Argenta Gap, battle of

Argenta Gap, battle of, generic term for the final Allied offensive in the Italian campaign, launched in April 1945 under the codename GRAPESHOT. The plan had been drawn up by General Mark Clark during the winter and was designed to trap General Heinrich von Vietinghoff's Army Group C between the Fifth US and Eighth British Armies. Vietinghoff expected an attack, once the ground dried out, and wanted to conduct a delaying operation based on the numerous river lines, but Hitler ordered him to stand and fight in place. However, shortage of fuel and the prolonged Allied air interdiction campaign had, drastically reduced his mobility. After a preliminary operation by British Special Forces on Lake Comacchio, which was designed to tie down the German Adriatic flank, the Eighth Army struck first, on 9 April. Further operations on Lake Comacchio helped to turn the German flank, enabling the British to force the vital Argenta Gap, just west of the lake which was then twice its modern size. The Fifth US Army, with the whole weight of Allied air power switched to its support, attacked on 15 April. Eight days later the two armies linked up north of Bologna and the back of the German resistance was broken. Thereafter the Allies advanced rapidly northwards and westwards, with the Americans entering Genoa on 27 April, and Milan two days later, while the British also reached Venice on 29 April. On this same day the Germans signed an unconditional surrender at Caserta. This came into effect on 2 May and marked the end of the war in Italy, although the Fifth US Army continued to advance into Austria, linking up with the Seventh US Army in the Brenner Pass on 6 May.

Charles Messenger

Bibliography

Graham, D., and and Bidwell, S. , Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–45 (London, 1986).