Battle of Monte la Difensa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Monte la Difensa
Part of the fighting for the Bernhardt Line
Action around Monte La Difensa 3–9 December 1943
Date December 3, 1943 – December 9, 1943 Location Hill 960, Italy 41°22′59.88″N 13°55′59.77″E / 41.3833000°N 13.9332694°E / 41.3833000; 13.9332694 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United States  Canada	Germany

The Battle of Monte La Difensa was an important fight during World War II. It happened in Italy from December 3 to December 9, 1943. This battle was part of a bigger plan called Operation Raincoat. It was also a key part of the fighting for the Bernhardt Line, a strong German defense line during the Italian campaign.

Why Monte La Difensa Was Important

Monte La Difensa, also known as Hill 960, was a tall mountain in Italy. It was part of a group of hills called the Camino hill mass. This mountain was very important because it controlled a narrow passage called the Mignano Gap. Controlling this gap was key for the U.S. Fifth Army to reach Cassino, the Liri Valley, and eventually Rome.

German troops had built strong defenses on Monte La Difensa. These defenses were part of the Bernhardt Line. Because of these strong defenses, the mountain had become a difficult challenge for American and British soldiers. They could not move forward.

The Battle for Monte La Difensa

The Battle of Monte La Difensa was the first time a special US-Canadian commando unit fought in Italy. This unit was called the 1st Special Service Force. They were assigned to work with the U.S. 36th Infantry Division.

The 1st SSF had special training for fighting in winter and in mountains. They used these skills to climb the steep mountain. They surprised the German soldiers who were defending the top.

The battle for the Camino hill mass lasted five days. The 1st SSF attacked Monte La Difensa. At the same time, other Allied forces attacked nearby mountains. The rest of the 36th Division attacked Monte Maggiore. The British 56th Infantry Division attacked Monte Camino. The British 46th Infantry Division was on their left side.

The fighting was very difficult, and many soldiers were injured or killed. After the Camino hills were cleared, the U.S. Fifth Army took a short break. They then continued their attack. It took them until mid-January 1944 to move about 10 miles (16 km) to Cassino. There, they met the very strong Gustav Line defenses. The Allies were stopped by the determined German defense until May 1944.

Monte La Difensa in Movies and TV

• The successful attack on Monte La Difensa was shown in the 1968 movie, The Devil's Brigade. This movie was about the 1st Special Service Force.
• The battle was also featured in a TV show. Part 2 of the series WW2 Greatest Raids was called "Mountain Massacre." It showed the battle and was broadcast by National Geographic.

See also

• Winter Line