captures two hills 2 mi. NW of S. Clemente. Farther W, elements of 338th Inf capture, Vagtie and Rocca hills N of !Uohntcronzio,' hile other elements push forward along the Idice R., taking a number of hills. M. della Vigna, NE of Tazzola, and ridge to the SE are occupied by 168th Inf, 34th Div. Follovwing intensive air bombardment, .133d Inf reaches M, Belmonte, SE of Pianoro, only to withdraw before enemy counterattack supportcd by tanks. ucud delays bringing up of AT guns and TDs to aid 363d Inf, 91st Div,, %hich remains under heavy enemy pressure. Attack on Lucca by 362d Inf continues, despito heavy cnenmy SA, mortar, and arty fire, and direct fire from enemy tanks, until town is entered at 1400. Ener.v is o by arty fire in order Hwy 65. Units of 361st a 203

Oct Section IV: lEDITERPLNE&I 1944

17 and 362d Rogts consolidate positions and prepare for Cont possible counterattack by enemy armd elements down Hwy 65. On Corps L flank, local enemy counterattacks on Hills 403 and 427 SE of Vado are supported by heavy mortar and 20-_mm guns firing from W bank of Setta R. and from vicinity of Vado.

Arrmy Troops Continuing advance on R flank of 6th SA Armd Div, eloments of 24th Guards Brig are now 1 hi. beyond Rioveggio. Heavy shelling received in vicinity of Grizzana where bitter fighting is in progress by units -of 12tk SA 17tzd Brig. No change. occurs in CCB sector.

IV Corps Heavy rains continue. Elements of 107th Ak" Group and BEF continue patrolling, receiving somc arty and MG fire. During night 17/18, patrols of 370th RCT attack up slopes of Mvi.Cauala, reaching crest vjhoro they await reinforcements.

Eighth Army front receives excellent support fro-m total of 329 fighters and fighter bombers which attack gun positions, strongpoints, roads, and RR junction, cut 6 RRs, damage 2 and possibly 3 bridges, and block tunnel. Porto Garibaldi is bombed by single Wellington; large explosion results. Con- tinuing bad weather cancels medium bomber operations ancd restricts others. Four .Beaufighjters. damage 2 schooners, 2 caiques, and a barge in N Adriatic. Two h-20s make night attack.on MT in area E of Bologna, while 6 fighters patrol battle area.

Yugoslavia

Street fighting -continues in Belgrade, with Red 4a-rmy and Partisan I and XII Corps troops making steady gains. against continued stubborn resistance; city reported strongly fortified; 2 German Divs, (st litn and 117th Grenadier) 'claimed surrounded SE of the city. Jieos.cow announces capture of Prokuplje (reported by Bulgars yesterday) and ,iedvodjpa, iTof the DIorava and ST of Nis, by Bulgarians in cooperation wvith : Soviets and .Yuoslavs;, Bulgars claim capture of Kursumllija, SWgof ProkupljG, and Cdrevo Selo, on the Bregalnica R. near Bulgarian frontier. Yugoslavs report hiavy firghting in Kragu.jvac (SW of Lapova), Cacak (SW of Kragujevac), and Aumanovo-Stracin (N'f of Skcplje enemy strongpoint (Zavala) on I

r .. 204

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEN THEATER 1944

17 -attacks against communications in-Croatia and Slovenia, Cont Attacking targets in Hercegovina or along Dalmatian coast, 9 Venturas strike Ston, virtually destroying it, while 12 A-30s cause considerable damage-to Mostar RR station; 9 additional Venturas make poor attack on lMotkovic RR yards. Communications and military objectives throughout Yugoslavia hit by 25 fighters; oil tanks at Vitez (38 mi. NW of Sarajevo) destroyed, suspected enemy hq at Oslje (24 mi. NW of Dubrovnik) hit, almmunition dump set on fire, and numerous MT destroyed and damaged. RR yards in-N Yugoslavia are targets for heavy bombers: Vincovci yards in Slavonia receive 235*75 tons of-bombs during night from 53 WTellingtons and 21 B-24s which attack with good results; 16 B-24s drop 29 tons on /.Maribor bridge with good coverage, while 13 additional B-24s unload 32 tons on RR targets at Maribor with possible hits.

Albania

British 2d Commandos and Hq of 2d SS Brig leave S Albania for Brindisi, Italy; British 40th Commandos, detachments of Raiding Support Regt, and battery of lth Field Regt left in Sarande area. In coastal areas of Fier and Lushnjo, SW of Elbasan, Partisans said to be heavily engaging enemy. Germans shell Berat to cover withdrawal operations.

Greece and Aegean

In Macedonia, Germans systematically withdrawing troops and equipment from Salonika; with transferrencee of air trans- port and large amount of shipping to Salonika, situation of Aegean islands garrisons becoming critical. Third Corps reports Lamia, strategic point on athens-Salonika RR, evacuated by enemy. To the S, Amphiklia, NE of mraphissa, also reported clear. Evacuation of Thebes by hostile forces confirmed by patrol of British 2d Para Brig. At dawn troops from British DDs, Terpsichorc and Cleveland, make unopposed landing at Scarpanto I. in the Dodecanese. Allied troops on Lecmos I. capture Moudhros. In N Aegean 8 Beaufighters. continue attacks on shipping in Gulf of Salon\ki ' 8 er planes resume strikes. 205

Oct Section I 1944

l . Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH iARMY

I Canadian Corps In face of fierce opposition Corps troops make some gains although ground conditions make cross-country going difficult. On R, eneimy counter- attack in area 2 mi. NE of Bulgarno forces troops of Cumberland Force to withdraw. In New Zealand sectcr, 6th Brig relieves 5th Brig and strengthens positions S ..of Pisciatcllo R. in preparation for attack across : river which begins at 2300. Second Brig of 1st CmIn Div ,estab-Lishes salient over river in area 2 mi. NW of .Bulgaria in face of heavy opposition, while lst Brig 'makes :small advance along .Route 9.to. within l mri. of .Cesena, severe sheliling occurs in forward areas during ,morning. '.

V Corps In 46,th Div sector, R flank of 139th Brig',ains spur on ,opmano' ridge' after -stiff fig-ht; at 0945 leading units of J39th Brig launch attack on Celincordia' (1l .mi.. S of: Cosena-)with. tanks ,in support and clc,,r town by 1930 doespite bitter opposition; 45 prisoners.,taken. :Twelfth prig of 4th Br Div begins relief of' 13,.tbhBrig' of 46th -Div in vicinity of Saiano, E of Acquarbla... In Savio R. area S of Cesena, R flank elements -of 1Oth" Ind Div (25th Ind Brig) capture Acquarola; farther upstream 20th Ind Brig gains ground across river in area. of. Bacciolino.

II Polish Corps Eighteenth Brig of 1st Br ~rrid Div draws heavy enemy MG-and mortar fire wj,.ith. feint attack toward. Linaro. Polish troops fight for possession of 1I. della Faggia, securing W slopes. At 1800,5th .Wilna Brig of 5th Kros Div attacks N7 directed against Galeata on S. Sofia--Locca road but is halted by bitter oppo- sition 12 mi. from objective. Later at night small force reaches town but is forced to withdraw because of strong enemy positions there.

U.S. FIFTH IRMY .

XIII Corps On R flank of Corps, ..26th idrm, Bri Gro - assumes cormmand of 6th Br rtsi vlz ire icr continue active. In 8th I d ivnzone, 1 206 uNCLAS IFIED

Oct Section IV: .EDITERRiNEAN THEATER 1944

18 unsuccessful attempts, elements of 21st Brig reach Pts. Cont 711 and 768 where bitter fighting is now. in progress. On L of 21st Brig, units of 1st Br Div, supporting attack of 21st Brig, continue steady pressure against enemy in area N of LM. Ceco. At 2015, 6th Br .ArmidDiv (composed, of 1st Guards and 61st Brigs) assumes comm-and of sector between 1st Br and 78th Divs; 61st Brig of 6th Br Arrnd Div relieves 38th Brig of 78th Div. on lM. Cappello.

II Corps Only slight advances possible on ;Gorps R flank. Eighty-eighth Div forces now under direct. observation of the enemy as they approach objectives of Li.. Grande arid M. Cerere, N of S. Clemente, with- 350th Inf. on /iM. Grande-Li. Cuccoli ridge. after repeated -.assaults, Hill 590, below l. Fano, falls to 339th Inf, 85th; Div, which also repulses counterattack in vicinity of Castolvecchio hill to the NE, -dvance of 338th Inf on Hi. Fano from the SW' ontinues. No appreciable gains. made by 133d- Inf, 34th Div, in night attack (18/19) against Di. Belmonte and defended -castle above village of Zena,- Elements of 363dc Inf, 91st Div, consolidate positions in vicinity of lateral road between Zena and Zula, since Mi. Be-lmonte hAs not yet been secured by 34th Div troops. At 0530, 362d Inf attacks along Hwy 65 but cannot move beyond just SIT of Canovetta, 2 mi. N of Livergnano, because of in- tense enemy resistance. Lapinia, village NE of Lionte- rumici, is occupied by 135th Inf, attached to 1st Armd Div, but gains in this sector are slight, as enemy re- sistance remains strong.

IrnXy Troops On R flank of 6th Si Armd Div, 24th Guards Brig reports patrol clash 2 mi. NE of Rioveggio. Despite fierce struggle, RNC of 12th SA ,Itzd Brig captures Mi. Pezza, approximately 1 mi. N of Grizzana.

IV Corps Light arty fire received along front lines in 107th 1A Group zone. again heavy MG fire forces patrols of 370th Re;,t to withdraw from peak of Li. Cauala to S slopes. Forward positions of 2d armd Group shelled spasmodically during morning and afternoon.

Despite weather 263 fighters and fighter bombers.attack e area with fair results; troyed; direct hits 207

Oct Section IV: 1944

18 scored on Modena RR center; RRs and roads cut in several Cont places. Twenty-eight medium bombers score hits on S RR bridge at Padua, cutting tracks to W and S. Three small MXVs in area NE of Rimini attacked by 2 Wellingtons; additional Wellington bombs 'Chioggia (15 mi. S of yenice); 2 Beaufighters score hits on 2 schooners at Marano along N Adriatic coast. During night 11 A-20s drop 12 tons of bombs on LiT and roads in Genoa-Bologna area, causing fires and explosions. USS Eberle (DD) damages SP gun and house in Vontimiglia sector; enemy battery returns fire. Off Rapallo, Allied coastal force intercepts enemy coaster and 2 escorts; PT damaged in this cngagement.

Yugoslavia

Russians and Yug"oslavs continue bitter strect-to-street fighting in Belgrade and report successful actions against the 2 encircled divs SE of the city. In Serbia, fighting continues in Kragujevac-Cacak area and near Stracin (E of Kumanovo) and near Carevo Selo; Moscow confirms capture of Kursumlija by Bulgars and adds that Blace, to, the N, is also secured by Bulgarians. Yugoslav and Albanian forces reportedly take Dakovica, SE Mi/ontenegro, and cut communication line between Prizron and Pec. In NE Bosnia, Partisans clai. capture of Gradacac. Eight towns along S Dalmatian coast, among them Cavtat and Gruda, reported occupied by Partisans; comrmunications lines as far as the Neretva R. cut. Enemy communications, particularly in Slovenia area, further harassed. Spitfires attack RR targets in Bihac area, bomb possible ammunition dump near Imotski, Dalmatia, and destroy LiT in same general area. Vincovci RR yards again attacked as 38 P-38s achieve excellent results with 19 tons of boribs. Albania

Partisans shell military targets in Tirana. Several troop carrying vehicles near Lushnje (25 rii. SV of Elbasan) destroyed by 6 Spitfires. Hurricanes and Spitfires attack IMT in Elbasan-Milik area.

Greece and Aegean

Germans withdrawing to Greek :5r'viia K.anhit"' and ',I ? : Florina. lMetsovon and Trikkala ini' sli>thAnLylW '14w: " ''o 208 X_

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

Euboea reported abandoned by enemy. Continued ideal weather during past few days has permitted rapid unloading at Piraeus., Greek Cabinet arrives at Piraeus and proceeds to-Athens. Patras, Preveza, and now open for relief shipping. At Lemnos I., enemy garrison surrenders and EAM takes over administration; during Allied occupation of this island, enemy attempts to' escape in 8 or 9 caiques, a Siebel ferry, and an E-boat; 4 of the caiques driven ashore, another fired.; and heavy casualties inflicted on enemy; E-boat and Siebel.' ferry return'to fire on shore positions for 22 hours before retiring. N of Crete, Santorin () garrison surrenders to British cruiser Ajax. 'Withdrawal of 90 Germans. from ;: I. reported; airdrome claimed free of enemy and undefended.. Despite adverse weather, 8 Beaufighters make shipping strikes on convoy in Salonika Bay, hitting approximately 10. vessels. Carrier planes again attack enemy RR transport in Volos area. HNS Argonaut sinks large landing craft near Lemnos I.

19 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps Moderate shelling and mortaring occurs on Cumberland front; no contact'made with enemy except on extreme R; to L patrols move up to Pi$ciatello R. At 1200,3d'Greek Mtn Brig passes to Army command. Second NZ Div makes substantial gains N: during early morning 6th NZ Brig enlarges Pisciatello bridgeheads in area 4 mi. ENE. of Cesena~ allowing 4th NZ Armd Brig to pass through Ln its rapid advance N. Canadian and British troops close in on Cesena: in 1st Cdn Div sector, 2d Brig takes S. Egidio (1 mi. NE of Cesena) without opposition; 3d Brig (which relieved Ist Brig on E bank of river) -reaches outskirts of city. V Corps During morning elements of 139th Brig of 46th Div also make rapid strides toward Cesena, establishing positions at Madna del Monte (S of Cesena) after by-passing resistance SW; by afternoon leading units with tank support push into city to seize bridge over Savio R., encountering scattered resistance. Fourth Div relieves 46th Div as 12th Brig takes over command of 139th Brig. Farther S, in higher ground area, 25th Brig of 10th Ind Div occupies Pt. 157, 1 mi. NW of M. Romano, while 20th Brig, strengthens bridgeheads eained t 8 mi. S of Cesena. :,Q20

Ott L Cl t: _. TT uu L ection IV.: ,iVLi),'IT lgIEAhi I'iguATER 1944

19 II Polish Corps First Br Armd Div activity limited to Cont patrolling. Polish troops make substantial gains on Corps L flank: elements of 5th Brig of 5th Kres Div capture Collino, 2 mi. NV' of M. della Faggia, and 1ii. Sambucheto just to E; 5½mi. farther W, other 'units secure M. Altaccio against severe resistance and strong arty and mortar fire; Galeata falls without opposition, although Germans unsuccessfully counterattack in after- noon.

U.S.. FIFTH ARMiff

XIII Corps No advance made along Route 67; 26th Armd Brig Group maintains positions in.hills S of Portico 'which tovn is still held by enemy. Edging sloTly, for- ward against considerable enemy shelling, 21st Brig "of 8th Ind Div gains Pt. 778, just beyond Pt. 768. Sixty- sixth Brig of 1st Br Div improves positions in area W and N of 1Mi.Ceco. Seventy-eight Div, with 36th Brig on R and 38th Brig on L, launches attack toward M.1 dell'Acqua Salata and M.l Spaduro, about 6 mi. NE and N of Castel del Rio, respectively; 36th Brig makes no progress, while 38th Brig struggles up W slopes of M. Spaduro against stiff opposition.

II Corps Elements of 351st Inf, relieving units of 349th Inf, 88th Div, continue defense of S. Clemente on the Sillaro valley hwy. M. Grande is bombed and strafed every 15 minutes for 4 hrs., then subjected to arty- pounding for 1 hr.,. in preparation for advance of 349th .and 350th Regts -which make good progress during night, 349th Inf capturing M. Cerere without firing a shot. Attack to MN is launched from Gastelvecchio area by 339th Inf, 85th .Div, to assist 350th: Inf, 88th Div, in assault on E,. Cuccoli and M. Grande. Heavy counter- attacks-repulsed by 338th Inf on S slopes of Mi. Fano. Thirty-fourth Div meets very strong resistance in night attack (18/19) to *NE. N. of Livergnano, '362d Inf of91lst Div attacks to; better positions along.'Hwoy 65.. First Armd Div, on Corps: L flank, is ordered to consolidate' and defend al ng line of leading elements.

Army Troops Activity.limited to patrolling along Setta Valley on R flank of South African troons. FTarIh-' LtJ elements of 12th SA I' MI 210 'I itil~

Oct Section IV:; .. DITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

19 Salvaro, reaching Pt. 806 (800 yds. from crest of mountain) Cont by 0740,where they 'are halted by stiff resistance from units of 94th Grenadier Div as well as heavy.arty 'and mortar fire. CCB troops are delayed by mines and de- molitions. .

;IV Corps Routine patrolling continues without enemy * contact along 107th AAA Group front, Intermittent, medium, and light enemy arty falls in TF 92 sector.'

Total of 620 fighters and fighter bombers and 12A-20s'" concentrates on battle area targets and objectives N of front, cutting RR;lines':and destroying or damaging sevaral bridges and numerous MT; particular emphasis is pdt'6n Iv;.Grande area in II Corps sector; 8 additional A-30s, operating against transport in combat area, cause large explosion and.fire in road near Faenza. IMT in Modena-Piacenza-Milan sector attacked at night by 9 A-20s, while 11 Beaufighters destroy 4 r4Tin central Po Valley.. With good to excellent results 199 B-25s andB-26s. strike bridges in E Po Valley and 2 road and RR' bridges-W of Lilan; 2 of 10-15 enemy planes encountered N of Mantova are destroyed, 3 probably, and another dcalged.. This is first real enemy air opposition to medium bombers in N Italy since Aug. Single Wellington attacks Chioggia with unobserved results.

Yugoslavia

Soviets and Yugoslavs have reportedly reached N portion of Belgrade where.remnants of enemy garrison are resisting strongly;:encircled force SE of the city reported split, and the separate groups are being systematically annihilated. Bad weather virtually cancels air activity. Single Wellihgton bombs vessel S of Dubrovnik with unobserved results.

Albania Germans reported destroying all stores except ammunition and petrol at Tirana and withdrawing at night by sea SlJ of Durazzo; 18 trucks loaded with enemy wounded reportedly pass through Scutari on way to Tirana. Partisans harassing trans- port on Tirana-Scutari road and are said to have destroyed or captured 200 drums of petrol at former.

, , ,:,;1, , UI "i 211

IST.:J , i- .. ',~ :':~J·i;, ,,Ž",3

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEA=TE 1944

Greece and Aegean'

Reports indicate that Volos, on E coast NE of Lamia, is now free of enemy and that hostile forces before withdrawling demolished various installations and destroyed 6 vessels in harbor. I., SE of Volos, also' reported clear. During night enemy reportedly withdraws 900 men and stores from Crete by air. In sweeps over Greece, 8 P-51s attack eney-a cori.unications with considerable success. HMS Termagant and HMS Tuscan, operating on W side of entrance of Gulf of Salonika at night, drive enemy DD (Solfer-ino) ashore and destroy it,

20 Italy.

BRITISH 'EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian' Corps Excellent gains of 2-4 nmi. made along Corps front; enemn -withdraws to marshes beyond Cesenatico and to Savio R.. In coastal area elements of Cumberland Force occupy Cesehaticb,. 13 mi. INV of Rimini, and are now directed,against Cervia farther" N on coast. Corps troops are now on line running from Cesenatico .duc W to Savio R. and thence' S to Cesena. In New Zealand sector, 6th NZ Brig moves forward to consolidate ground gained by 4th Armd Brig as it rapidly advances to positions 4 mi. N of Cesena, taking approximately 130 prisoners. Elements of 1st Cdn Div reach Savio R. N of Cesena; meanwhile 3d Brig enters city from N, 'meeting no re- sistance; patrols report Germans holding W'Ibank of river 'in strength.

V Corps Fight for Cesena continues: during early hours 12th Brig of 4th Div establishes 1,000-yd. bridgehead over river in S outskirts of city; all resistance E of river in town is' cleared; heavy shelling at night hampers operations. Farther up river, 25th Ind Bri, of 10th Ind Div contacts enemy at S. Carlo, about 4 mi. S of Cesena, while 20th Ind Brig crosses Savio R. to area just S of confluence with Borello R.

II Polish Corps Both R and L flanks continue advance N. In high ground area N of Borello R., 8 mi. duo N of Sarsin-a, advance units ofCstSI-* B.Arpi.d .. ^ ! "ivcp ^-"'.. ?. ea 212 UNCLASSIFIED

Oct SectiLon IV; MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

20 and Terra Bianca. L flank attack progresses well despite Cont 5 blown bridges on S. Sofia-Galeata road.. Fifth '.inska Brig of 5th Kres Div occupies (E of Galeata) and advances 1 mi. farther NE along main road'; other troops advancing N toward M. Grosso from Civitella di Romagna are now just S of objective.

U.S. FIFTH ARLff

XIII Corps In 8th Ind Div sector, Germans counterattack troops of 17th Brig, forcing them from M.. Casalino, 1 mi. E of M. Cavallara; ,21st Brig continues fighting. in area E of iU. Pianaccino and secures important height after heavy struggle. Slight advance made on both sides of Senio-Valley as 1st Br Div gains hill position E of M. Ceco and maintains pressure on Pt. 604, 2 mi. MU of. Baffadi. Combat patrols remain active throughout 6th ' Br Armd Div zone. Nazis fight bitterly in 78th Br Div sector: .attacking M. dell'Acqua Salata, 36th Brig. on- counters very fierce resistance from German 334th Div but establishes 2 cos there; elements' of' 38th Brige which reached M. Spaduro yesterday are driven off by strong counterattack, . .

II Corps Follovwing concentrated air and arty effort of preceding afternoon, 349th Inf, 88th Div, quickly captures M. Grande hill mass, about 2 mi. N of S. Clemente, conmmanding N approaches to the Apennines, and -350th Inf captures M. Cuccoli, to the W. Elements of 337th Inf, 85th Div, move forward to the NE to relieve bn of 350th Inf in area W of Farneto. M. Fano, 2 mi. W of Farneto, is occupied by 338th-Inf against moderate resistance and local advances are made.. In view: of possible counterattack, another air and arty blitz is aimed at points N and NE of M. Grande. Enemy resistance continues extremely strong in 91st Div sector. Stiff fire fight for Castel di Zena, isolated enemy pocket of resistance S of Mi, Belmonte, occurs in 133d Inf, 34th Div, area.

Army Troops Elements of 24th Guards Brig (6th SA Armd Div) make slight gain N of Veggio but are held up by UAcino to N; 12th alvaroe capturing btacks. 213

Oct Section IV: 1944

20 IV Corps Directed against Lama hill mass, R wing of 6th Cont CT, BEF, >makes slight gain, establishing unit at Soimmoco- lonia, about 2 mi. N of Barga; in area to S, enermy shells Fornaci bridge and town of Bolognana. In TF 92 zone, troops of 370th RCT continue struggle for M, Cauala: some elements win crest and positions near top, while others are pinned down by heavy flanking IMG fire; later reinforcements arrive to strengthen positions on summit of mountain. Light arty and mortar fire falls in rear areas of TF 92.

Tactical AF maintains support of ground troops: 563 fighters and fighter bombers continue operations against military targets in and N of battle area; between Bologna and Cesena, gun positions, strongpoints, 'RR lines, supply dumps, and slit trenches are well hit; in addition, numerous buildings and 36 MT destroyed; hits or near misses occur on 13 bridges and 6 roads; 2 RR stations damaged and fire started at Castel San Piotro on R flank of Fifth Army. Force of 283' B-25s and B-26s drops 513 tons of bombs on objectives in N ' Italy, particularly bridges in Po Valley; successful hits occur on bridges at Boara Pisani, Palazzola, Chiogjgid, Monte- bello, Dolce (N of Verona), Padova, Lonate Palazzola, and Galliatc, causeway. at Mantova,and stores depot at Imoa. Industrial targets in'Mvilan area harmnered by heavy boimbers: 35 B-24s drop 85.5 tons of bombs on 1Milan/Breda arms works with fair results; 32 B-24s hit IHilan/Isotta-Fraechini works: with 59.75 tons, while Milan/Alfa'Romeo corks offectively attacked by 29 B-24s which drop 62.25 tons. San Bonedetto pontoon bridge is night target for 15 !Yellingtons; 25.5 tons dropped with fair results. Two Wellingtons again attack Chioggia and also hit 5 barges in Gulf of Venice. During night 10 A-20s attack MT in E Po Valley, causing large ex- plosion; same night a Beaufighter and a Wellington, operating off Ancona, attack 3 E-boats, possibly damaging 1. French DD Forbin engages shore batteries off San Reomo, silencing 1 and hitting ammunition dump; US DD Eberle also engages shore targets in this area. S of Genoa, Allied coastal'forces attack 3 largo, heavily-armed vessels but are driven off.

Yugoslavia

Belgrade falls to troops, of 3d Ukraine front and I and XII Corps of Yugoslav Nat announces; enemy suffers I 214.

Oct Section IV: IMEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

Hostile troops cut off SE of the city (reported to number about 12,000) eliminated. S and SW of Subotica in Voyvodina, Russians announce capture of Bajmok, Bac Topola, Novi Vrbas, and , as well as a number of other towns. S of Belgrade in Serbia, Kragujevac garrison being reduced by Yugoslav and Russian troops; enemy efforts to reinforce garrison and garrison's attempts to break out are unsuccessful. Strong column of Div claimed destroyed by Yugoslavs and Bulgars 'assisted by Soviet planes in vicinity of Kurstuilija, SE..f. *Kragujevac. Yugoslavs announce capture of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), important Dalmatian port; Ston, last eoney. foot- hold in Peljesac Peninsula, also said to be'held by Partisans. Single Wellington patrolling Dalmatian' coast effectively bombs Bar.' Enomy communications at Metkovic and Hutovo to' SE are attacked by 18 Ventur'as and.A-30s with mostly unobserved results;. Eight Beaufighters severely damage Geran military school for.-police at Bjelovar, E of Zagreb in Croatia;. mean- while 8 additional Beaufighters set'fire to vessel at Alexandrovo. Eight P-51s attack transport and destroy 1l enemy plane in N Yugoslavia. Grabovac, just E of Split, well hit by 4 Spitb6obers.

Greece and Aegean

In Thessaly, Kalabaka, NI of Trikkala, reported clear; enemy escaping northward via Grevena and Kozani. South coast of Khalkidike Peninsula, Macedonia, now believed free of hostile forces. Reports indicate Thebes now occupied by British advanced elements. Kos I. in Dodecanese group bombed by carrier planes. Five A-30s attack Calato airfield, Rhodes, with bursts seen on N end of runway.

21 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH-ARMY

I Canadian Corps Considerable progress made along entire front although enemy. still holds ground S of Savio R. in Cumberland Force zone. On R flank, patrols of Cumberland Force push N and are now on outskirts of Cervia; approxim- ately 5 mi. WI, other elements engage and overcome enemy in Pisignano area. Fourth Armd Brig of 2d NZ Div resumes moderate advance N alon-g E bank of Savio R.., reaching positions 5 mi, N of Cesena in spite~ of mines and de-

U ti C b>.a Ak Fr L5

Oct Section IV: ±-Ly44

21 molitions. Far side of Savio R. gained as 2d Brig of Cont 1st Cdn Div attacks at 2000 and establishes small bridg/head 2 mi. N of Cesena despite extensive -minefields.'

V Corps In 4th Div zone, 3 bns of 12th Brig with sq- of tanks cross Savio R. in W section of Cesena against stiff opposition. Substantial gains made across upper Savio R. in 10th Ind Div sector: 25th Ind Brig occupies S. Carlo and Castiglione (both W of Roversano), while to S'Ti20th Ind Brig secures Luzzena, Venzi (SW of Luzzona), and Bora'.

II Polish Corps Important gains made in Corps sector: on R flank, 18th Brig of 1st Armd Div advances to area N of Linaro; farther-WV, 5th Brig of 5th Kres Div takes M. della Forche and Strada S. Zeno,, both N of Galeata, and secures M. Grosso after considerable opposition, bridge over Rabbi R. just W of Strada S. Zcno is reported- blown.

U.S. FIFTH ARMif

XIII Corps Elements of 21st Brig of 8th Ind Div begin drive toward Mi. Romano under heavy shelling and mortaring, Baffadi, on Sonio R., is found clear by patrols of 2d Brig of 1st Br Div. Farther N, elements of 6th Br Armd Div advance to high ground positions on E side of Santerno R. in area 2 mi. DNE of Castel del Rio; considerable enemy shelling occurs along this front. Thirty-sixth'' Brig of 78th Br Div improves positions on M. delltAcqua Salata, preparing for attack N, while 38th Brig is just short of cneoiyf defenses on Mi. Spaduro, facing severe.;' opposition.

II Corps Eighty-eighth and 85th Divs consolidate *in their sectors in E of Corps zone, following capture of Farneto by 350th Inf. In center of zone, 133d Inf, 34th Div, captures Castel di Zena. Enemy counterattack re- pulsed SW of Pianoro in 91st Div sector. All along Corps front enemy holds firmly and opposes with all types of fire.

Army Troops Bitter fighting continues in 6th SA Armd Div sector: at 1600 uni tsof 24th Guards Brig begin attack for I1.Alcino, sr.#[ 216

Oct Section IV: IEDITERRaNMEN THEATER 1944

21 along S slopes and gaining summit later in day; units Cont of llth SA Armd Brig relieve 12th SA Ivitzd'-Brig in fight for E. Salvaro.

IV Corps Activity of 107th AAi. Group characterized by patrolling with some arty fire near Cutigliano. In effort to protect flank of troops established on ,H. Cauala, unit of 370th RCT moves to E slopes of mountain, while another unit advances N to occupy Strettoia, farther I. Considerable light and medium arty falls in 2d Armd Group sector.

.'Continuing attacks against enemy communicati0ns, 573 fighters and fighter bombers concentrate in Cesena-Forli area and along Verona-Udine RR lines; many direct hits ..scored on guns and troop concentrations near Cesena and buildings in- Bologna area; road bridges near Cesena, Bologna, and Rovigno hit and 8 RR 6cuts effected; 28 locomotives destroyed on Verona-Udine line; other RR and shipping targets damaged. Despite adverse weather 36 B-26s attack Nervesa-RRlbridge and causeway with 72 tons of bombs; results unknown because of weather*. Objectives hit in N Adriatic: 150-ft. escort vessel off Galvoro Pt. (Gulf of Venice) and schooner S of Umago destroyed; single Wellington bombs Rovigno with un- observed results. During night enemy midget submarines fire 8 torpedoes at US PTs off San Remro with no damage. Continuing to harass shipping between Genoa and Spezia, Allied coastal forces intercept' convoy of F-lighters at night, sinking 1.

Yugoslavia

Moscow announces capture of Telecka, St. Sivac, and Crvenka, Saf of Subotica in Voyvodina; S ofLBelgrade in Serbia, Soviets and Yugoslavs reportedly take Kragujevac and Jagodina and fan out W of Kragujevac to seize a number of towns, including Gorni IMilanovac. Partisans frustrate enemy attempts to-break out westward from Cacak on W Morava R, (Serbia) and from Pec to Lim R. valley in Miontenegro; Plav and Gusinje, S Miontenegro, claimed by Yugoslavs, as well as 2 strongpoints near Lake 'Scutari and'the Montenegrin coast; force of 1,000 Germans said-to, have, arrived at Podgorica, N of Lake Scutari in 1Montenegro. On Dalmatian coast, coastal forces land Allied rcn party at Gruz, just N of Dubrovnik; harbor facilities found to be only slightly damaged; clearance

1XL.. {! - . n ._ 217

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

of harbor is subsequently started; Omis, on coast SE of Split, said to be in Partisan hands. Enemy columns and cormmunications lines in Croatia and Slovenia again harassed by Yugoslavs. Objectives along Dalmatian coast hit by Allied planes: 9 A-30s and 9 Venturas bomb Mostar and attack Metkovic, re- spectively, scoring many hits; 2 enemy planes shot down near Sinj by P-51s; Beaufighters attack small shipping in Olib (30 mi. NW of Zara) and 2 500-ton vessels in Gulf of Arsa; dumps at'Imotski (32 mi. INN of Mostar) and Opuzen (S'T of Metkovic) are targets for Spitfires and Hurricanes. Forty-three Wellingtons, 17 B-24s, and 2 Halifaxes drop 181 tons on Maribor RR yards in night attack; overcast pre- vents observation of results. 'Five PTs encounter 4 enemy I-boats near Dugi Otok, island off Zara, sinking 2 and taking 2 others with approximately 95 prisoners.

Albania

Tirana under attack by Partisan 1st Brig. Germans while attacking village on Elbasan-Tirana road reportedly lose 72 killed and 17 captured . Spitfires attack communications in Durazzo area and destroy 12 MT. Other fighters damage bridge at Scutariz as well as troops and traHspqrt.

Greece and Aegean

E portion of Salonika reported evacuated. -leavy.traffic moving up Salonika--Doiran-Strumica and Servia-Kozani- Amyntaion roads. Flanks and rear of retreating enemy con- tinually harassed by Greek'units: ELAS elements have reportedly pursued enemy to Karperon, between Kalabaka and Kozani; other ELAS claimed heavily engaged at :Nea KhalkedQn and Yaixnitsa, on Salonika-Edessa road. Reports indicate British patrols are nearing Lamia.

22 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps Heav severe enemy fire prev of Cumberland Force ca ami. N, while L flank Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

22 Germans near Castiglione di Cervia (just E of Savio R. Cont 4 mi. due W of Cervia). SW of Cumberland Force, leading units of 4th Armd Brig of 2d NZ Div, moving N along Savio R. bank, advance 2 mi. to reach Borgo Pipa, 6 mi. *N of Cesena; heavy enemy shelling, mortaring, and SA fire encountered. After repelling .counterattack, 2d Brig of 1st Cdn Div, supported by tanks, enlarges:and. strengthens salient on W side of river, 2 mi. N of Cesena; no supporting arms or tanks across as yet..

V Corps Twelfth Brig of 4th Div improves bridge site., at Cesena although under heavy shelling and.enemy fire.' In 10th Ind Div sector, 25th Ind Brig penetrates. - mi. W of S. Carlo, meeting tough resistance; meanwhile,,on extreme L flank, advance of 20th Ind.Brig is.held .up just S of its objective, M. Cavallo, 2 mi. NT. of Luzzena.

II Polish 'Corps Eighteenth Brig makes substantial, gains on R and-center of 1st Br Armd Div sector, :taking S;. Matteo and M. Grande, 8 and 4 mi. E of Civitella di Romagna, respectively. SW section-of M. della Marina ridge, 3½ mi. NW of Galeata, falls to 5th Brig of. 5th Kres Div after fierce opposition has been overcome.n'

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

'XIII Corps On R flank, Portico and M. della.Serra, 1 mi. SE, are occupied by elements of 26th Armd Brig Group unopposed. Enemy begins local withdrawal in front of 8th Ind Div front: 17th Brig retakes M. Casalino; 21st Brig, attacking M. Romano, reaches W slopes where it digs in to prepare for assault on that height. Patrols of 6th Br Armd Div push down Santerno R., contacting enemy at Fontanelice, about 5 mi. NE of Castel del Rio. Against stubborn resistance, 78th Br Div makes slight gain: 36th Brig seizes Pt. 423 on N side of M. dell'Acqua Salata; meanwhile, heavy struggle is in progress for M. Spaduro vwith 56th Rcn Regt coming into line to give additional support to the attack; 11th Brig makes a little progress in area W of M. Spaduro.

II Corps Attack launched by 88th Div on night of 22/23, with aim of seizing ridges beyond Grande-Cerere leading toward Hwy 9, is generally unsuccessful. S of Grande- Cerere, 349th Inf takes Frassineto against light resistance.

uLLA:4E Oct Section IV: 1944

22 Enemy counterattack N of Farneto is broken up by 350th Cont Inf with defensive arty fires. Advance toward Hill 459 by 339th Inf, 85th Div, slowed by heavy enemy resistance at Colle Rio d'Aiano, which changes hands tlvice. In vicinity of Orbega, almost 3 mi. N of Mlonterenzio, 338th Inf is drawn into fire fight. Advance of 133d Inf, 34th Div, slowed by mine field on M. Belmonte. Severe counter- attack occurs in 168th Inf sector. Ninety-first- Div receives order to abandon offensive and organize and defend a main line of resistance. The 135th Inf (34th Div) is detached from 1st Armd Div and attached in place to 91st Div.

Arly Troo-ps On R flank of 6th SA Armd Div, 24th Guards Brig, established on MV. Alcino, is now preparing to attack M. Termine to N. RNC receives considerable shelling along front. Elements of 11th SA Armd Brig push forvward toward M. Salvaro but fail to gain sumrit because of mist and fierce enemy resistance.

V Corps In 107th AAA Group and BEF sectors, activity limited to patrolling and exchange of arty fire. In TF 92 zone, at iM.Strettoia, 5 enemy counterattacks are driven back by elements of 370th RCT. Heavy arty re- ceived along coast in 2d Armd Group zone.

Ninety-nine fighters and fighter bombers, attacking military objectives over battle area, destroy numerous VMT and RR installations. Weather remains bad, preventing 15th AF missions and reducing medium bomber operations to minimum. Allied coastal forces make night raids on south-bound convoy near Spezia, causing explosions,

Yugoslavia

Red Army units approaching the Danube take Somrbor, important rail center SW of Subotica, and several toens in the vicinity, t.oscow announces, other Soviet forces cross Sava R. to take Zomun, 17 of Belgrade, with assistance of Partisans; Yugoslavs with Russians cooperating take Obrenovac, Lazarevac, and Knic, SW and S of Belgrade. Capture of Obrenovac cuts off last GermalegsfaV rateS[gdA SA§A E from Belgrade. In S Serbia osNu| k_ QsW!heH ' 1'f ~t held by Partisans who are suri "I :;:-t" Ao~,nC ' 220

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEaN THEATER 1944

Gruz on Dalmatian coast, believed captured by Yugoslavs. Bad weather continues, Fighters strafe road movement in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece. Two additional I-boats (loaded with enemy stores, ammunition, and personnel) are taken by coastal forces; one taker 30 mi. E of Ancona, the other off Pelogosa I., SW of Lagosta.

Albania

Six P-51s bomb barracks near Vorre, 12 mi. EIE.of.Durazzo.

Greece and Aegean

In Macedonia, Germans demolishing airfields -inSalonika area preparatory to. withdrawal; Yannitsa claimed abandoned by enemy during night. To the W, hostile troops v'ithdra^ing along .Florina-Korca road delayed by 'Greek guerrillas'. Larissa, strategic point gN of. Voles, reported free of anemy., Further enemy troops believed leaving Rhodes I. by air.

23 Ital .

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps In coastal area *5th Cdn Armd Div assumes comimand of Cumberland Force sector and relieves 2d NZ Div to L. Fifth Cdn Armd Brig pursues enemy 2 mi. up coast beyond Gervia; 11th Cdn Brig, after relieving 4th NZ Armd'. and 6th NZ Brigs, establishes troops on E side of Savio R. with patrols attempting to cross. In 1st Cdn Div sector, 2d Brig, after securing another small bridgehead over Savio ½- mi. downstream from original one, is forced to withdraw because of bitter counterattack; heavy fighting is in progress; main bridgehead is enlarged and positions improved during morning.

V Corps Bridge in Cesena is again usable and 4th Div tanks arc able to cross; heavy shelling occurs along entire front throughout day and night. Twenty-fifth Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div is now fighting in area ¥ of S. Carlo; after stiff battle,.M. Cavallo falls to 20th Ind Brig which is attempting to gain ground to N and S of O4 ______Oct Section IV: IvEDITfERRA1\EAI 1944

23 II Polish Corps In sector of 1st Br Armd Div, elements Cont of 18th Brig secure Voltre, on Voltre R., as well as surrounding ridges. Enemy remains strong in 5th Kres Div zone: 6th Lwow Brig, which comes into line on R of 5th Brig, launches attack N at 0900 from N slopes of M. Grosso,-but lack of arty delays advance; 5th Brig still fighting for M. della Marina.

U.S. FIFTH ARiMY

XIII Corps Enemy begins withdrawing from vicinity E Qf Portico along Route 67; 26th Armd Brig Group establishes troops on I.T.Orlando, 1 mi. SW of .M. della So rra, and gains some ground SE of Tredozio. Eighth Incd Div pushes forward as encimy abandons fortified heights' 1.7th Brig occupies 3 positions in area E of S. Adriano,; ?'vhile 21st Brig captures. ii. Romano and thrusts NE to;iard M.~Giro. After securing 2 heights W of Baffadi, elements of lst Br Div push NE down Senio Valley toward Casolc V.alsenio; at 1800, 3d Brig assumes command of 2d Brig sector. In 6th Br Armd Div area, elements of 1st Guarcds Brig attack and occupy M. Cornazzano, S of BM.Battaglia. Reliefs take plaeo in 78th Br Div zone; 11th Brig is coi:rmitted.. to assist 38th Brig's attaCk.on M. Spaduro which begins late at night.

II Corps Bn of 351st Inf, 88th Div, captures Hill-568, directly N of Mvi.Grande, and repels 2 counterattacks.. Enemy pockets of resistance on M. Castellaro N of . : Cuccoli, arc vwiped out by .337,th Inf, 85th Div,' but .. fierce- enemy counterattack.kills or- captures most of advance eloments Qf.339th Inf.on till 459, - mi, . M. Belmonte is. cbptured by 34th Div, -ending a six-dcay fight. Ninety-first 'Rc'nTroop mans observation posts at Via le Croce and at' Lucca, both W of Hwy 65.

Army Troops On 6th SA Armd Div front, in early after- noon, units of 24th Guards and 11th.SA Armd Brigs launch coordinated attack for 1. Termine (E of Mvi.Salvaro) and M. Salvaro, respectively; after bitter struggle, crest of Mi. Salvaro is gained by 1400; 24th Guards Brig is delayed by rmines. , |qz F

i :

: f~~~ 222

Oct Section IV: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

23 IV Corps .Troops:."of lQ7thAAA. Group maintain positions. Cont Brazilian front activity marked by patrolling and light enemy arty; patrols receive enemy MG fire in high ground area E of Campio, approximately 2 mi. NW of Barga. Enemy MG and mortar fire forces elements of 370th RCT,. holding S slopes of- lI Strettoia, to withdraw during early morning.

Total of 156 fighters and fighter bombers harasses. communications N of battle zone, along N side of Po Valley, and as far as Trieste; numerous MT,- RR installations, and barges destroyed and 2 vessels, 3 tugs, quay at Savona, RR bridge, and probably an F-boat damaged. Six Beaufighters, operating in N Adriatic, damage schooner and tug;' 4 Spit- fires in Chioggia-Venice area sink small vessel,.. leave another sinking,' and damage a third. MT S of Modena and in E Po Valley near Ravenna attacked during night by. 11 A-20s - several explosions and direct hits result. Harbor and oil installations at Trieste are hit by 17 B-24s which .'drop. 40 tons of--bombs'. Despite adverse weather, 66'B-24s unload 162.3''tons on Brenner Pass RR line and underpass,- Brcssanone RR center (S of Brenner Pass on same line)., Casarsa RR bridge, as well as on 2 other bridges on line; results mostly fair.

Yugoslavia-

Soviets and Partisans enlarge bridgehead W of Belgrade, taking a town and RR station. On Voyvodina-Slavonia border, (E of Novi Sad) and Nova Palanka, , and Beocin (W, of Novi Sad) now claimed by-Partisans. At Novi Sad, enemy has reportedly demolished airfield, bridge over the Danube, and PRR station. In Serbia, fighting for Cacak and Kraljevo on l1TMorava R. continues; enemy loss of latter would cut off his last escape route from N Serbia; Kocane, SE Serbia, reported in Bulgarian hands as well as several other towns. To the St, near Montenegrin border, fighting reported in vicinity of Sjenica. Yugoslavs and Bulgars heavily engaged in S Serbia in Stracin-Bregalnica R. areas. Partisans claim capture of Dclnice, Croatia, and other towns in the area. Further successes against rail targets in Slovenia reported. Germans continue evacuation of Adriatic coast. Oct Section IV: 1944

Operations cut to minimum because of weather. Four Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires destroy schooner off Yugoslavian coast. Meanwhile 15 Greek-based fighters harass corimunications in Yugoslavia.

Albania

Area S of Korea reported abandoned by enemy, only a few of whom are believed to remain in the town itself. Germans have reportedly regained the Elbasan-Tirana road, closed since 4 Oct., and reinforced IMilot, coastal town on Miat R. Much enemy traffic moving northward via Elbasan, Tirana, and Scutari to Podgorica in Montenegro. Partisan 1st Brig continues attacks, on Tirana, -reporting many Germans killed.

Greece and Aegean

In Macedonia, German garrison withdraws from Arnissa,' W of Edessa on Florina-Salonika road, and is reported ambushed and annihilated on road to Edessa by Greek units. Greek> - guerrilla forces reportedly enter Larissa, Thessaly, unopposed; airfield destroyed by enemy who is believed well N of the, town; with destruction of Larissa airfield, those remaining in the Salonika area are last evacuation fields on Greek mainland. From Thessaly, Germans reported withdra:ing N to Polikastron in MIacedonia 'by planes and gliders, and from this point continuing N by same means. Rearguards harassed by British and Greeks. British patrols have landed on Euboea, E of Greek mainland, and found the island free of enerimy. Troops from Heli Teazer (DD) and- Greek DD, Navarino, land on Skopelos I., E of entrance to Gulf of Volosat davn; enemy is found to. have left 3 days ago. Hostile garrisons on Crete and Rhodes reported considerably reduced. ,Throughodt day carrier planes attack landing craft in vicinity of Katerini on W saide of Gulf of Salonika with considerable' success.

24 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMiLf

Enemy withdraws N to Bivano and Ronco rivers ancdl gains of 1-3 mi. made along Army front.

1, ' Mri .. 224

Oct Section IV: iEDITERMRatEAN THEATER 1944

24 I Canadian Corps In coastal area 5th Cdn Armd Brig Cont (5th Cdn Armd Div), after advance. N, is now on line from mouth of Savio R. W to village of Savio (on Route 16) and hence SJi to Castiglione di Cervia which is reported clear- approximately 2 mi. upstream llth Cdn Brig crosses Savio R. S of Mensa (2 mi. N of S. Andrea) during morning to establish bridgehead; its arty engages enemy''MT W of river, causing' fires and considerable damage. In area 2 mi. NWi of Cesena forward troop.s:of' 1st Cdn Brig (1st Cdn Div) are about ..2 mi. beyond., bridgehead in direct contact with Germans.

V Corps Considerable progress made as enery-'strength decreases in front of 4th Divr 12th Brig, which attacks at 0300, captures Torre del Moro (12 mi.-W of Cesena) and Bracciano (4 mi. W of Cesena) as mrell as ground to SW; remainder of Brig crosses Savio on Bailey rbridge now complete.; 10th Brig concentrates in area W!of Savio R. preparatory to passing through l2th.Brig. On L flank iOth Ind Div meets strong enemy opposition:' 43d Ind Brig is meeting stiff resistance near Collinollo and Polenta, 5 and 6 mi. SWff.of Cesena, respectively; 20th Ind.Brig, directed against Teodorana, makesG mi. gain in area V of M. Cavallo.

II Polish Corps One mi. gain made by 1st Br Armd Div as 18th Brig reaches tower and vicinity of S. Paolo, 10 mi.. N of Sorbano between.Voltre and Bidente rivers. Substantial progress continues along road running LE from Civitolla di Romagna: units of 5th Brig of 5th Kres Div tako. Nspoli and reach outskirts of Cusercoli. In area 4a mi. MW of Galcata, advance elements of 6th Lwow Brig capture M. Belvedere in late afternoon after hand-to-hand fighting and take M. S,. Piero farther W.

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

XIII Corps Troops make general advance all along Corps. front except on extreme R flank. Units of 26th Brig Group are hold up by anti-tank fire in area 2½ mi. NE of Portico and forced to withdraw; other elements are halted N of Portico by minefields. Good progress made alongboth sides of Route 6521 (Marradi-Faenza road): units of 17th Brig of 8th Ind Div turn SE from -L. Casalineo t dM. o ga azio other units Oct Section IV: ',iEDITERRaNiNEaN THEATER 1944 , . . . * M -- -

24 arc established at S. Cassiano, 6 mi. NE of !Iarradi; to Cont WT, Li. Giro falls to 21st Brig. Elements of 1st Br Div relieve 1st Guards Brig of 6th Br Armd Div on L0. Cornazzano and gain Pt. 514, 500 yds. E~ fro.m K slopes of Ml. Ceco, 66th Brig of 1st Br Div moves unopposed toward Valdifusa, 2-1 mi. E of Mercatale. Fierce fighting continues on L flank of 78th Br Div as 11th and 38th Brigs struggle for possession of i. Spaduro-; during dayT elements of 11th Brig reach crest of mountain and clear ridge to N7. - II Corps Units of 88th Div reach Vedriano, 11 mi. NE of Mi. Grandc, but fail in attempt to hold villacg against violent counterattack,. Eighty-fifth Div attacks in. vicinity VT of Montecalderaro. Thirty-fourth Div captures Poggio and Collina in advance NE toward Idice R., E of M. Belmonte.

Army Troops Sixth SA Armd Div makes slight advances: attacking toward IM.Termine, troops of 24-th Guards Brig are stopped by mines in area just S of feature but are able to securc objective later without opposition; for- ward lines of 12th SA ,,Mtzd Brig as well as torcn of Grizzana and I.. Stance receive some enemy shelling3 llth SA Armd Brig consolidates positions on iM.Salvaro.

IV Corps _o change in front lines of IV Corps. Enemy MG fire falls on positions of 370th RCT in H. Cauala area. Arty exchanges occur along coast in TF 92 sector.

Total of 703 fighters and fighter bombers continues heavy support to Armies in battle area near Bo-,ona and Cesena, strafe coi-mmunications in Po Valley, and destroy enemy plane on ground at Turin; results include hits on -un 1°o- sitions, fuel dumps,RPRsand VT,, and damage to RR bridge near MIVrandola (W'of Ferrara); road bridge N of Alfonsine (iEWof Ravenna) destroyed and 13 RR cuts effected. T'mo Beaufi"aters attack small shipping in Gulf.of Venice, sinking 2 barges and a tug and damaging another tug, while additional Beaufighters leave armed trawler listing SW of Grado and score strikes on E-boats. Wellingtons bomb Chioggio and Rovigno and targets SE of Caorle and Lignano. In night

a+.+ r-L rr r^^ l - _ _. _ - -- ,96 Hoeuui<. I U-'LijLL are ( roads, MT, and barges in I bomber operations cancelic l 226

Oct A i 0 TER 1944 .

Yugoslavia

Novi Sad, capital of Voyvodina, reported in Allied hands; SW of, Novi Sad, in Slavonia, Partisans claim capture of Vrdnik; Fruska Gora largely clear of enemy. Bulgars announce continued fierce fighting at Stracin, S Serbia. Partisans scheduled to attack Split, Dalmatia, today; troops, tanks, and guns moved in by landing craft to assist. Weather continues to restrict air operations. Three Beaufighters attack yards at Gruz and hit RR and transport, while 8 additional Beaufighters strike barracks at Bjolovar (40 mi. ENE of Zagreb); other fighters attack RR installations in Prilep area, Serbia.

Albania Korea entered during afternoon by elements of Partisan 2d, 9th, and 20th Brigs, reports indicate. Yugoslavs harass enemy convoy near Vorre, on Tirana-Scutari road. Attacking NiT in N Albania, 6 Spitfires' bfCAF destroy 16, damage 15. Fighters of BAF, operating in same general area, attack approxidmately 100 MT, destroying 10 and damaging 47.

Greece and Aegean

Third Corps reports indicate that small British force has occupied Lamia and sent patrols to Skiathos I., N of Euboea. Enemy continues steady withdrawal from Greece, moving from Salonika along Xilkis-Strurnica road and, to the W, along Kozani-Florina road; small shipping in Salonika harbor reported being scuttled. Hostile force of 250 claimed successfully ambushed after iwithdrawing from Skydra, SE of Edessa. During night British start naval bombardment of iilos I., last remaining enemy-controlled island in Cyclades group, in preparation for landing assault.

25 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH RYLY

General advance continues al entire front.

I 'Canad.ian Corps In 5t'h d Div sector, 5th Cdn thArmd Brig thisra ngY T 16 to within 7 mi. of ' ' * '. 3,-

nac.Eq .°at-,c i on T 1944

25 Ravenna; l.ensa falls to 11th Cdn Brig which then pushes Cont W about 1 mi. German troops -iwithdraw to Ronco R*,. which crosses Bologna-Rimnini road (Route 9) 2 mi. SE of Forli and Canadian and British troops are now advancing to :river on broad front. First Cdn Div makes rapid progress toward Fcrli as 2d and 3d Brigs, after crossing Bevano R.,, advance abreast in area N of Route 9 to reach po- sition- about 5 mi. E of city by nightfall.

V Corps': From position along Route 9 NW of Cesena, troops of -4th Div,pursue enemy toward Forli: despite minos and demolitions, co of-.inf with sq of tanks takes Castoleccio; other troops reach , 5 mi. from Forli 22 mi.' S17, lOth Brig,-after passing through 12th Brig, captures t'elbagnone on Ronco R. and drives 'back enemy counterattackl in.afternoon; remainder of Brig secures , 5 mi. W of Cesena. Considerable ground is taken.by 10th Ind Div in area 6-7 m.i?, W and. SW of Cesena: 'Collinello occupied by 43d Ind .Brig which moves 2 vmi. N, to take ,I.'Casale; 20th Ind Brig capt'ures Tcodorano iand high ground 2 mi. N, while advance units:. supported by tanks reach Ronco F. 1½ mi. NW of and are directed against town; other elements occupy Castc'lnuovo and Bagnolo farther S on Voltre R.

II Polish Corp Cusercoli falls .to 18th Brig of 1st Br Arrnd Div, Under heavy fire, 6th'Lwow Brig of 5th Kres Div cozimences attack for possession of it.. Colombo, "approximately 6 mi. N of Galeata, but makes slow progress; fighting continues for Mi, Liirabollo to E.

U.S, FIFTH AR.M

XIII Corps Torrential rains hamper operations? 'Corps. troops make slight advance in center and on L flank and contact II Corps N of Gesso. Heavy fire forces 26th Armd Brig troops to withdraw after advancing to within 1 mi., of Rocca S. Casciano. Approximately 10 mi. N'N in area 1 mi. S of S. Cassiano, heavy mortar and i/-Gfire stops units of 17th Brig which are subsequently thrown back to original positions to await reinforcemonts, To NW, 19th Brig relieves 21st Brig and advances to secure Pts.788 and 673 in area 1 mi. SE of Valdifusa. In 1st Br Div sector, 66th Brig occupies Pt. 677, just WT of Valdifusa, and turi 228 t ED

Oct Section IV: IiEDITERPRNEiA THEATER 1944 '

25 Brig takes some ground in area 1½ mi. SW of Casola Cont Valsenio, Sixty-first Brig of 6th Br Armd Div makes effective advance toward Li. Taverna (approximately 12 mi. N of M.. Battaglia), where enemy is firmly entrenched. Seventy-eighth Br Div beats off counterattacks on hills between 1,,.dell'Acqua Salata and' M. Spaduro but are forced to withdraw S because of exposed positions.

II Corps During night of 25/26, 351st Inf, 88th Div,. attempts to capture Vedriano, but attack disintegrates under enemy MiG fire and unfavorable weather conditions. Height near Bursano, N of M. Grande, is seized by 337th Inf, 85th Div. CT 362, 91st Div, is attached to 88th Div and moves to vicinity of Calanca, S of the Sillaro R. As throughout- remainder of month, forward ppositions are subjected to heavy arty shelling; supply trains.are frequently targets for heavy arty and mortar barrages.

Arm Troops In high ground between Soetta and Rena. rivers, 6th SA Armd Div makes appreciable gains: on R, some units of 24th Guards Brig take 'la Quercia,. l.mi. NE of Rioveggio, while others mop up in Terzo, . mi. N of M. Terrine; Pt. 390 on N slopes of n.' Salv.ro i.s occupied by troops of 11th SA armd Brig; farther VW, patrols of 12th Sh Mtzd Brig reach Carviano,.l:mi. E of Vergato.:

IV Corps Patrols of 107th hA, Group are' agSin.in vicinity of Piansinatico.,' In'.BEF' z26ne, -nel shells Albiano with.; con.siderabl e..de'strOatidn 'obuilding.s. Ad- vance units of 370th RCT gain S siop'es-'f.i. Cavallo, E of Serra Creekabout 2½ mi. N of WI. Cauala.

Unfavor'able weather: continues although 307 fighters and fighter bombers maintain successful missions in. support of ground troops;s ; soveral guns silenced, RRs cut, and IMT de- str.oyed. ' Skall shipping in. N Adriatic and 2 flak ships at Trieste 'attacked by Beaufighters.; '4 Wellingtons again bomb Cittanbva -ith somQ damage to., target area. During night a-20 raids-'MT o- Ravenn'a-Ferrara road.

announce capture several: towns 229 BY

Oct Section IV: iEDITERP~NE~, 1944

25 in E Slavonia also claimed. Heavy fighting continues in W Cont Morava R. valley where enemy units are attempting to reach Uzice and Visegrad from Cacak area and in Novi Pazar-Sjonica sector from which Germans are trying to escape to the Sanjak, Serbia-Montenegro escape route (Mitrovica-Pec-Podgorica) closed by Partisans, but Germans from Macedonia arc making their way from Serbia to Albania via Urosevac and PrizrQn to Scutari. In SE Serbia, Yugoslavs and Bulgars announce capture of Stracin; drive for Kumanovo, to the 1W,under way; enemy reported withdrawing from Kumanovo to Skoplje and from Stip to Veles. Elsewhere in Yugoslavia, Partisans announce reduction.'of strongpoint on Grahovo-Risan road in LMontonegro, another guarding approaches to Neretva R. in Horcegovina, capture of Travnik in central Bosnia as well as 2 points on road from there to Sarajevo,, and occupation of Zuzembcrk in Slovenia. Mostar-Sarajevo-Brod PRX line claimed inoperative as result of successful Partisan actions. Gruz, Dalmatia, virtually cleared of mines, and first Allied convoy is ex- pected today., Balkan AF continues operations against coastal targets: 17 Venturas attack Zara harbor with hits on buildings and breakwater, and 7 A-30s bomb group of E-boats off Sibonik;- total of 65 fighters and fighter bombers achieves good re- sults against Qnermy comrmunications throughout Yugoslavia and Albania.

Albania

Partisans intercept enemy convoy near Kukes during night and force it to return to Elbasan with some losses.

Greece and Aeeaa.

Evacuation of E Macedonia and Thrace by Bulgarian troops- believed completed. Germans reportedly out of Edessa, M of- Salonika, and being closely pursued by harassing Greek units. From Lamia, British patrols have pushed N to Dhomokos. HMS Aurora (CL) continues preparatory naval bombardment of Milos I. during morning; troops land at night and secure bridgehead. From Leros I. in the Sporades-, 120 Germans reported moving Dfn PnI4l-a1]nG1 n T -;, '- 4- CT P To -^ ^/J------Le. , JU.OU _UJ4 k. Carrier planes att effecting 3 cuts. Gun »9 (RAF) with unobserved i out by Greek-based plar 230

Oct . Section IV: ED ITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

Katerini, Spitfires attack road N of Larissa, and Wellingtons bomb road bridge.in N Greece.

26 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARi, :

Heavy rain and high wind hamper operations, -especially-- in coastal area where bridges are washed out and rany'road.s are impassable. ' '' -

I Canadian Corps Fifth Armd Brig of 5th Cdn Armd Div is limited to patrol activity; elements of 11th Cdn ,Brig are now along R bank of Bevano R. about 8 rmi. N of Cesena, First Cdn Div advances. to E bank of Ronco R. just N of Route 9 where it receives light fire from defensive positions of enemy on W bank.

V Corps Germans hold general line of Ronco R. -Despite weather 4th .Div establishes 2 bridgeheads over Ronco R. in area directly 7W of Forlimpopoli but is unable to hold these gains because of heavy enemy counterattack. About 2- rmi. upstream units of 43d Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div win far side of river and drive off counterattack' - - toward evening; 20th Ind Brig reaches outskirts of Meldola where bitter fighting is now in progress; farther S some inf of Brig is able to cross river.

II Polish Corps Excellent gains made along entire front as troops push toward Route 9. First Br Armd Div thrusts N up road toward Meldola, taking Gualdo and Rico, 4 and 31- mi. S of Lieldola, respectively. Inf of 5th Kres Div, supported by tanks, establishes elements.in Nuovo, 4 mi. SIt of Meldola, but severe.German counter- attack forces them to withdraw; reinforcements are now moving up; enemy arty heavy. Three mi. Sva, units of 6th Lwow Brig are fighting on .E slopes of M1. Zirabello for possession of feature; meanwhile other units'gain M. Colombo.

U.S.. FIFTH ARivM

S. Casciano, troops are delayed by * tenaciously holds 231

Oct Section IV: MEDIEEP!ANEAN THEATER 1944

26 BM. Sacco, 2- rmi. N of Portico. Eighth Ind Div, astride Cont Faenza road~ meets heavy opposition: on E side, 17th Brig is held up on M. Budrialto, while in area NE of S. Cassiano units of 19th Brig advance about 1 mi. under severe shellfire. Several units of 1st Br Div are isolated by rain and swollen streams; 3d Brig units are stopped in area of vM,Cornazzano. Farther N along ridge between Senio and Santerno rivers, 61st Brig of 6th Br Armd Div encounters heavy opposition in vicinity of M. Taverna. In 78th Br Div sector, battle for positions t N of M. dell Acqua Salata continues; units of 36th Brig. attack and gain ridge to N in effort to outflank enemy; to NW, patrols of 11th Brig again contact enemy on N slopes of I. Spaduro, continuing to hold mountain despite several counterattacks.

II Corps In counterattack against elements of 351st Inf, 88th Div, W of Vedriano, enemy kills or captures more than a co, forcing abandonment of attempt to take this village. Flash flood along Sillaro R. disrupts communications in 88th Div sector and stalls advance of 362d Inf, attached, Eighty-fifth Div assumes active defense of an E-VW line running N of S. Fano. Heavy counterattack repulsed by 337th Inf at Mezzano, N of Bursano.

Army Troops On extreme R flank, elements of 24th Guards Brig, 6th SA Armd Div, cross Setta R. in vicinity of la Quercia and are now directed against MIv.Sole, 1½mi. farther N; bridging difficult but enemy opposition light. Patrols of 11th SA Armd Brig reach Reno R. about due N of M. Salvaro without contacting Germans. On L flank, 2d Bn of 370th Regt comes under command of CCB and relieves 11th Armd Bn of responsibility of !7 portion of line.

IV Corps Reliefs carried out along 107th GrouD front; patrols probe N to Tereglino (SE of Coreglia) without enemy contact. BEF troops maintain forward lines, contacting TF 92 on L flank. In TF 92 zone, elements of 370th RCT continue bitter struggle to hold po U'MF on M. Cauala and to secure A. Cavallo.

Operations throughout day cancl s ecausiofUthr. Later at night single Beaufighter destrpysful?_dump" buildings, · l . 232 U1'.

Oct Section IV: La;DITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

26 and 6 MT in W Po Valley. Cont Yugoslavia

Yugoslavs announce that the Backa has been 'ompletely cleared of enery.. NI'Tof'Belgrade in E Slavonia, Partisans claim capture of Novi Karlovci, Indjija,. Krusedol,' and Kraljevci. Fall of Sabac, enemy strongpoint in M: Serbia encircled by Partisans for some time, announced by Yugoslavs. SW of Cacak, in W Serbia, Arilje and Ivanjica on the lioravica R. and Guca on the Bjelica R. claimed by Partisans who are pursuing enemy toward Cacak and Kraljevo; successes reported against enemy columns at other points in W Serbia and in S Serbia. All roads N from Podgorica, Montenegro, believed blocked by Partisans. On Dalmatian coast, Yugoslavs pursuing enemy to the Neretva R. are approaching lIMetkovic on the S and to the N take Lakarska (on coast SE of Omis) and several towns near Split. In Bosnia, enemy attempts to break through to Visegrad frustrated; heavy fighting reported at Zonica. Fighting also reported at Vrbovsko, Croatia. Poljane., W Slovenia, reportedly taken by Yugoslavs who are driving toward Ljubljana.- Partisan offensive against rail targets in Slovenia and Croatia continues successful. ~Ieather grounds BAF.

Albania

Korea now held by Partisans; loss of this town denies enemy Elbasan-Tirana withdrawal route from S Macedonia. German inf supp6rted by arty and mortar fire attacking Partisan positions overlooking Elbasan-Struga road at Labinot. Estimated 15,000-20,000 Germans concentrated in Scutari area. Six Mosquitoes, operating in Durazzo-Vorre-Tirana area, attack enemy communications with some success. German hospital ship, intercepted by DDs off Durazzo, is being escorted to Alexandria.

Greece and Aegean

Kozani (Thessaly) reported clear of enemy. Resistance continues on 1Milos I., although HMS Aurora (CL), HMS Tyrian (DD), and HMS Tctcott (DD) continue bombardment of the island, and carrier planes from HMi Emperor join in attack. Troops from HISS Sirius (CL) land on Piscopi I., NW of Rhodes, during night a

4 'IlR 233

Oct Section 1 Qn) I

27 Italy

BRITISH..EIGHTH ARMY

I Canadian Corps Heavy rain continues throughout day; rivers still flooded; light shelling occurs on .jhole Corps front. Advance positions of 1st Cdn Div established along E bank of Ronco R. receive some enemy SA fire.

V Corps Elements 6f 4th Div are unable to cross Ronco R. because of flooded condition. In 10th Ind Div sector, bridgeheads established by 43d Ind Brig remain firm and unchanged; 2 cos which crossed river yesterday are re- ported miLssing; 20th Ind Brig establishes co in S part of Meldola; heavy fighting continues in N section of town.

II Polish Corps Third Carpathian Div relieves 1st Br Armd Div on R flank; patrols contact 20th Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div in area of Meldola; bn of 2d Carp Brig, established at M. Bruchelle (Jl mi. N of Cusercoli), begins advance N toward M. Velbe. Under heavy arty fire, elements of 6th Lwow Brig of 5th Kres Div reoccupy Predappio Nuovo and resume attack on Predappio. Units farther W clear L,. Mvirabello after bitter fighting,

U.S. FIFTH ARMI\

XIII Corps Despite mud and bad weather, firm gain is made on R flank as inf and tanks of 26th Armd Brig enter Rocca S. Casciano; Mi. Sacco, to W, reported clear. Seventeenth Brig of 8th Ind Div takes some ground in area N of Tredozio, securing Cignano and improving po- sitions nearby. Elements of 3d Brig, 1st Br Div, relieve units of 1st Guards Brig of 6th Br krmd Div on M. Battaglia. Bitter fighting continues in vicinity of ML. Taverna where units of 61st Brig of 6th Br Armd Div repulse enemy counterattack on Orsara, 1-imi. N of i. Battaglia. In drive for positions N of ii,.dellTAcqua Salata, 38th Brig of 78th Br Div gains 2 heights on W side of mountain.

II Corps Elements of 337th Inf, 85th Div-, withdraw..- from Mezzano position a8,b r iin Od gt B :i b o vii - flanking units. 1odera, e y ndm i

d: En' :-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Y 234

Oct Section IV: IVEDITERRPEANI HEATER 1944

27 received along 91st Div front, Cont Army Troops Elements of 24th Guards Brig of 6th SA Armd Div capture Hill 501, just S of M. Sole, but because of flood stage of Silla R. are now virtually isolated. Re- mainder of front limited to patrolling.,

IV Corps Front lines quiet except in M. Cavallo area where patrol of 370th RCT, pushing up W slope of mountain, receives 1G and machine pistol fire. In coastal sector, enemy 1MG fire halts patrol attempting to cross la Foci R.

Weather remr.ains unfavorable. In MAT Italy 41 fighters and fighter bombers attack RR bridge near Novi Ligure (N of Genoa) and transport in Turin-Genoa area. Coastal forces attack escorted enemy convoy entering harbor of Rapallo and destroy 3 F-lighters.

Yugoslavia

Moscow announces .capture by Russians and Yugoslavs of Novi Sad (reported by Yugoslavs on 24th) and several other towns in Voyvodina and E Slavonia; among these are Kula and Petrovac in Voyvodina and Irig and Stara Pazova in Slavonia. Sofia reports fierce fighting on Kriv4 and Bregalnica rivers in SE Serbia.

Albania

Partisans have blocked pass which joins; Scutari-Kukes road near Puke.. Second Partisan Div moving against Milot and Puke. Considerable enemy movement by day reported on Scutari- Kukes road.

Greece and Aegean

British force which was established at Lamia has moved NW to Grevena; elements mopping up enemy remnants S of Kozani. From Skiathos I., British patrols have landed on mainland S of Salonika. Allied troops on Piscopi I. receive surrender of some of garrison, but are subsequently counterattacked. Enemy on viilos I. continues to put up strong resistance, de- spite further naval bombardment and air attack by 6 A-30s; poor weather hampering operations.

.4'- 235

Oct Section II 1944

Thirty-two sorties flown by Greek-based planes which effectively attack roads and MT in Larissa-Saloinika area.

28 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH AIRMY

I Canadian Corps Heavy and continuous rains flood whole area. I Canadian Corps is relieved by Porter.Force and elements of V Corps. In coastal area. Porter Force, consisting of armd rcn units, tank bn of 2ist Tl'c, Brig- and supporting arty, assumes command of 5th Ccn Armd Div, while 12th Lancers of .V Corps shift to R .acnd re- lieve 1st Cdn Div,. '"

V Corps Heavy MG, mortar, and arty fire continues on H flank. Against bitter opposition, 43d Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div establishes bridgehead over Ronco R. in area NE of Meldola despite strong opposition. See-saw fighting for Meldola continues.

II Polish Corps Second Carp Brig of 3d Carp Div makes some progress in high ground. area W of Ricov, occupying lMv.Velbe. without opposition. and moving N. Sixth LT-how Brig of 5th'Kros Div secures Predappio and 3 heights W of town after severe fight; elements are now pur0suing enemy N.

U.S. FIFTH ARMY

XIII Corps Forward positions are subjected to heavy enemy shelling; patrols remain active. Germans determinedly oppose units of 17th Brig of 8th Ind Div as they attempt to secure M'.KLonsignano, 2~- mi. N of Tredozio6 S. Cassiano on Faenza road undergoes intermittent shelling. In 6th Br Armd Div sector, highway N of Castel del Rio is also under heavy fire, while farther N, forward troops and H.q of 11th Brig of 78th Br Div are shelled during night.

II Corps It has by now become apparent that the enemy has regrouped his troops to plac'e his greatest strength astride the S and SE approaches to Bologna and it has also become obvious that II Corps forces, having suffered heavy casualties during more than 6 weeks of continuous attack, require a perid reli .'C 236

Oct Section I ' MED'ITERANBi-N, THEATER 1944

28 ordered.to consolidate and defend along forward positions. Cont 'Enemy arty fire heavy in 88th Div sector.

Army Troops No progress made along 6th SA Armd Div fronft;- some outposts withdrawn because of weather. and.enemy opposition.

IV Corps' Positions remain unchanged in---107th AiAA Group sector.'' In .Serchio Valley'area, Brazilian troops begin advance to outflank Gallicano, gaining high ground W of town; to N, patrols contact enemy at Lama and Campio. Elements of 370th RCT, established on ii.'Cauala,'face MG, SA, and mortar fire throughout day. Later at night aggressive patrols (370th RCT and 2d Armd Group) probe enemy defenses to N.

Continuing bad Jweather grounds planes although 67 fighters and fighter bombers are able to attack enemy comnnunications in W end of 'Po Valley with considerable"success; RR targets in Bologna sector hit at night by 8 Beaufighters. French CL Bertin and US DDs Gleaves and Plunkett obtain numer6us, direct hits on Qnemy batteries and troop movements near French-It£lian frontier.

Yugoslavia

Fall of Split, capital of Dalmatia and best 'ort on the Adriatic, to Partisan VIII Corps after 3 days of fighting announced by Yugoslavs,who also report capture of'Solin, Klis, and Sinj, inland between Split and Qetina R.; in lower Neretva valley,on Hefi'cegovina-Dalmnaia, border, lJictkovic' Gabela, and Stolac also claimed by .Partisans, threatening Mostar (Hercegovina) to the N.'. British.'orce, consisting of Hq 111th Field Regt, a field battery,:. Hq and elements of 43d Commandos, and detachments of Royal Engineers and Pioneers, lands at Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, to assist Partisans. Moscow announces capture of more than 80 localities h7 of Belgrade ih Voyvodina and Slavonia by Russians and Yugoslavs, among them Apatin, on the Danube and on W boundary of Voyvodina, along border to the S, Sonta and Bac, and in E Slavonia, Ruma and Klenak. Yugoslavs report stiff fighting in conjunction with Red ,em. Mitrovica area. In xcak-Kraljevo area and is in this vicinity, nits break 237

Oct Section IV I 01.1.

through from Kosova area to Sjenica and are being engaged; in SE Serbia Yugoslavs and Bulgars are driving touard Pcinja R. from Stracin and toward Stip on Bregalnica R.; Kicevo, in Sif Serbia, claimed by Partisans who are advancing from there toward upper Vardar. In E Bosnia, Germans from Sarajevo have recaptured Visegrad; Partisans report that enemy in Visegrad is cut off by his loss of several strongpoints in Praca R. sector, among them Rogatica, between Sarajevo and Visegrad. Germans retreating toward Sarajevo and Zagreb and co.immuni- cations in Croatia and Slovenia effectively attacked by Yugoslavs. Six A-30s and 6 Venturas attack shipping and harbor installations at Sibenik.and Zara with unobserved results. On offensive sweeps over Yugoslavia and Albania,.19,fighters attack MT, destroying 19 and damaging 25.

Albania

San Giovanni di H-edua, on Adriatic coast S of Scutari, said to be abandoned by Germans.'

Greece and Aegean

Salonika virtually clear of enemy, and ELAS reported moving freely about the city. British patrols moving on Salonika from the S. Hostile rearguards now N of Katerini. British troops occupy Kozani after overcoming opposition W of the town with assistance of Greek guerrillas. Vigorous fighting continues on Piscopi and iii1os islands; both garrisons reinforced, and new garrison commander reported flown in to latter;. MS aurora continues to bombard i!los, and 5 A-30s bomb the island, concentrating on coastal battery. It is reported that the Leros I. garrison has been ordered to fight to the last man. With considerable success Spitfires attack RR installations in Salonika area.

29 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTHI ARMY

Porter Force Forward troops of Porter Force on R flank are 1 mi. beyond Bevano R., moving along Route 16 in -ursuit or retreating enemy; inla armd elements on general line 238

THEATER Oct Section IV: TEDITERRAEN a 1944

67 (Forli-Ravenna - 29 mi. S of S. Pietro and hence SW to Route Sisa; at road) at point miduay between Bagnoia and Borgo Cont enemy positions noon armd elements, supported by arty, attack at Borgo Sisa and engage in fire fight.

V Corps Tvelfth Lancers and 4th Div troops maintain 10Oth Brig defensive positions along E bank of Ronco R. In' ind of 4th Div. heavily .shelled in afternoon. 10th to expand, Div sector, .43d Brig, at 0500, crosses riveri Brig-' and strengthen bridgehead; at night 2 bns of 43d light begin attack across river at 2000; both bns iiieet :2Qth opposition and are able to cut , eldola-Ronco road; 'a66ut Ind Brig is noir meeting stiff opposition on ridg- 1 mi. SlWTof Mleldola. L flank: 2d II Polish Corps No progress made except on Carp Brig of 3d Carp Div sends patrols to probe enemy. Predappio defenses at Caminate, W of Ronco R. 12 mi. NIE of Nuovo; to SV, 6th Lviom Brig of 5th Kres Div occupies enemy Calboli, lz2 mi. N of N1.Colombo, after overcoming patrols; enemy mortar and arty fire increasing. ' U.S. FIFTH AR Corps as XIII Corps M.inor advances made on R flank of 3 mi. NW troops of 26th armd Brig secure ML.Marzanella, 17th Brig of Rocca S. Casciano. In 8th Ind Div area, occupies S slopes of Mii. lonsignano unopposed, reporting summit still held in strength; to , Ai-beto is found clear of onem.y. At 1230, 2d Brig of 1st Br Div assumes command of 66th Brig in vicinity of 1Mi.della Valle; patrols continue to push down Senio Valley tovard N Casola Valsenio. Slight progress is made in area of M. Spaduro by 11th Brig of 78th Br Div.

II Corps Harassing arty and Nebelwerfer fire received front. on E flank. Active defense continued along entire 351st Ninety-first Div's 362d RCT in process of relieving Inf, 88th Div. SA Armd rmy_Troops Reliefs are being carried out in 6th lines Div sector. Enemy shelling decreases along front of 12th S: !litzd Brig.. itt 06QO, troops of CCB, supported advance b 1llth SA Ahrmd Brig, iaunch attack W of Route 64: units of ;io about 2 mi. ^Cl f H -. 239

Oct Section IV: M'EDITERRANAN THEATER 1944

29 NW' of Riola, in face of bitter resistance, vhile 2d Bn Cont of 370th RIgt "secures 2 tbowns in area SW without oppo- sition.

IV Corps Routine patrolling continues along 107th A- Group front.,. Calomini, W. of Gallicano, is occupied by Brazilian troops ,vith no opposition from RosaRonte Div (Itaiian); patrols encounter enemy at Castelvecchio, INW of Barga. tidvance units in TF 92 zone continue active, meeting enemy at Strettoia, C. Ghoradi, and C. - del Lago and receiving MG fire at Porta (1Wof. Strettoia).

In support of Eighth Army troops, total of 169 fighters and fighter bombers attacks targets in E battle area w-ith hits on bridge, 4 guns, MT, barges, and :RR installations and near misses on -lock gate. In N Adriatic, pontoon bridge SW of Chioggia is objective of 4 Beaufighters, vrhiile 4 Vonturas, operating in Gulf of Genoa, attack .5 barges off Sestri Levante, scoring several hits.

Yugoslavia

With hq at Skoplje, enemy 11th GaF Div, 297th Div, and 104th Div believed to be protecting withdrawal routes.

Albania

Germans are attacking to reopen pass near Puke n-hich Partisans report blocked on 27th. Forty-six -irpcobras and hacchis sweep Podgorica-Durazzo area, scoring hits on barracks at San Giovanni di HMedua (S of Scutari) and on road and transport in same general area.

Greece and Aegean

In ME Greece, all of Khalkidike Peninsula believed free of enemy; possible remnants in Salonika. British and Greek forces continue to pursue and harass enemy rearguards. Situation on Piseopi and Milos islands deteriorating. Greek DD, Navarino, lands guides for survivors of raiding force on Piscopi, and HI:S Attacker is standing by. On ileos, German resistance stiffening, and 150-mrn battery still firing, island again oombaredo by HI.V; r bomb coastal battery. C

to Calchi I., TI of Rhodc 240

Oct Section IV: IEDITERRANEAN THEATER 1944

Calchi, has garrison believed to be 20 strong. Thirty-eight Greek-based planes attack transport and continue strikes against RR targets in Salonika area.

30 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH ARtMY

Limited operations because of ground conditions.

Porter Force Patrols along coast advance on Route 16. to position about 5 mi. S of Ravenna; inland, 27th Lancers secure S. Stefano (12 mi. N of Cesena) and S. Pietro in Vincoli, to Swithout opposition; farther W, troops undergo heavy mortaring.

V Corps Enemy still holds W bank of Ronco. R in most of 4th Div sector; patrols of Div unable to cross.be- cause of deep mud and accurate IVD fire. In spite of heavy resistance elements of 43d Ind Brig of 10th Ind Div attack across river N of LMeldola, taking 40 prisoners. Twenty-fifth Ind Brig then relieves 43d Brig in area W of Ronco R. MIeldola falls to 20th Ind Brig.

II Polish Corps Patrols contact enemy along entire front. Because Germans continue to hold Caminate in strength, 2d Carp Brig of 3d Carp Div postpones attack on town; 6th Lwow Brig of 5th Kres Div has patrols on high ground N and NE of Iiy. Mirabello.

U.S. FIFTH iARLY

XIII Corps Rain, sleet, and fog bring offensive oper- ations to a virtual standstill. Patrol of 8th Ind Div reports enemy withdrawn from Tredozio; 17th Brig secures foothills on W;slopes of M. Mionsignano. Units of 6th Br Armd Div continue fighting for possession of M. Taverna.

II .Corps Enemy shells M. Grande and Route 65. No change in forward positions.

Aramy Troops Throughout day shelling occurs along Setta Valley in vicinity of Rioveggio. On R flank of CCB sector in Lith Armd Bn, with tank er this Bn is 241

Oct Section IV: IEDITERRZNEN.THE±ATER 1944

30 severely counterattacked by German 232d Div in vicinity Ceont of Castollaccio.

IV Corps Elements of BEF resume advance: Lama hills and high ground E of Campio are captured with little resistance; patrols encounter IMG and mortar fire in IMolazzana area. Coastal patrols in TF 92 sector continue active.

Force of 189 fighters and fighter bombers attacks communi- cations and supply dumps in rear of battle area, especially in Po Valley; Treviso, Vicenza, and Parma RR yards effectively strafed; gun positions near Forli and Ferrara and dump SW of Padua hit; N of Rovigno, RRs cut in 5 places and bridge ap- proaches damaged; S of Ferrara bridge hit as well as stores and buildings in Imola. In N Adriatic, barges on Lake Veneta and 2 vessels off Umago are effective targets for A Beaufighters. Weather cancels 15th AF and medium bomber operations. During night single Beaufighter attacks MT at Parma and Reggic, destroying 10.

Yugoslavia

On Dalmatian coast, Partisans continue ;NWof Sp-lit to Trogir; to the SE in Hercegovina they advance up Liutkovic- Mostar road to take Capljina in the Neretva R. valley; farther S on Dalmatian coast, street fighting is in progress at Ercegnovi, SE of Dubrovnik, Yugoslavs report. Street fighting also reported in Sremska Ifitrovica, on INW boundary of Serbia. Germans at Sjenica attempting- to reach Lri R. to the Vi. Sofia announces that Bulgars have crossed the Pcinja R., SE Serbia, E of Kumanovo. In E Bosnia, Partisans report liberation of further towns E of Sarajevo. I P-51s attack train and RR objectives at Lipljan (40 ri. NNWIMof Skoplje), and damage numerous iT, inflicting heavy casualties on. personnel.

Albania

Spitfires sweep roads in .lbania and hit bridge N of Shegas (22 mi, N of Tirana). P-51s attack small road convoy between Vorre and Scutari. 242 U"UlASSIFIED

Oct Section IV. IMEDITERRiNEkN THEATER 1944

Greece and Aegean

British patrols enter Salonika and find it free of enemy; contact maintained N of the city. Other British units are pursuing enemy toward Florina. Bitter fighting continues on Piscopi and Milos islands; Royal Navy lands about lo0 mren on latter, where 150-mr. battery is still in action; Greek DD, Navarito, attempting to prevent further enemy reinforcements from reaching Piscopi.

31 Italy

BRITISH EIGHTH IZRi

Porter Force Enemy begins withdrawing on limited scale, still holding I bank of Ronco R. as far as town of Ronco, 2 mi. NWTof Forlimpopoli; elements. of Porter Force overcome resistance and. enter Borgo Sisa, 5 mi. NE of Forli on Route 67.

V Corps In 4th Div sector, 10th Brig remains in close contact with enemy and has some elements across Ronco R. in area 2 mi. 1,I7 of Forlimpopoli; troops also reach NE corner of airfield 21 mi. SUiof Forli. Tenth Ind Div.makes significant advance as 25th Ind Brig pushes NW' to meet enemy at Carpena, about 3 mi. SE of Forli; farther S, hills NE of Ravaldino, 2 mi. h'7 of LiCedola, are, found clear of enemy.

II Polish Corps Enemy withdrawing along entire front except on L flank. Units of 2d Carp Brig of 3d Carp Div take over Caminate after enemy pulls out and send patrols 1 mi. N into Lardiano. Elements of 6th Lwow Brig of 5th Kres Div drive back enemy troops which attacked them just N of Predappio. ~t end of month elements of II Polish Corps are within 7 mi. of Route 9*

U.S. FIFTH Rlfi

XIII Corps On R flank, 26th irmd Brig Group makes slight gain on WT side of Route 67 in area N of Rocca S. Casciano. Enoemy still holds .. ionaignano, N of Tredozio. Patrols maintain contact with enemy on remainder of front.

4. 243

Oct Section IV: 1MDITERP~NEN THELTER 1944

31 Corps II Repeated counterattacks against Hill 568, N Cont of M. Grande, repulsed with heavy losses to the enemy by 350th Inf, 88th Div.

Army.Troops R flank activity limited to patrolling. Troops of llth Armd Bn, supported by arty and mortar fire, repulse another bitter counterattack near Castellaccio.

IV Corps Heavy fighting occurs in BEF sector: enemy launches 4 early morning counterattacks in hills E of Campio, causing Brazilian troops to withdraw S to Albiano; enemy also pushes Brazilian troops from Lama positions S to Catagnana and Sommocolonia. Corps gains for Oct.-are small because of bad weather, diff- icult terrain, and lack of supplies; enemy arty heaviest during month on W flank along Route 1.

Maintaining support for Allied armies, 515 fightecrs and fighter bombers and 23 A-20s continue to harass enemy ob- jectives with excellent results; several bridges -destroyed or damaged as well as RR installations, r6ads,: and transport; of 30 3 enemy planes encountered E of Brescia destroyed, 2 probably, and 1 damaged. P-39s of CAF hit bridges and barracks in IVT Italy with fair results. Force of 136 B-26s attacks 5 bridges in Po Valley, hitting 2 and cutting ap- proaches to a third and probably the others. In night attacks9 single A-20, strafes train and UT along Po Valley, iwhile 6 Beaufighters ,directed against airfields at Ghedi., Ber'ino and Villafranca, strike RR installations and transport in that general area. Objectives along French-Italian coast shelled by French DD Forbin.

Yugoslavia

Partisans make further gains along Adriatic coast, capturing I.0otski and investing enemy on Sibenik-Drnis-.Knin line in N Dalmatia, engaging hostile column on Hostar in Hercegovina, road capturing Ercegovni in S Dalmatia after 3 days of fighting and taking near-by Zerlenika, occup-ying strongpoints on Cetinje-Kotor line, and engaging enei^y column from Scutari (Albania) in vicinity of Podgorica. Soviets and Partisans still heavilyr engaged '7.of'Belgrade in Sremska 1ilitrovica-Veliki Radinci area, but Yugoslavs re- /Mm?:

ag-tX~~gF'gatSW Oct Section IV: lvEDITERRANEaN THEiTER 1944

of Fruska 31 port capture of several strongpoints in W portion Jaeger Divs Cont Gora IMt. Elements of German 13th SS and 118th Div said together with remnants of 117th Jaeger and 1st Mtn to be fighting W of Novi Sad. In Serbia, fighting continues in Kraljevo-Cacak area; Germans from Sjenica (possibly to the elements of 297th Inf Div) have captured Prijepol-e; SE, Bulgars and Partisans moving toward l.iitrovica and engaged Pristina; in SE Srbia,.. Yugosilavs and Bulgars heavily enemy in vicinity of Strumnica and along Pcinja R. line where stiff is defending his Vardar withdrawal route. ,In E Bosnia, enemy fighting reported along, Brcko-Bijeljina- line; to mtzd force has entered Zvornik. Partisans continue -and harass transport' and transportation lines in Croatia Slovenia .. b Xe-o ' ' , .. Because of weather, 174 heavy bombers dispatched to 8 Yugoslavia are unable to attack. Four 'iellingtons drbp tons on Podgorica military installations *with unobsp.rved ^l:and results. Shipping and installations at Zara. :Rab I*.- A-30s Jablanac, Croatia, are targets for 12- Venturas and 18' which achieve 'good results.. Total of 89 fighters and and fighter bombers', operating over Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, attack RRs, shipping, MT, and' harbor installations along Adriatic coast, .causing considerable damage. During area. night 3 LMosquitoes score hits on IVIT in Sarajevo-Bihac

Greece and Aegean

*Enemy rearguards not yet across border, and contact is maintained N of Salonika. Florina still held by enemy, but area to the S virtually clear. Final enemy colurms expected troops to be out of Greece within the next day or so. Allied enemy withdraw from Piscopi I. on Greek DD Navarino; loses on 2 landing craft during action for this island. Situation weather; Milos I. remains critical, and operations hindered by British units on the island establish contact vlith Greeks; HiLS Black Allied naval bombardment increases with arrival of Prince to assist MEiS Aurora; 6 ik-30s bomb coastal battery and probable ammunition dump on the island. Throughout the month, Greek guerrilla forces have engaged in numerous sabo- tage,operations and have continually harassed enemy along withdrawal routes. SS Bourgas (Bulgarian cargo ship, 2,941 tons) sunk by enemy action at 40-35 N, 22-59 E. SS Lola (Swvedish cargo ship, 1,193 tons) sunk by enemy action at 40-35 N, 22-55 E. ,v :,.s', , -Ir 1- ,' ; 11' ,IC.- , -t 't .ku ... t