gothic_line.zip (6.57 Meg) (downloaded 529 times)
A tribute to the superb AVH B-17's. Crushing the center of the German Defensive Gothic Line, also known as Operation Olive, came to an end shortly after the Battle for Mount Belvedere. The German Army was eventually pushed back North of Bologna into the broad flat Po Valley, and ultimately across the Po River. The Allied Forces captured key bridges in the area on their advance to Berlin. With the Alps at their backs, German 10th and 14th Army forces surrendered or died trying to retreat. From the Fall of 1944 to 25 April 1945, this offensive was forgotten beneath the wave of successes of Normandy and the push through France. The last mountain stronghold atop Mount Belvedere was a meat grinder for the Allied forces. Protected by deep exposed valleys all around, Allied ground forces had little chance of taking this high position without airpower. American B-17's flew low-level runs non-stop trying to bomb through ever present cloud cover, with eventual success. Just don't hit our forces. Push the Nazi SS's competent General Kesselring from this mountain top. It is 24 April 1945. We should arrive after dawn. Please excuse the file size. The Screen shots tell the story better than I can with words.
by SPQR33 (2007-03-25 11:02:32)
Submitted by SPQR33
A tribute to the superb AVH B-17's. Crushing the center of the German Defensive Gothic Line, also known as Operation Olive, came to an end shortly after the Battle for Mount Belvedere. The German Army was eventually pushed back North of Bologna into the broad flat Po Valley, and ultimately across the Po River. The Allied Forces captured key bridges in the area on their advance to Berlin. With the Alps at their backs, German 10th and 14th Army forces surrendered or died trying to retreat. From the Fall of 1944 to 25 April 1945, this offensive was forgotten beneath the wave of successes of Normandy and the push through France. The last mountain stronghold atop Mount Belvedere was a meat grinder for the Allied forces. Protected by deep exposed valleys all around, Allied ground forces had little chance of taking this high position without airpower. American B-17's flew low-level runs non-stop trying to bomb through ever present cloud cover, with eventual success. Just don't hit our forces. Push the Nazi SS's competent General Kesselring from this mountain top. It is 24 April 1945. We should arrive after dawn. Please excuse the file size. The Screen shots tell the story better than I can with words.
by SPQR33 (2007-03-25 11:02:32)
Submitted by SPQR33
