This comprised an assault of the 10th Mountain Division and the Brazilian Expeditionary Force to secure the high ground dominating Strada statale 64 Porrettana [it] where it crossed the Apennine Mountains (18 February—25 February 1945),[1] followed by a limited offensive that ended with the capture of the crossroads at Castel d'Aiano (3 March—5 March 1945)[2] Once these objectives were achieved, the Fifth Army could successfully penetrate the northern Apennines to reach the Po valley as part of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy.

[3] However, the Apennines were a formidable terrain and despite reduced numbers and limited supplies the Germans proved to be stubborn foes in their well-prepared defensive positions.

While the American divisions managed to advance past both the Futa and Il Giogo passes, it was at a high cost.

On 27 October General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, the Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, ordered a halt to these offensives.

[4] The Allies made one last attempt to break through the Apennines, using units of the recently arrived Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the 92nd Infantry Division.

[7] Facing the Allied troops was the German 232nd Infantry Division, which had been intended to be a second-line unit, but had been fighting in the line since its arrival in Italy in August 1944.

[10] The first move was to capture the Pizzo di Campiano [it]–Monte Mancinello [it] range of mountains, known to the Americans as Riva Ridge, rising west of Mt.

Despite minefields and emplaced machine gun positions, the 87th Mountain captured two of the three villages on the western slopes, as well as the Valpiana Ridge, by dawn.

For this part of the battle, General Hays brought in the artillery assets, while British Spitfires and American P-47s were coordinated by ground spotters dubbed "Rover Joe".

Following an artillery barrage of the German positions on Mount della Torraccio, on 24 February the third battalion moved forward to seize the summit of the mountain in hand-to-hand combat by 9:00am.

[22] The following day the 86th Mountain Infantry captured the town of Sassomolare, and shortly before 3:30pm was in control of their final objective, Mount Grande d'Aiano.

"[26] The American success made German Field Marshall Albert Kesselring concerned this was the beginning of a major offensive aimed to capture Bologna.

[27] Its first unit, the 15th Panzer Grenadier regiment arrived at this point and initiated a series of counterattacks against the soldiers dug in on Mount della Spe.

[27] Worried that Kesselring might grow concerned enough to develop defensive positions astride Strada statale 64, on 5 March General Truscott ordered the units to halt in place.

[22] Based on their experiences at Cassino, Allied command had expected it would take two weeks to drive the Germans off Mount Belvedere; instead the division completed their mission in 10 days.

[33] For their achievements in February and March, the entire 10th Mountain Division received commendations from Field Marshall Harold Alexander, Lieutenant Generals Joseph McNarney, Mark Clark, Truscott, and Crittenberger.