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Northern Italy pages: Rome to the Arno OrBat, Rome to the Arno Op. Olive, Fall 1944
OrBat, Op. Olive Fifth Army, Fall 1944 Fifth Army, Winter 1944–45 Op. Grapeshot, 1945
OrBat, Op. Grapeshot Breakthrough, 1945 To the Po Past the Po
––––––––––––––––– MTO – Fifth Army, Winter 1944–45 ––––––––––––––––––––––
bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Germany > The MTO > Northern Italy > Fifth Army, Winter 1944–45, © 2026 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated 31 Dec 2025
Wintry weather and muddy conditions meant only small-scale operations during early 1945.
Fragmentary
Wintry weather and muddy conditions meant only small-scale operations during early 1945.
Fragmentary
On the west flank, US Fifth Army, IV Corps sector
26–31 December 1944: in the Serchio Valley north of Lucca, the German army advances against the US 92nd Infantry Division. The US line is then reinforced by elements of the 8th Indian Division, and by 31 December most territory lost has been regained.
early February: 1945: mixed results as the 92nd Division advances up the Serchio Valley.
early February: 1945: mixed results as the 92nd Division advances up the Serchio Valley.
On the east flank in Emilia-Romagna near the Adriatic Sea, British Eighth Army
2–5 January 1945: In the east near the Adriatic: Canadian I Corps begins clearing German outliers along the Senio River. They are joined by British V Corps on the left flank.
In the center in Emilia-Romagna south of Bologna, US Fifth Army, II Corps sector
Partial Timeline:
- 17 January 1945: British 1st Division is relieved on the line by US 85th Division, placed under AFHQ control and later sent to the Middle East.
- 18 January 1945: US Fifth Army releases British XIII Corps, comprised of 6th Armored & 78th Divisions, to British Eighth Army.
- 9 February: Canadian 1st Corps begins preparing for transfer to the ETO.
- 13 February: US Fifth Army releases 8th Indian Division, which had been in Fifth Army reserve.
- 14 February: British 6th Armored Division begins preparing for transfer to the ETO.
- 18 February: US 10th Mountain Division begins limited assault.
- 21 February: Brazilian 1st Division begins limited assault.
- 25 February: limited offense ends.
- 3 March: Second phase begins; ends 5 March.