Notes about April, 1945 (Part 2 of 3)

On April 16th, 1945, months of planning culminated in the kick-off of the last Allied offensive in Italy.  Fascist Italy was not a serious competitor at this point in the war.  Mussolini had been at most a puppet ruler propped up by Hitler and his army.  When Allied soldiers marched into and occupied Rome in early June, 1944, his illusory control over Italy effectively disappeared.  But while the Italian Fascists had little power, the five remaining Italian divisions were working in conjunction with twenty-four German divisions, and giving the Allies one hell of a fight in Northern Italy.  And while technically the Allies had yet to suffer defeat at the hands of these divisions, their victories had cost the lives of tens of thousands of American lives.

The Axis forces had set up three lines of defense.  One "protected Bologna and blocked entry into the east-west Po Valley."  The second was a "defensive line along the Po River itself," and the third lay in the "Alpine foothills...dubbed the Adige Line after the river of the same name." (Source: Po Valley, 1945).  When the offensive began, Vernon was located in Loiano, just south of the first Axis defensive line in Bologna.

The military strategy was relatively simple.  Operation Second Wind would be launched along the West coast of Italy as a diversionary tactic.  The Axis forces had been expecting an assault of some kind for months, they just had no idea where it would be launched.  Allied commanders reasoned that an attack like this would play right into their expectations, and forces would be diverted to secure the Ligurian coast.  Meanwhile, Operation Craftsman would be launched to claim the Po Valley, and choke off any chances that Axis forces would be able to retreat North into Austria.

The plan was brilliant in its simplicity.  From April 16-18, the 1st Armored Division attacked North from central Italy just a few miles west of Loiano along Highway 64.  They seized the town of Vergato in some heavy fighting.  On April 16th, Vernon writes "The 5th Army’s big push began today. Our planes flew over again from 12 to 1 p.m. same as yesterday. Troops are mounting stiff opposition." He's clearly making reference to the 760 heavy bombers that the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force sent to bomb the areas between Highways 64 and 65 south of Bologna.  In addition to these heavy bombers, there were 200 medium bombers and 120 figther-bombers.  The skies must have indeed been "black with planes."

The area these planes bombed, as described by Vernon's first-hand account and independent research, must be the area pictured below.  Loiano is located just south of Bologna at the letter A on the map.  Highway's 64 and 65 are highlighted red on the map (64 in the west, and 65 in the east).

Vernon spent the first three days of the attack at base camp hearing rumors and getting reports from the front about what was happening.  Him and the 757th Tank Bn. were almost sent to the west coast of Italy to join IV Corps, but instead remained to join the push north into Bologna.

On April 19th, Vernon writes "Left at 10:45 p.m. to go with “A” Co. in a new sector near the coast. Arrived in area 4 miles from front at 3:00 A.M. Went thru Montegrino + quite some distance above it."  I have no idea what to make of this post.  Montegrino is nowhere near their current location, and must be a mistype on my behalf.  Also, it's highly infeasible that he went to one of the Italian coastal cities because his subsequent posts place him in bologna.  My theory is that the 757th was placed with the 91st Infantry Division, and pushed into the southwest of Bologna as pictured above.

On the 21st Bologna was taken, as noted in his journal.  At this point the primary objective of the soldiers became to into the Po Valley and cross the Po as quickly as possible.  In their blitz North of Bologna, Vern was most likely attached to the 6th Army Division, and crossed the Panaro river. 

On their way to the Po the 757th went through several towns and engaged the enemy in varying degrees.  On April 23rd, in the town of Finale, Italy, they come under incredibly heavy fire.  Vernon writes:

23.) Mon. Still kept going until we contacted enemy. Met them in town about 10 A.M. 3 men wounded + Red + I went in town while inf was taking it under small arm fire. Several prisoners taken. Ate over today + tonite people fed us while waiting to move. Told inf man to shoot a couple Krauts who were trying to get up. Evidently they were wounded. Army prisoners were Mongolians who are Russians freed to fight by Krauts.

For his actions that day, Vernon would later receive the Bronze Star.  A document he has in his possession signed by Lt. Col. C.F. PRIMM and Joseph P. Donnovin, titled "Page 7 of GO #42, HQ 91st Inf Div, 4 Jun 45" states:

VERNON P. HOSCHETTE, (37274187), Private First Class, Medical Detachment, 757th Tank Battalion, United States Army.  For heroic achievement in action on 23 April 1945, near Finale Italy. Entered military service from St. Paul, Minnesota.

True to his personality, in the same breath that he describes his heroic actions that day, he also manages to point out that he got fed.  Although, considering the grueling pace with which his battalion was covering ground, a meal was probably a happy and memorable experience.  After he ate he was able to rest for the first time in 36 hours.