Battle of Monte Castello
| Battle of Monte Castello | |||||||
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| Part of the Italian Campaign of World War II | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Brazil United States
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 Germany
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Mascarenhas de Moraes
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Eccard Freiherr von Gablenz
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| Strength | |||||||
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1st Expeditionary Infantry Division Divisionary Artillery Task force 45 (1st attacks) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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417 08 taken as POWs |
47 killed or wounded 23 taken as POWS |
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232nd Grenadier Division (Wehrmacht)
The Battle of Monte Castello (also called Operation Encore) was an engagement which took place from 25 November 1944 to 21 February 1945 during the Italian campaign of World War II. It was fought between the Allied forces advancing into northern Italy and dug-in German defenders. The battle marked the Brazilian Expeditionary Force's entry into the land war in Europe. Starting in November 1944, fierce combat dragged on for three months, ending on 21 February 1945. Six Allied attacks were mounted against the German forces, four of which were strategic failures. Both sides sustained large casualties due to several factors, including the extremely low temperatures existing at that time.
Situated 61.3 km southwest of Bologna (Monumento ai Caduti Brasiliani) via Località Abetaia (SP623), near Abetaia. Coordinates 44.221799, 10.954227, at 977 m altitude, at Northern Apennines on the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions.
In November 1944, the 1st Expeditionary Division of the Brazilian Army (DIE) deviated from the battle front Serchio River, where it had been fighting for two months ahead of the Rino River, on the Northern Apennine Mountains. General Mascarenhas de Moraes had established his forward headquarters in the town of Porretta Terme, which was in front of the mountains under German control. This perimeter had a radius of approximately 15 km.
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