Spring 1945 offensive in Italy

The spring 1945 offensive in Italy, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, was the final Allied attack during the Italian Campaign in the final stages of the Second World War. The attack in the Lombard Plain by the 15th Allied Army Group started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy.

Operation Grapeshot
Part of the Italian Campaign of the Second World War

British troops of the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, part of 11th Brigade of 78th Division, pick their way through the ruins of Argenta, 18 April 1945.
Date6 April 1945 – 2 May 1945
Location
Result

Allied victory

Belligerents

 United Kingdom

 United States
 Canada
Poland
Brazil
 New Zealand
Italian Resistance
 South Africa
Italy
...and others
 Germany
 Italian Social Republic
Commanders and leaders
Harold Alexander
Richard McCreery
Mark Clark
Lucian Truscott
H. von Vietinghoff 
Traugott Herr  
J. Lemelsen  
Benito Mussolini 
Rodolfo Graziani 
Units involved

15th Army Group

Army Group C

Strength
Total: 1,333,856
5th Army:
266,883 fighting strength
Eighth Army:
632,980 fighting strength

Total: 585,000

  • 394,000 fighting strength
  • 100,000 local police units
  • 91,000 lines of communication and AA troops
Casualties and losses
16,258 casualties
incl. 2,860 killed
30–32,000 casualties
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