Name: The 88th Division Battlefield Tour
Brand: Monte Cassino War Tours
SKU: 88th-division-tour
Price: 90 Eur
Availability: InStock

Table of Contents

The 88th Division Battlefield Tour (the Blue devils from Santa Maria Infante to Castelforte): HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The British 201st Guards Brigade fought fiercely in the Tyrrhenian sector of the Gustav Line. Crossing the Garigliano River in this area was far from easy, but they ultimately succeeded and reached Minturno. After repeated and desperate attacks, they managed to secure several key hills in the region.

The 88th Division Grand Battlefield Tour: General Clark sent the American II Corps

Meanwhile, the American II Corps was arriving. The 88th and 85th Divisions were on their way to join the Gustav Line. On 3 May, Lieutenant General Mark Clark visited the men of the 88th Division in their rest area near Carinola and San Lorenzo, promising them an important role in an upcoming attack on the Gustav Line. The plan was for the 88th Division to launch an assault on the right flank, advancing from the Cemetery of Minturno to Santi Cosma e Damiano, while the 85th Division was tasked with securing the left flank, from the S-Ridge to the seaside.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: Preparing the Battle from Santa Maria Infante to Santi Cosma e Damiano

The 88th Division was divided between two fronts. The first, the 351st Regiment, was assigned from Santa Maria Infante to Bracchi Hill, while the second, the 350th Regiment, covered the area from Bracchi Hill to Santi Cosma e Damiano. The 351st faced approximately 450 men of the 94th Fusiliers Reconnaissance Battalion and about 400 soldiers of the 26th Grenadier Regiment, who were well entrenched in pillboxes, foxholes, and natural fortifications along the S-Ridge. As with the other regiments, the H-hour was set for 23:00 on 11 May 1944. At that exact moment, all Allied guns opened fire along the Gustav Line, each targeting their assigned sectors.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour:

The bombardment continued for about an hour, and in the early hours of 12 May 1944, Companies E and F of the 2nd Battalion began their attack. They left the Minturno Cemetery, crossed the Left and Right Tits, and pressed forward. On the other sector of the Gustav Line, the 350th Regiment knew that the advance of the II Corps hinged on capturing Cianelli. Consequently, the officers assigned the 1st Battalion the task of taking Cianelli, while the 3rd Battalion was tasked with seizing Hill 100 and capturing Ceracoli. At the designated H-hour, the 350th launched its successful assault.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: 351th Company L joined The Spur

Company E captured The Spur on the right side of Santa Maria Infante. Despite encountering strong German resistance, they held their position for a long time until reinforcements arrived. They advanced close to the first houses of the village but were forced to fall back to The Spur. At 03:00, Colonel Kendal spotted five medium tanks moving along the main road to reach his position. He had requested support from headquarters, but all the tanks were destroyed by the Germans. After two attempts, the tanks withdrew, realizing it was impossible to reach the company. When reinforcements finally arrived on 13 May, only two survivors remained.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: 351th Company F hidden in the Culvert

Company F advanced toward the village by way of Hill 103. In the darkness, amidst smoke and dust, some men became disoriented—some reaching the Minturno–Santa Maria road, while others found themselves on the Santa Maria–Tame road. The Germans were everywhere, and the troops were constantly under heavy fire. Company F eventually regrouped at a location known as the Culvert. Initially, only about 20 men were there, but gradually, those who had gotten separated during the attack managed to rejoin the group. The lack of communication between the 338th Regiment and Company F of the 351st Regiment proved to be a serious problem.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: The 88th Division organised a second attack

The first attempt to capture Santa Maria Infante ended in a terrible loss of life. The Allies lost 361 men in just two days, prompting the 88th Division to send 125 replacements. However, many of these reinforcements were lost under enemy fire while trying to reach the exhausted troops in their positions. On 13 May, a second attack was launched, with the sectors divided differently. The 338th Regiment, which had suffered heavier casualties, was assigned a shorter front, while the 351st Regiment was tasked with advancing toward Tame and Santa Maria. At sunrise on 13 May 1944, the 351st was once again prepared for the final assault.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour:

The 351st suffered heavy losses because the 338th Regiment of the 85th Division failed to capture the S-Ridge. As a result, the 351st was ordered to advance in that direction to support them. In the early hours of 14 May, Company B stormed Hill 131, silencing the German guns. By 08:00, the men were able to launch their attack on Santa Maria Infante, which was successful. They continued fighting until they reached Bracchi Hill.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: The 350th Regiment on the Battlefield

On 12 May, two companies were positioned on Mount Cianelli and others were tasked with advancing toward Ventosa, but they could only do so after the French launched their attack on the right flank. Once the French began their assault, these companies occupied Ventosa, opening the way for the French forces. Company I successfully captured Mount Ceracoli on 12 May and held it until other companies on the left and rear were able to reach their objectives. On the right, Company L attacked and took Mount Rotondo. During the night, the 350th Regiment captured Mount Cerri and then advanced to Mount Bracchi. They secured San Pietro and pushed forward toward the Ausente River.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: The breaking of the German defences

We can say that after so many efforts, the 351st was aided in its attack by the withdrawal of the XIV Panzer Corps. The Germans had suffered such heavy losses that they decided to retreat to a new defensive line along the crest of the Aurunci Mountains. The 351st Infantry Regiment can truly be proud of its achievements during those days, despite suffering over 500 casualties in just three days.

The 88th infantry Division Grand Battlefield Tour: big effords

Their effort to capture the Bracchi Triangle, supported by the 339th Regiment which took San Martino Hill and blocked German reinforcements in the Ausoni Mountains, helped the French troops advance across the valley after the Gustav Line was broken at Monte Majo. In the other sector, the 350th Regiment moved to Spigno on 15 May but found it already evacuated, so they established their bivouac in Santa Maria.

88th Division welcome to Italy booklet

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