Timeline of New Zealand's Italian Campaign
New Zealand's Prime Minister Peter Fraser had declared war on Italy as of 10.30am, on the 11th of June 1940, following Italy's entry into the war on the Axis side. The New Zealanders met the Italians in the desert campaign of North Africa, and in the Battle of Britain, and the Meditteranean campaign.
However by the time the New Zealanders set foot on Italian soil, they were no longer technically at war with that country. The end of 1943 saw big changes for Italy, which had been at war with the Allies for over three years. The Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had by this time been ousted from his rule of Italy by Marshal Pietro Badoglio, who had immediately dissolved the Fascist movement in Italy, and on the 3rd of September 1943 had signed an Armistice with the Allies. The announcement of this surrender saw almost a civil war erupt in his country, with Italians taking sides for and against the end of the war with the Allies. Many Italians wanted to continue the fight against the Allied nations, and to make things more complex, the Germans were in Italy. It was the Germans that the New Zealanders would come up against the most, though trusting the local Italians was also somewhat an issue.
The Allied forces made their first landings in Italy at Taranto and Salerno on the 9th of September 1943. Two days later the German army reacted by occupying Rome. Then Mussolini, who had been held in the remote mountain resort of Campo Imperatore by Italian forces was rescued from imprisonment on the 12th of September in a daring raid by German special forces. He would go on to re-establish his Fascist Government in the north of Italy on the 23rd of September, with full German backing.
The country of Italy was officially now at peace with the Allies but within its borders was the still strong rebel Italian Fascist movement which was certainly still at war with them. And the Army and Air Force of Nazi Germany began to grow in strength to bolster the Axis defences. The Axis set up a number of defensive lines across the country. This is the scene that met the first kiwi troops as they arrived at Taranto on the 3rd of October 1943.
1943
13 May 1943
_May-Sep 1943
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_24 July 1943
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_Mid-Sep 1943
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_12 Sep 1943
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_6 Oct 1943
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_9 Oct 1943
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_13 Oct 1943
_18 Oct 1943
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_22 Oct 1943
_1 Nov 1943
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_11-22 Nov 1943
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_14 Nov 1943
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_18 Nov 1943
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_22 Nov 1943
_27/28 Nov 1943
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_1 Dec 1943
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_2 Dec 1943
_3 Dec 1943
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_3-24 Dec 1943
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The war in North Africa was declared over, the German and Italian forces being defeated by the Allies, including the 2nd NZ Division
The 2nd New Zealand Division reconsolidated at Maadi Camp in Egypt where their strength was built up with new troops of the 9th and 10th Reinforcements from NZ and the Pacific
Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini was deposed by a vote by the Grand Council of Fascism. He was arrested by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, and imprisoned. he was replaced as Italian leader by Marshal Pietro Badoglio.
The NZ Division begins the seven-day march from Maadi Camp to Berg el Arab, near Alexandria on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. Further training took place following arrival in this staging area and at Ikingi
A special unit of German Fallshirmjager (Paratroopers) raided Hotel Campo Impertore, the prison in which former Fascist leader Benito Mussolini was being held, and released him, so he could continue to lead Fascist forces in the north of Italy.
The first battalions boarded ships to sail to Italy - most yet unaware of their destination. 24 Battalion embarked on the ships Reina del Pacifico and Dunottar Castle.
The first troops of the 2nd New Zealand Division disembarked in lighters at the port of Taranto, Italy, and more troops and equipment continued to arrive through till the 22nd of October
The new Italian Government declared war on Germany, aligning itself with the Allies
The second of two flight of NZ Division men began the voyage from Alexandria to Taranto. 21 Battalion members made the journey aboard the Nieuw Holland. The other four vessels involved were the Langibby Castle, Letitia, Aronda and Egra.
The Nieuw Holland, Langibby Castle, Letitia, Aronda and Egra arrived at Taranto
The first troops and vehicles of the Division began to move from Taranto up to Lucera, near the port of Bari, to consolidate and make ready to go to the front lines
Each day during this period New Zealand units left Lucera to head towards a concentration area between Furci and Gissi. Also units still at Taranto awaiting the arrival of their vehicles were, once mobile, moving straight up to the new concentration area (only stopping at Lucera to collect stores) during this period
The NZ Divisional Headquarters was established just south of Gissi. The Division assumed responsibility for a sector along the Sangro River, near the Adriatic coast. Their sector was positioned between the Eighth Army's 5 Corps and 13 Corps, and as well as its own NZ units the Division assumed command of 19 Indian Brigade and 3 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
The 28th Battery, 5th Field Regiment, New Zealand Field Artillery, was the first New Zealand unit to fire shots in anger in the Italian campaign, supporting the men of 19 Indian Brigade north of Casalanguida, on the 14th of November 1943
A Battalion of 19 Indian Brigade, which was now attached to the New Zealand Division, accompanied by the 19th New Zealand Armoured Regiment, captured the town of Perano, in the first action that a New Zealand armoured unit ever fought
The New Zealand Division moved onto the banks of the Sangro River to prepare to make a crossing into German held territory
Two New Zealand Brigades crossed the Sangro River this night, wading up to their chins in freezing rapids, and began to climb up the Sangro Ridge towards the German positions
After several fierce skirmishes, the first combat for the New Zealand Infantry troops on Italian soil, the German lines at the Sangro River are completely broken
New Zealand troops captured the town of Castel Frentano, in the Gustav Line, 8km north of the Sangro River
The Germans abandon their position on the Sangro Ridge. A New Zealand Infantry platoon, 11 Platoon of B Company, 24 Battalion, made a brief incursion into the town of Orsogna, before being repelled
The New Zealand Division is heavily involved in the battle of Orsogna. In the end failure to take the last German positions ends in stalemate
1944
1 Jan 1944
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_13 Jan 1944
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_4 Feb 1944
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_6/7 Feb 1944
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16 Feb 1944
17 Feb 1944
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_18 Feb 1944
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_15 Mar 1944
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_24 Mar 1944_
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11-12 May 1944
15 May 1944
18 May 1944
_26 May 1944
31 May 1944
4 June 1944_
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_5 June 1944
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_13 July 1944
14-16 July 1944
16 July 1944
17 July 1944
21 July 1944
_26-28 July 1944
27 July - 3 Aug
_3 Aug 1944
_4 Aug 1944
22 Aug 1944
25 Aug 1944
2 Sept 1944
4 Sept 1944
13 Sept 1944
_21 Sept 1944
11-13 Oct 1944
19-20 Oct 1944
_26 Nov 1944
4 Dec 1944
14-15 Dec 1944
_14-15 Dec 1944
16 Dec 1944
17 Dec 1944 -
31 Mar 1945
_Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese took over command of the British 8th Army from General Sir Bernard Montgomery. Leese is now Freyberg's commander
The decision was made to move the New Zealand troops from the stalled front line at Orsogna in the east of Italy, to Cassino in the west, to join the US 5th Army who were making an assault on that town to try to free up Route 6, the road to Rome. Cassino was the German stronghold preventing free movement to the Allies along Route 6
The US 5th Army made its first offensive against the German's Gustav Line, and made the first attacks on the town of Cassino in an attempt to open up Route 6, the main road north to Rome. The New Zealanders were assembling behind their lines at this time at Magnano
Six Corps of the US 5th Army became the first of the Allied Forces to begin landing at Anzio beachead, which is further north up the coast from Cassino. The plan is to sweep south from Anzio to create a second attack on Cassino and the Gustav Line from the north, taking the pressure off the Allies already attacking Cassino. The landing is a success but incursion inland soon falters due to poor leadership
The New Zealand Corps was officially formed at 10.00am on this day, based around the 2nd NZ Division, combined with the smaller 4th Indian Division. Over the next week additional units added to the Corps included, according to the Official History volume Italy Volume 1: The Sangro To Cassino, "...a general transport company, two mobile petrol filling centres and a bulk petrol company, five mule transport companies, a corps ordnance field park company, a provost unit and a pioneer labour company. The artillery was strengthened by 2 Army Group, Royal Artillery, comprising three field regiments (one with self-propelled guns), five medium regiments and a light anti-aircraft battery, and by three American anti-aircraft battalions. In addition to this formidable increase in fire-power, the corps had the heavy and medium artillery of 2 United States Corps available for its support throughout the Cassino operations. The engineers, the medical corps and the armoured services were also reinforced from British and American sources. Later in the month, when plans were being matured for a breakthrough by the corps, the American Combat Command ‘B’ (part of 1 United States Armoured Division) was added as an exploiting force. It was divided into Task Forces A and B, each composed of two tank battalions, a tank-destroyer battalion,and two companies of engineers, and it had four battalions of field artillery in support."
The Germans mounted a counter-attack at Anzio also on 3 Feb 1944
The New Zealand Corps began to move onto the front line at Cassino, relieving the 2nd United States Army Corps
The New Zealand Corps moved up to the Rapido Line, on the southern banks of the Rapido River
Reconnaissance patrols began of the Rapido River sectors. Following a skirmish with Germans across the other side, the first two prisoners of the Cassino campaign taken by the New Zealanders were captured by a D Company, 21 Battalion, patrol led by 2nd Lt Fitzgibbon. The prisoners were actually taken by L/Sgt Ted 'Bluey' Homewood
A force of 142 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, 47 North American B-25 Mitchells and 40 Martin B-26 Marauders of the United States Army Air Force bombed and destroyed the Abbey atop of Monte Cassino. This was done as the Allied commanders considered that German forces were either using the 150 high building with ten foot thick walls as an observation post to watch Allied movement and positions below and spot for their artillery. It was considered even if the Germans were not already in the Abbey, then they might useit at any time, especialy as a fall back point as the Allies advanced, which would make an assault on Monastery Hill and the high ground even more difficult
The Germans mounted a second large attack on the Anzio beachead
Two Companies of the 28 (Maori) Battalion crossed the Rapido River, south of Cassino, with the objective to capture the town's railway station. 24 Battalion provided a diversionary attack to distract the German defenders. The Maoris captured held the position despite a lack of armoured support which had trouble crossing the river.
The Maori Companies were forced to withdraw back from the railway station to the river late in the day, the when the German counter-attack proved overwhelming. This had been the first large scale planned attack on Cassino by members of the NZ Division, and nearly succeeded
The New Zealanders began the assault into the Cassino town centre, in an attempt to take the strongly held German positions at Hotel des Roses, The Baron's Palace and Hotel Continental. The ground attack launched following a major Allied bombing raid that flattened most of the town. The ground assault continues till the 23rd of March, when they withdrew
The New Zealand Corps withdrew from the front lines at Cassino, after failing to take the town and monastery
The New Zealand Corps is disbanded, with the New Zealand Division parting from the Indian Division
The Allies opened a new offensive against the German Gustav Line
The German forces withdrew to the Adolf Hitler Line
Polish and British troops, supported by New Zealand Artillery units, captured Cassino township
The NZ Division began to advance up into the upper Liri Valley
The NZ Division captured and occupied Sora
Elements of the 3rd, 85th and 88th Infantry Divisions and the 1st Special Service Force, all of the US Fifth Army, reached the outskirts of Rome, the prized objective in the Italian campaign.
Units of the US Fifth Army entered Rome, which was an open city so no resistance was met. The day before the Italians had been subdued, following a leaflet drop warning them to stay indoors, but on this day the streets thronged with people welcoming the Allies into the Italian capital
The NZ Division battled with German forces in the Lake Trasimene area
The 6th New Zealand Brigade took Monte Lignano
The New Zealanders captured Arezzo
The Allies crossed the Arno River
The kiwis begin their part in the Battle of Florence, in heavy fighting south of the city in the Castellina area. This lasted till the 26th of July
Elements of the NZ Division take part in a battle to take San Michele
The NZ Division broke through the German positions in the Pian dei Cerri hills
The NZ Division reached the outskirts of Florence, achieving their objective of driving a wedge to the Arno River
The Allies entered the open city of Florence unopposed
The German forces retreated to the Gothic Line
The Eighth Army began its attacks on the Gothic Line
The Eighth Army broke the Gothic Line
The 2nd NZ Division came under the Canadian Corps for planning
The 2nd NZ Division was now under operational control of the
Canadian Corps and were working with them towards taking RiminiThe Canadian Corps takes the Adriatic coastal city of Rimini
Units of the NZ Division crossed the Fiumicino River
The NZ Division reached the Savio River, lead by 4 NZ Armoured Brigade
The Battle of Faenza began, with the kiwis in the thick of it
The Eighth Army entered Ravenna
5 NZ Brigade and 10 Indian Brigade managed a breakout at the Lamone bridgehead
Units of the NZ Division reached the Senio River
The NZ Division and its Allies finally captured the city of Faenza
The Allies halted on the banks of the Senio River, dug in a defensive line and waited out the winter, with the Germans doing the same across the river. This was the second Winter Line
1945
1 April 1945
9-10 April 1945
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_11 April 1945
18-19 April 1945
_20 April 1945
_21 April 1945
25 April 1945
_28 April 1945
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29 April 1945
1 May 1945
2 May 1945
_8 May 1945
_The Allied Forces began their Spring Offensive in northern Italy
The 8th Army crossed the Senio River, including the New Zealand Division who were one of three units leading the offensive as part of V Corps
The New Zealanders crossed the Santerno River
The New Zealanders smashed German defensive forces and crossed the Gaiana River
The New Zealand Division reached and crossed the Idice River, spearheading the Allied advance
The Allies captured Bologna
The New Zealanders reached and crossed the River Po. Many wrote home that they had "had a pee in the Po"
The 2nd NZ Division captured Padua while the Allies took Venice. Meanwhile Mussolini was executed by Partisans
A New Zealand contingent entered the city of Venice
The 2nd NZ Division crossed the Isonzo River
The 2nd New Zealand Division entered Trieste. Meanwhile the Germans surrendered unconditionally, ending their war in Italy
All remaining German forces had surrendered unconditionally by this
date and ended the war in Europe. This day was named VE Day
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