Operation Roast

Operation Roast
Part of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
Buffalo amphibians transport German prisoners through a flooded landscape south of Lake Comacchio.
Date 1–2 April 1945 Location Comacchio, Northern Italy Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
Ronnie Tod	Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt
Units involved
2nd Commando Brigade	98th Infantry Division (Elements)
Strength
2,300 men	1,200 men
Casualties and losses
180 Casualties	946 prisoners

Operation Roast was a military operation undertaken by British Commandos, at Comacchio lagoon in north-east Italy, during the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, part of the Italian Campaign, during the final stages of Second World War.

This was the first major action in the Allied 15th Army Group's big spring offensive to push the German Army back to and across the River Po and out of Italy. The breakthrough on the British Eighth Army's front was to be made through the Argenta Gap, crossing the Rivers Senio and Santerno towards the Po at Ferrara and releasing armour to swing left and race across country to meet the advancing U.S. Fifth Army completing the encirclement of the German divisions defending Bologna.

On 1 April 1945 the whole of 2nd Commando Brigade was engaged in the operation. The brigade comprised No. 2, No. 9, No. 40 Royal Marine Commando and No. 43 (RM) Commando under the command of Brigadier Ronnie Tod.

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