Victory in Italy: 15th Army Group's Final Campaign, 1945

Richard Doherty

1/2015 · Pen and Sword

Táto e‑kniha

A detailed history of the final Allied offensive in Italy during World War II.

While the main focus in early 1945 was on the advance to the Fatherland, 15 Army Group’s 5th (US) and 8th (British) Armies were achieving remarkable results in Northern Italy.

Superb generalship (Truscott—5th Army and McCreery—8th Army under General Mark Clark’s 15 Army Group), planning, preparation and training outweighed the diversion of major formations to Northwest Europe, the appalling terrain, harsh climate and general battle fatigue. Equipment was improvised and air/ground operations coordinated to a very high level.

In April the Allied offensive surprised the Germans with its speed and brilliance. As a result, the Germans capitulated on 2 May before the surrender in Germany.

Churchill wrote to Field Marshal Alexander on 29 April 1945—’I rejoice in the magnificently planned and executed operations of 15th Group of Armies’. Praise indeed.

This is a masterly description and analysis of this victorious campaign.

O autorovi

Richard Doherty is recognised as Ireland's leading military history author. He is the author of The Thin Green Line The History of the RUC GC, In the Ranks of Death, and Helmand Mission With the Royal Irish Battlegroup in Afghanistan 2008 and numerous other titles with Pen & Sword Books. He lives near Londonderry