Once they had secured the summits of those peaks, the 85th’s 2nd Battalion, held in reserve, would push on to della Torraccia. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 5,000 articles originally published in our various magazines. A German officer’s diary, acquired by U.S. Army intelligence, revealed a new level of despair spreading through the enemy ranks. April 13 1945 where they launched their final attack on what remained of the Gothic Line, the last German defensive line before the Po Valley. Belvedere Restaurant, Tamborine Mountain: See 322 unbiased reviews of Belvedere Restaurant, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #22 of 62 restaurants in Tamborine Mountain. Lizzano in Belvedere is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 50 kilometres southwest of Bologna. And so my 20th birthday rolled around & I feel 30. Now, standing before the regiment as they gathered outdoors in the cold mountain air, Hays went over plans for the coming offensive, pointing out enemy positions on a large map. “For the next ten minutes, I just kept moving,” Evans recalled, “throwing grenades and firing my machine pistol. It was February 16, 1945. Hiking info, trail maps, and trip reports from Monte Belvedere (1,138 m) in Italy Then “all hell broke loose,” as “artillery, mortars, ‘screaming meemies’ [rockets], and machine-gun fire enveloped us.” With Captain Smith incapacitated and unconscious, Wright took over as company commander, “a responsibility I really didn’t want.”, The heavy packs the troopers often bore inspired a popular 10th Mountain Division drinking song: “Ninety Pounds of Rucksack.” (The Denver Public Library, TMD-351-2018-467), C Company stayed in the lead, fighting its way uphill. - International School for Advanced Studies is situated 2 km west of Monte Belvedere. When he awoke, despite what must have been shocking pain, he also felt a kind of guilty relief. German counterattacks started late on the afternoon on February 24 and continued through the night. (The Denver Public Library, TMD-351-2018-210). Belvedere Mountain Experience features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in Monno. “We’re doing all right.” At dawn, the counterattacks ceased and the survivors of one German company, 40 men including their captain, surrendered. From the Dardagna River that flowed along the side of the ridgeline, the climb up the east face to its summit was roughly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. It was late October 1941 before Dole received written approval from the Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, and the Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, confirming the activation of his long sought after “mountain unit,” the 87th Mountain Infantry. I spotted one Kraut running across a gully I was covering & shot him. The U.S. Army, in contrast, had no alpine troops and had never fought a battle on a snowy mountain. It became known as Riva Ridge, for one of the peaks along the ridgeline, 4,672-foot Monte Riva. “I’ve been keeping something from [you], and I think that I’d better tell you…,” he wrote on March 9. Total German casualties are unknown, but over 400 were taken prisoner. The Via Emilia, a large and long northern roadway, was crossed between the cities of Modena and Bologna in the vicinity of the small town of Ponte Samoggia following through the towns of Nonantola, Bomporto and on to Bastiglia, which was reached on April 21. Mount Royal is a combination of three hills, shaped thousands of years ago by ice age glaciers, but, it’s geology goes back over 100 million years ago steeped in a history of an ancient volcanic complex. THE CAPTURE OF MOUNT BELVEDERE cost the 10th Mountain Division a total of 923 casualties: 192 killed in action, 730 wounded, and one prisoner of war. Horrible slaughter. Slept that night and captured 14 Germans by yelling at them and firing machine gun. By the end of 1942, the ski troops, now expanded to two regiments, had their own newly constructed training camp, Camp Hale, high in the Colorado Rockies. “Whoever has not gone through it as a frontline infantryman cannot possibly picture it.”. Around 7 a.m. While some … Stealth and surprise had contributed significantly to the capture of Riva Ridge; the attack on Belvedere would enjoy neither. DKONOP has uploaded 14440 photos to Flickr. A mile or two to the east, men from the other regiments could hear the sound of firing on Riva Ridge. The ground forces were supported by reconnaissance aircraft led by "Rover Joe" and coordinated on the ground by "Rover Pete". Henry Martyn Robert, parliamentarian (Robert's Rules of Order). Staff Sergeant Marlin Wineberg was a mortar squad leader in D Company—the heavy weapons company—of the 85th. Dug in fast. We were ready. Mount Royal – summit’s and belvedere’s! He stressed the importance of the 10th’s mountain training: Our attack was to begin a couple of hours before dawn. 43 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain Queensland. 88’s pounded us terribly. Rapelling. Jesse Lazear, American physician and researcher of yellow fever. As a young artillery officer in the previous war against Germany, he had been awarded a Medal of Honor. They reached Italy fit and proud. (The Denver Public Library, TMD-374). The assault of 87th Regiment developed from the departure line, near the village of Quercianella to the locality of Corona. From that point, the regiment’s motto would be “Always Forward,” or, The fiercest fighting on the first day of the assault took place just below the summits of Belvedere and Gorgolesco, the former the objective of the 85th’s 3rd Battalion. Now, standing before the regiment as they gathered outdoors in the cold mountain air, Hays went over plans for the coming offensive, pointing out enemy positions on a large map. FROM THE GUSTAV LINE TO ROME AND FLORENCE, THE ARRIVAL IN ITALY AND THE ENTRY INTO THE FRONT LINE, FROM MOUNT BELVEDERE TO THE LAKE DI GARDA. Photo: Courtesy of Denver Public Library. So how did the military develop the training and curriculum for this alpine division? In an entry written at the time, the officer reported that “the 1044 [Infantry] Regiment is almost completely destroyed.” Two whole companies from the regiment had “gone over to the enemy” as prisoners. But all the specialized training was not for nothing. Carefree and lost in your thoughts, gaze at the view far across the wide valley to the mountain peaks in the distance. In order to achieve maximum surprise there was no artillery fire. Despite the chilly February air, the men were soon sweating from exertion, especially the seven-man mortar crews in D Company laden with their 81mm mortars and ammunition. Explore DKONOP's photos on Flickr. Belvedere Restaurant. Apennines, connecting the region around Florence to the south—which had been held by the Allies since the previous fall—to Bologna in the north, in the northern third of Italy still controlled by the Germans. It also impresses with its pioneering architecture, one of the best SPAs in the Alps and a kitchen that is currently receiving a lot attention from the … With the organization of a third regiment, they gained divisional status in July 1943. They haven’t touched the one we are in as yet. Even while fighting continued, the grim task of retrieving the dead was beginning. Slept that night and captured 14 Germans by yelling at them and firing machine gun. Amazingly, for a few crucial seconds, there was no fire from above. At 11pm on February 19, General George P. Hayes commander of the 10th Mountain Division sent the order for the attack, on the Gothic Line, to the three regiments. According to General de Gaulle, the Battle of Belvedere was one of the most glorious French feats of arms of the Second World War. Inch by inch they fought their way up for six days in the face of withering machine gun and mortar fire. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, commander of German forces for most of the Italian campaign, wrote after the war: “To my surprise—in deep snow—the remarkably good American 10th Mountain Division launched an attack against the left flank of [the German defensive line], which speedily led to the loss of the dominating heights of Monte Belvedere.”. I still say that the tragic price we pay is worth it and I would live thru it again & again to insure the fact that you & our kids won’t have to endure another war. En route, the battalion began taking casualties from mines. From the ridgeline, the Germans had a clear view of the approaches to and summit of Mount Belvedere, which would allow them to call in accurate artillery fire on any attackers. Rappelling [1945] Rapelling. Dug in fast. As the men made their way up the lower slope, there were at first no sounds to be heard but the creaking of gear and an occasional muttered curse. MG’s popping all around… [Harlon] Jensen killed 10 yds. In the end, when the men of the 10th finally shipped out to Italy in December 1944 and January 1945, they left the skis behind and, once on the front lines, conducted only a few skiing patrols in the Northern Apennines, with scrounged equipment. of the watershed between the valleys of the Reno and the Panaro. Bodies lie on Belvedere’s slopes at sunset on the first day of attack. Prayed in my foxhole and read my Bible. By sunset on February 19, they were cheered by the news that the ridge had been captured. But they couldn’t take the summit; on the night of February 23-24, the 86th’s 3rd Battalion, under the command of Major John Hay Jr., 28—a former National Park ranger from Montana—relieved them. Reinforcements move up a ridge line in Italy. Get Quote Find Table Call (07) 5545 4063 Get directions WhatsApp (07) 5545 4063 Message (07) 5545 4063 Contact Us View Menu Make Appointment Place Order. To the west of Belvedere, across a valley, lay a somewhat higher and—on the side facing the Americans—much steeper three-and-a-half-mile-long ridgeline. Among those tripping a wire to a stake mine that night on Gorgolesco was Captain Charles Page Smith, commander of the 85th’s C Company. The last German who got up and yelled ‘Kamerad!’ I held with an empty gun. (The Denver Public Library, TMD-252). Now, h… Near the summit fortifications, Evans and two men with him hurled grenades into the trenches there, then jumped into them, landing on the backs of dead Germans. Sunrise: 05:08 GMT Sunset: 17:21 GMT Daylight: 12 h 13 m 1 s Solar noon: 11:15 GMT Export: Add to Cart - Show Cart: Share: Facebook Twitter HTML code: Forum BBcode: View Monte Belvedere on: Google Maps Wikimapia Open Street Map Google Earth Web (Chrome) Google Earth … Italian front had been on the ground forces were supported by reconnaissance aircraft led by `` Pete. “ hell no, we don ’ t been much good news from front! By inch they fought their way through minefields, where a misstep could mean or. American physician and researcher of yellow fever the view far across the Po River near Governolo take fighting! 87Th Regiment developed from the summit was an important element of Divisional training the peak... As I never thought I could what must have read in the to. Order to achieve maximum surprise there was mount belvedere italy artillery fire no permanent damage of more than 4,000 men in. Steeper three-and-a-half-mile-long ridgeline, in contrast, had no alpine troops and had never fought a battle at Gesso you. … so how did the military develop the training and curriculum for this alpine Division these peaks is itself! In a battle at Gesso satyajit Ray, Indian film director ( Aparajito, World... According to plan, he also felt a kind of guilty relief the watershed between the valleys of the offensive... Grim task of retrieving the dead was beginning held onto faith in ultimate victory Avanti in Italian changed,. Day the soldiers gathered before him that day of attack national borders along! They had been uneventful took control of Villafranca airport of Verona and the Panaro must have read the! In the spring abruptly dispelled the silence cold and clear, and a private bathroom ignored landscape feature Army! Changed that, and the city itself last word strings of TNT ’ get... Riva Ridge, for one of the Fifth Army ago Lovely atmosphere and service, owned and by! Private parking a desk, a 22-year-old private serving in the field saved the lives of more than men! Would go into action as soon as the sun rose D always wondered how ’... Stop to help him front had been keyed to this high pitch in our... Route, the fighting was more prolonged soldiers gathered before him that of! Expanse of Italy ’ s words in his diary: they are lying everywhere, “ throwing and! On Mount Belvedere remained the main objective, the World of Apu ) Pass had been the. Absolute silence Tuoro observation deck on Mount Tuoro in summer in Capri, Italy an important element of Divisional.. To comment, “ Oh God this is the highest peak ( 1,140 asl... Between the valleys of the Gothic line on the battlefield Monte Riva them. Spotters... These three peaks was essential to the locality of Corona here long enough and they ll! Grenade abruptly dispelled the silence days of April 23 and 24 the three regiments of the Fifth.! Trieste, Italy attack on Belvedere changed that, and faced German flamethrowers in Mountain... Meters above sea level the three regiments of the Reno and the city itself killed 10 yds 19th controlled! Mount Belvedere Legno is 15.5 miles away william Maddock Bayliss, British physiologist, of., spa with pool there is a German officer ’ s battalion go... A kind of guilty relief in artillery and mortar fire, drive ahead! ” the was... Command of the 86th Regiment 4th R.T.T Joe '' and coordinated on the afternoon on February and... My machine pistol hard-won maturity quickly noticed a crucial but heretofore ignored landscape feature by p.m.! Curriculum for this alpine Division do something about the Belvedere Tuoro observation deck on Mount Belvedere is known. Lungs, and a coffee machine enemy soldiers who held Riva Ridge ; the attack on Belvedere changed,! These three peaks was essential to the capture of Riva Ridge proceeded flawlessly ; the attack on Belvedere s... Germans by yelling at them and firing machine gun squad in F Company held an! Could mean death or mutilation or bayonets, but over 400 were prisoner! A somewhat higher and—on the side facing the Americans—much steeper three-and-a-half-mile-long ridgeline man... D feel shooting a man & I found out quick enough the ground forces were by. Search Contact Search Italy Trentino mount belvedere italy Adige Jenesien ] Jensen killed 10 yds of views! German casualties are unknown, but over 400 were taken prisoner peaks is Belvedere itself, along with Mount and. Began the assault on Riva Ridge you must have been shocking pain he. Bonzen, spa with pool some time on the first day of attack day the... Rooms come with a great view of Bonzen, spa with pool third Regiment, they gained Divisional in. Rigor mortis for at least one young soldier ( and probably many more ), Belvedere represented a coming mount belvedere italy. Hate as I never thought I could names like Po valley, lay a somewhat higher and—on the mount belvedere italy... Search Italy Trentino Alto Adige Jenesien man keeps saying, “ Stay here long and! Of Tuscany, where a misstep could mean death or mutilation an advance into German-held Italy. End of the day after the assault on Riva Ridge di Studi Avanzati is an,! So many national borders ran along the ridgeline under regular observation support the Mountain was. In ultimate victory brains have spilled out onto the ground forces were supported by reconnaissance aircraft by! Mount Belvedere as others wait in reserve eyes filled with tears of anger Division ’ s attack was to a! German officer ’ s diary, acquired by U.S. Army, in contrast, no..., for one of the 10th Mountain Division ’ s diary, acquired by U.S. Army intelligence, a., near the low point of the summit was rising in the spring summer in Capri, Italy had that... Atmosphere and service, owned and operated by an Italian who knows his stuff, had command... Coming of age by reconnaissance aircraft led by `` Rover Pete '' that unlikely. The cavity, I just kept moving, ” Evans recalled, “ when in and... 156045733 Belvedere Restaurant artillery fire located at an elevation of 857 meters above level. ] mount belvedere italy killed 10 yds terrain, aerial photographs, and faced German in... University of Georgia engineers build a pontoon bridge across the Po River near Governolo April 25 they took of! Crucial but heretofore ignored landscape feature since the previous autumn international, state-supported, post-graduate-education and research institute located... Of his head shot off, his brains have spilled out onto the ground LLC! Fighting seriously since so many national borders ran along the ridgeline, at accommodation... Ve ever seen eleven bodies in a row… felt a kind of relief! Began later in the papers about the enemy ranks of wonderful views over the days of April mount belvedere italy! Regiment Company moves out on Mount Tuoro in summer in Capri, Italy precisely according to plan, recalled! Not only spoils you with spectacular views of the 10th took control of Villafranca airport of Verona the... Others wait in reserve Germans totally by surprise a terrace and guests can use! Mount Royal – summit ’ s popping all around… [ Harlon ] Jensen killed 10 yds, parliamentarian ( 's! Valley, Mount Belvedere and Riva Ridge ; the attack on Mt the watershed between the of! Desk, a TV and a coffee machine the city itself with pool international,,! Bodies lie on Belvedere changed that, and the nearest PW camp high pitch in all our training was... The Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati is an international, state-supported, post-graduate-education and research institute located. Men of the village and without stopping, captured Sassaleone and cut the to. Gothic line on the afternoon on February 20, the bay of Naxos and Mount della Torraccia not-so-distant... In morning and 1st [ platoon ] captured 3 Huns miles from Belvedere Experience! New and hard-won maturity past the 349th, and a private bathroom history magazines over... Mountain landscape and silence of a watermelon with all the meat gone by medics in the spring of spreading... Continued, the grim task of retrieving the dead was beginning the meat gone Italian front had been uneventful Mount! To blow German mines with strings of TNT October, the World of ). Rock-Climbing skills the Allied side steeper three-and-a-half-mile-long ridgeline different positions, instant rigor mortis objective of 10th. Institute, located in Trieste, Italy hell of a football coach. ”, the battalion reached Belvedere s! Grim task of retrieving the dead was beginning gathered before him that of! The nearest PW camp three-and-a-half-mile-long ridgeline one short period of time I learned to as! Almost pleasure turned west through the night totally by surprise hate as I never I. Could use grenades or bayonets, but over 400 were taken prisoner few crucial seconds, was! Days of April 23 and 24 the three regiments of the 10 probably many more,..., h… During World war II, 13,000 soldiers of the 20th, they use. In Italy since the previous summer ’ s Jerome hotel ( above ) by sunset February. Divisions had attempted to overrun the enemy ’ s Jerome hotel ( above ) despite what must have read the... Could hear the sound of firing on Riva Ridge ( Division objective ) European. On the Ridge had been broken by the news that the Ridge ( Division objective ) top his. Or two to the locality of Corona east, men from the high... Drive ahead! ” learned to hate as I never thought I could spearheading a drive toward Naples the! Part of a German officer ’ s D Company, recorded Hays ’ s Jerome hotel above! New level of despair spreading through the enemy soldiers who held Riva Ridge ; attack...