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History |
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Wars & Campaigns |
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►Boer
War
►First
World War
►►Western
Front
►►►Trench
Warfare: 1914-1916
►►►Allied
Offensive: 1916
►►►Allied
Offensives: 1917
►►►German
Offensive: 1918
►►►Advance
to Victory: 1918
►►Siberia
►Second
World War
►►War
Against Japan
►►North
Africa
►►Italian
Campaign
►►►Sicily
►►►Southern
Italy
►►►The
Sangro and Moro
►►►Battles
of the FSSF
►►►Cassino
►►►Liri
Valley
►►►Advance
to Florence
►►►Gothic
Line
►►►Winter
Lines
►►North-West
Europe
►►►Normandy
►►►Southern
France
►►►Channel
Ports
►►►Scheldt
►►►Nijmegen
Salient
►►►Rhineland
►►►Final
Phase
►Korean
War
►Cold
War
►Gulf
War |
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Operations |
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Battle Honours |
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Boer War
First World War
Western Front
Trench Warfare: 1914-1916
Allied Offensive: 1916
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►Somme, 1916 |
1
Jul-18 Nov 16 |
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►Albert |
.1-13
Jul 16 |
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►Bazentin |
.14-17
Jul 16 |
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►Pozieres |
.23
Jul-3 Sep 16 |
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►Guillemont |
.3-6
Sep 16 |
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►Ginchy |
.9
Sep 16 |
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►Flers-Courcelette |
15-22
Sep 16 |
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►Thiepval |
26-29
Sep 16 |
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►Le Transloy |
.
1-18 Oct 16 |
Allied
Offensives: 1917
|
►Arras 1917 |
8
Apr-4 May 17 |
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►Vimy, 1917 |
.9-14
Apr 17 |
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►Arleux |
28-29 Apr 17 |
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►Scarpe, 1917 |
.3-4
May17 |
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►Hill 70 |
.15-25
Aug 17 |
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►Messines, 1917 |
.7-14
Jun 17 |
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►Ypres, 1917 |
..31
Jul-10 Nov 17 |
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►Pilckem |
31
Jul-2 Aug 17 |
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►Langemarck, 1917 |
.16-18
Aug 17 |
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►Menin Road |
.20-25
Sep 17 |
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►Polygon Wood |
26
Sep-3 Oct 17 |
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►Broodseinde |
.4
Oct 17 |
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►Poelcapelle |
.9
Oct 17 |
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►Passchendaele |
.12
Oct 17 |
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►Cambrai, 1917 |
20
Nov-3 Dec 17 |
German Offensive: 1918
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►Somme, 1918 |
.21
Mar-5 Apr 18 |
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►St. Quentin |
.21-23
Mar 18 |
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►Bapaume, 1918 |
.24-25
Mar 18 |
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►Rosieres |
.26-27
Mar 18 |
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►Avre |
.4
Apr 18 |
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►Lys |
.9-29
Apr 18 |
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►Estaires |
.9-11
Apr 18 |
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►Messines, 1918 |
.10-11
Apr 18 |
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►Bailleul |
.13-15
Apr 18 |
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►Kemmel |
.17-19
Apr 18 |
Advance to Victory: 1918
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►Arras, 1918 |
.26
Aug-3 Sep 18 |
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►Scarpe, 1918 |
26-30 Aug 18. |
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►Drocourt-Queant |
.2-3
Sep 18 |
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►Hindenburg Line |
.12
Sep-9 Oct 18 |
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►Canal du Nord |
.27
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►St. Quentin Canal |
.29
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►Epehy |
3-5
Oct 18 |
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►Cambrai, 1918 |
.8-9
Oct 18 |
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►Valenciennes |
.1-2
Nov 18 |
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►Sambre |
.4
Nov 18 |
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►Pursuit to Mons |
.28 Sep-11Nov |
Second World War
War Against Japan
South-East Asia
Italian Campaign
Battle of Sicily
Southern
Italy
The Sangro and Moro
Battles of the FSSF
|
►Anzio |
22
Jan-22 May 44 |
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►Rome |
.22
May-4 Jun 44 |
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►Advance
|
.22
May-22 Jun 44 |
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to the Tiber |
. |
|
►Monte Arrestino |
25
May 44 |
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►Rocca Massima |
27
May 44 |
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►Colle Ferro |
2
Jun 44 |
Cassino
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►Cassino II |
11-18
May 44 |
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►Gustav Line |
11-18
May 44 |
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►Sant' Angelo in
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13
May 44 |
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Teodice |
. |
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►Pignataro |
14-15 May 44 |
Liri Valley
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►Hitler Line |
18-24 May 44 |
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►Melfa Crossing |
24-25 May 44 |
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►Torrice Crossroads |
30
May 44 |
Advance to Florence
Gothic Line
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►Gothic Line |
25 Aug-22 Sep 44 |
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►Monteciccardo |
27-28 Aug 44 |
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►Point 204 (Pozzo Alto) |
31 Aug 44 |
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►Borgo Santa Maria |
1 Sep 44 |
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►Tomba di Pesaro |
1-2 Sep 44 |
Winter Lines
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►Rimini Line |
14-21 Sep 44 |
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►San Martino- |
14-18 Sep 44 |
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San Lorenzo |
. |
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►San Fortunato |
18-20 Sep 44 |
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►Sant' Angelo |
11-15 Sep 44 |
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in Salute |
. |
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►Bulgaria Village |
13-14 Sep 44 |
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►Pisciatello |
16-19 Sep 44 |
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►Savio Bridgehead |
20-23
Sep 44 |
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►Monte La Pieve |
13-19
Oct 44 |
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►Monte Spaduro |
19-24 Oct 44 |
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►Monte San Bartolo |
11-14
Nov 44 |
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►Lamone Crossing |
2-13
Dec 44 |
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►Capture of Ravenna |
3-4
Dec 44 |
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►Naviglio Canal |
12-15 Dec 44 |
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►Fosso Vecchio |
16-18 Dec 44 |
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►Fosso Munio |
19-21 Dec 44 |
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►Conventello- |
2-6 Jan 45 |
|
Comacchio |
. |
Northwest Europe
Battle of Normandy
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►Quesnay Road |
10-11 Aug 44 |
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►St. Lambert-sur- |
19-22 Aug 44 |
Southern France
Channel Ports
The Scheldt
Nijmegen Salient
Rhineland
|
►The
Reichswald |
8-13 Feb 45 |
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►Waal
Flats |
8-15 Feb 45 |
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►Moyland
Wood |
14-21 Feb 45 |
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►Goch-Calcar
Road |
19-21 Feb 45 |
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►The
Hochwald |
26
Feb- |
| . |
4
Mar 45 |
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►Veen |
6-10 Mar 45 |
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►Xanten |
8-9
Mar 45 |
Final Phase
|
►The
Rhine |
23
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
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►Emmerich-Hoch
|
28
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
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Elten |
. |
Korean War
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Domestic Missions |
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►FLQ
Crisis |
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International
Missions |
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►ICCS
Vietnam 1973
►MFO
Sinai 1986- |
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Peacekeeping |
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►UNTEA |
W. N. Guinea 1963-1964 |
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►ONUCA |
C. America
1989-1992 |
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►UNTAC |
Cambodia
1992-1993 |
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►UNMOP |
Prevlaka
1996-2001 |
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|
Exercises |
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Arezzo
|
Arezzo
was a Battle Honour granted to Canadian regiments participating in
battles near the city of Arezzo during the Advance to Florence, a phase of the Italian
Campaign during the Second World War.
Background
See also main article on Advance to Florence
Allied troops
captured Rome on 4 June 1944. While the two Allied armies in Italy (United
States 5th Army and British 8th Army) pursued the disorganized
German armies north, the
1st Canadian Corps went into reserve. The 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade went into action in support
of British divisions as they pursued the Germans north towards
Florence.1
Following the
loss of Rome, the German objective in Italy was greatly
simplified: to buy time for a stand further north.2
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The Arezzo Line
(adapted from map
compiled by Historical Section, General Staff and
originally published in Official History of the Canadian
Army in the Second World War, Vol II)
See also main article Trasimene Line
The Germans fought a successful delaying
action south of the Gothic Line, halting British troops at the Trasimene
Line for three weeks. When the advance continued on 29 June, there was a
major change in the 8th Army's plans for the drive on Arezzo and
Florence. The 13th Corps was given priority in men and resources over
the neighbouring 10th Corps, which had made little progress in the more
mountainous region north of Perugia. As well, the British 78th Division
was withdrawn to Palestine for a rest, relieved by the British 6th
Armoured Division and tasked with leading the advance of the 13th Corps
up Highway 71. The British 4th Division found its front increased, and
the 12th Brigade brought into the line on the left of the 10th Brigade.
A poorly coordinated two-pronged attack on 29 June was supported by both
the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) and the 14th
Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment). With no means of
communicating with each other, they couldn't press the attack nor call
down effective artillery and the Germans retreated in good order,
missing no opportunity for demolitions behind them that would impede the
Allied advance.3
British infantry advance near Arezzo,
Italy, 16 July 1944. The lead soldier wears a cloth jerkin made
from Italian camouflage material. Second man is wearing what
appears to be a civilian straw hat to shield himself from the
summer sun. The American .45 calibre Thompson machine carbine
was standard issue to Allied forces in the Italian theatre and
unlike Northwest Europe, never replaced by the Sten Gun. Since
the Americans also used .45 calibre weapons (pistols and
Thompsons) there was a desire to minimize the need for
additional shipping space to the theatre. Imperial War
Museum photograph
The Arezzo Line
The 28th Brigade continued the advance on
the west side of the Canale Maestro della Chiana with tanks of the
Ontario Regiment in support, replacing the 10th Brigade and Three Rivers
on the right flank of the 4th Division. It was not ideal terrain for
tanks, with vineyards and tall maize restricting fields of vision for
both drivers and crew commanders. Both brigades crossed the Arezzo-Siena
highway on 4 July, and encountered increased resistance on 5 July. By
the next day Allied progress all across Italy had come to a halt, and it
was clear Kesselring as determined to defend the rail and road centre at
Arezzo, as well as the major ports of Leghorn and Ancona.
In the 13th Corps' sector what we came to call the Arezzo Line ran about seven miles south of the main road from Arezzo to
Florence (Highway No. 69). With their customary tactical sagacity the
Germans had selected positions of great natural strength along the
height of land between the valleys of the Arno and the Chiana. Steep
hillsides covered with rocky outcroppings and deep gullies clothed with
oak thickets made movement off the roads by infantry extraordinarily
arduous and by tanks virtually impossible-and the enemy controlled all
roads. From the hilltop town of San Pancrazio
General Heidrich dominated the Monte San Savino-Florence road, which
provided the 4th Division's main avenue of advance, while his hold on
the equally inaccessible village of Civitella, four miles to the east,
barred the only other passage across the mountain ridge in the
divisional sector.4
On 6 July, infantry of the British 12th
Brigade attempted to scale the terraced heights below San Pancrazio
under the cover fire provided by tanks of the Calgary Regiment. On the
right flank, "B" Squadron had been halted a mile south of Civitella by
rocky terrain, steep hills, heavy enemy fire and the exhaustion of the
infantry accompanying them. The terrain was so tight that the armour was
unable to assist infantry attacks on Point 543, and the 2nd Battalion,
The Royal Fusiliers were thrown back on 4 July and again on 5 July. In
the meantime, another battalion of the 28th Brigade drove the Germans
from Tuori with support from the Ontario Regiment, two miles east of
Civitella.5
Early in the morning of July 4th, "C"
Squadron (of the Ontario Regiment), with the (2nd/4th Battalion,
Hampshire Regiment), pushed through "A" and "B" Squadrons up the
highway and struck out northward to Tegoleto on Route 73, thence
northeast along Route 73 to Mugliano, less than five miles from
Arezzo. the Hampshires and "C" Squadron met nothing more serious
than harassing fire.
The other two squadrons followed the
same route and on July 5th, "A" Squadron moved ahead of "B" Squadron
at Dorna, passing on to the hamlet of Tuori, some 2,000 yards north.
Again the opposition stiffened. "A" Squadron came under heavy fire
and found that the country was impassable to tanks. "C" Squadron was
compelled to stand fast at Mugliano because the right flank was
exposed.
In the night, "B" Squadron tried to slip
through "A" Squadron and continue the advance. But the "B" Squadron
tanks could make no progress. The chief obstacle in the way was a
ridge north of Tuori and to the south of the Arezzo-Florence
highway. If the ridge could be taken, fire could be directed in
support of the 6th Armoured Division which was moving towards Arezzo
on the other side of the valley.
Tanks of the three squadrons were
dispersed about Tuori in the morning of July 6th in an attempt to
support the infantry's drive up the ridge. The enemy brought fierce
and accurate defensive fire upon the infantry attackers and upon the
tanks. The first assault was thrown back. Another attack was
launched in the evening and this time the infantry overran the
ridge. The area was at once consolidated and the Brigade rested on
its new position. Four days later the Ontarios were relieved and
moved to a rest area...6
The failure to take the main San
Pancrazio-Civitella ridge frontally caused the 4th Division's commander
to try the right flanking attack. The infantry unit mentioned in the
quote above was the 2nd Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry. With
support from the Ontario Regiment's tanks, they seized two heights,
Points 535 and 484. However, the division intended for the 10th Brigade
with tanks of the Three Rivers to exploit toward Highway 69, lying three
miles beyond, and German counter-attacks over the next three days
continued to frustrate these plans. On the right flank, the inability of
the 6th Armoured Division to take Mount Lignano was also frustrating. A
week of stalemate ensued and action on the front of the corps devolved
to small skirmishes and patrols.7
The final stage in the battle for Arezza
began early on 15 July with the 1st Guards Brigade of 6th Armoured
Division attacked the northern end of the Chiana Valley and the 2nd New
Zealand Division stormed Mount Lignano. Also firing in support were all
available small arms and mortars of the 4th Division west of the Chiana
Canal, and tank guns of the Three Rivers Regiment, firing at targets
north of Tuori. The 15th Panzergrenadier Division resisted the Guards,
but the New Zealanders seized Lignano early, giving them a commanding
view of Arezzo and German artillery positions to the north.
Battle Honours
The following Canadian
units were awarded the Battle Honour "Arezzo" for participation in
these actions:
1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
-
11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The
Ontario Regiment)
-
12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The
Three Rivers Regiment)
-
14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The
Calgary Regiment)
Notes
-
Greenhous, Brereton "Italian
Odyssey, 1943-45" We Stand on Guard: An Illustrated History of
the Canadian Army (Ovale Publications, Montreal, PQ, 1992)
ISBN 2894290438 p.280
-
Dancocks, Daniel G. D-Day Dodgers:
The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 (McClelland & Stewart Inc.,
Toronto, ON, 1991) ISBN 0771025440 p.293
-
Nicholson, Gerald Official History of the
Canadian Army in the Second World War: Volume II: The Canadians in
Italy (2nd printing, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, ON, 1957)
p.470
-
Ibid pp.471-472
-
Ibid, p.472
-
Schragg, Lex History of The Ontario Regiment
1866-1951 pp.224-225
-
Nicholson, Ibid
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