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Battle of Keren

2018-06-13T11:58:05Z

Bergherald:

{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Keren
|partof=[[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] of the [[Second World War]]
|campaign=
|image=File:Keren Battlefield 023.jpg
|image_size = 300px
|caption=Keren Battlefield
|date=5 February – 1 April 1941
|place=[[Eritrea]]
|coordinates = {{coord|15|46|36|N|38|27|4|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}
|result=Allied victory
|combatant1={{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flagcountry|British Raj}}
{{flag|Free France}}
{{flagcountry|Ethiopian Empire}}
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Italian East Africa]]
|commander1={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[William Platt]] [[Noel Beresford-Peirse]] [[Lewis Heath]]
|commander2=[[Nicolangelo Carnimeo]] [[Orlando Lorenzini]]{{KIA}}
|strength1=13,000
|strength2=23,000
| units1 =[[4th Indian Infantry Division]] [[5th Indian Infantry Division]] [[1st Free French Division|Free French Brigade of the Orient]] [[Arbegnoch]] (Ethiopian irregulars)
| units2 = [[65th Infantry Division Granatieri di Savoia|65th Infantry Division ''Granatieri di Savoia'']] {{nowrap|6 brigades of [[Royal Corps of Colonial Troops|Colonial Troops]]}}
|casualties1=536 killed and 3,229 wounded
4000-5000 indians killed
|casualties2= Italian: 3,000 killed and 4,500 wounded [[Eritrean Ascari]]: 9,000 killed
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox East African Campaign (World War II)}}
}}
The '''Battle of Keren''' (or ''Cheren'', the old Italian spelling) was fought as part of the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. The battle was fought from 5 February to 1 April 1941 between a mixed Italian army of regular and colonial troops and the attacking British and [[Free French]] forces. The town of [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]], in the colony of [[Italian Eritrea]], was of strategic importance to both the Italian and the British forces in 1941. The road and railway through Keren were the main routes to [[Asmara]] (the colonial capital) and the [[Red Sea]] port of [[Massawa]], both of which surrendered to the British after the battle.

==Background==
===Eritrea===
{{see also|First Italo-Abyssinian War|Second Italo-Abyssinian War}}

[[File:Italian East Africa (1938–1941).svg|thumb|{{centre|[[Italian East Africa]], May 1940, before the conquest of [[British Somaliland]]}}]]
Colonised by the Italians in 1885, [[Eritrea]] was used as a staging ground for Italian invasions of [[Ethiopia]] in the First and Second Italo-Abyssinian Wars. The second invasion began in 1935 and Ethiopia fell in 1936. Ethiopia, [[Italian Somaliland]] and Eritrea were combined to form [[Italian East Africa]] (''Africa Orientale Italiana'') part of the [[Italian Empire]]. Following the Italian declaration of war on 10 June 1940, Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] ordered his troops to capture the [[British Somaliland]] and border towns in the [[Sudan]] and [[Kenya]]. Eritrea has three climate zones, a coastal region, with a sandy plain and low scrub running inland for {{convert|10|–|20|mi|km|abbr=on}} in the east with elevations of up to {{convert|1650|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which is hot and humid for most of the year, with June, September and October the hottest months.{{sfn|Prasad|1963|p=17}}

At Massawa the average temperature is {{convert|88|F|C}} and in summer can reach {{convert|120|F|C}} in the shade. Most rain falls in the summer monsoon, with occasional showers in the winter. In the escarpments and valleys, the climate is temperate with only summer monsoon rains, except close to the coast, where there is some winter rain; May is the hottest month. Towards the high plateau, the elevation rises steeply to {{convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, with some peaks {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}} high and the ground declines to the west. It is cooler, with the monsoon from June to September and light rain in April and May. The temperature is highest during the dry season from November to April and above {{convert|8500|ft|m|abbr=on}}, sub-alpine temperatures are found.{{sfn|Prasad|1963|p=17}} The high ground continues into Northern Ethiopia, where the mountains and ravines make ideal defensive terrain.{{sfn|Raugh|1993|p=173}}

===Middle East Command===
{{main|Middle East Command}}

The British responded by building up a force of more than two [[division (military)|divisions]] in Sudan and three in Kenya by early February 1941. The Sudan-based forces—commanded by Lieutenant-General [[William Platt]] and under the command of General [[Archibald Wavell]] (Commander-in-Chief British [[Middle East Command]])—had launched an attack into Eritrea through [[Kassala]] on 18 January and by 1 February had captured [[Agordat]] some {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=on}} east of Kassala.{{sfn|Stewart|2016|pp=148–162}}

===Italian Invasion of Sudan===
{{main|Capture of Kassala}}

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan shared a {{convert|1000|mi|km|abbr=on}} border with the AOI, and on 4 July 1940, was invaded by an Italian force of about {{nowrap|6,500 men}} from Eritrea, which advanced on a railway junction at [[Kassala]] and forced the British garrison of {{nowrap|320 men}} of the SDF and some local police to retire, after inflicting casualties of {{nowrap|43 killed}} and {{nowrap|114 wounded}} for ten casualties.{{sfn|Stegemann|Vogel|1995|pp=262–263}}{{sfn|Raugh|1993|p=72}} The Italians also drove a platoon of No 3 Company, Eastern Arab Corps (EAC) of the SDF, from the small fort at [[Gallabat]], just over the border from [[Metemma]], about {{convert|200|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of Kassala and took the villages of [[Qaysān, Qēssan|Qaysān]], [[Kurmuk]], and Dumbode on the [[Blue Nile]]. From there the Italians ventured no further into Sudan, owing to lack of fuel. They proceeded to fortify Kassala with anti-tank defences, machine-gun posts and strong-points, later establishing a brigade-strong garrison. The Italians were disappointed to find no strong anti-British sentiment among the native population.{{sfn|Stegemann|Vogel|1995|pp=295}}{{sfn|Playfair|1954|pp=170–171}}

==Prelude==
===Keren===
[[File:Map Eritrean Campaign 1941-en.svg|thumb|{{centre|The advance of Platt's forces into Eritrea}}]]
[[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]] had no built-in [[fortification]]s or defensive structures but it is surrounded on most sides by a jumble of steep granite mountains and sharp ridges which gave the defending forces on the high ground a distinct advantage whilst providing their artillery with [[Forward observer|perfect observation]] of any attacking formations. The narrow Dongolaas Gorge at {{coord|15|45|34|N|38|25|16.8|E|name=Dongolaas Gorge|type:landmark}} through which both the road and railway from Agordat to Keren passed was dominated on the south eastern side by the [[massif]] of Mount Zeban and Mount Falestoh on which stood the imposing defences of Fort Dologorodoc at {{coord|15|45|14.9|N|38|25|30.6|E|name=Fort Dologorodoc|type:landmark}}. The other side of the gorge was commanded by the mass of Mount Sanchil with a saddle of secondary summits, Brig's Peak, Hog's Back and Flat Top stretching north westwards toward Mount Sammana. In front of the Sanchil feature on its south western side was a secondary ridge, feature 1616, which became known as Cameron Ridge, overlooking the Ascidera Valley and the railway line.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=53}}

===Northern front===
The 5th Indian Division began to arrive in Sudan in early September 1940 and the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade was placed on the Red Sea coast to protect Port Sudan, the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade south-west of Kassala and the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade ([[William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim|William Slim]]) were sent to Gedaref with the divisional headquarters, to block an Italian attack on Khartoum from Goz Regeb to Gallabat, on a front of {{convert|200|mi|km|abbr=on}}. [[Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)#Northern Front, Eritrea|Gazelle Force]] (Colonel [[Frank Messervy]]) was formed on 16 October, as a mobile unit to raid Italian territory and delay an Italian advance.{{sfn|Prasad|1963|p=160}} Late on 30 January, Gazelle Force was ordered to make pursuit of the enemy retreating down the road to Keren.

As the British forces approached Keren, Brigadier-General [[Nicolangelo Carnimeo]], commander of the [[Italian 2nd Eritrean Division|2nd Eritrean Division]] and the X Territorial Defence Command, drew in his 5th and 44th Colonial Brigades from positions to the north. 42nd Brigade had reached Keren from Agordat almost intact, and the 2nd Brigade—which had suffered greater casualties there—was reforming. The 11th Regiment of the Savoia Grenadiers and the Alpini battalion of the 10th Savoia Grenadiers had just arrived after a three-day non-stop truck journey from Addis Ababa while the 11th Colonial Brigade was also in place, having previously been called from reserve in Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, the 6th Brigade—having relinquished its responsibilities at Metemma—was also making its way to Keren.{{sfn|TAC|1942|pp=37–38}}

==Battle==
{{see also|Order of battle, Keren 1941}}
===5–8 February===
[[File:BattleofKerenMap1941-en.svg|thumb|{{centre|Sketch map of the Keren battlefield (not to scale)}}]]
At 08:00 on 1 February 1941, ''Gazelle Force'' was held up in crossing the [[Barka River|Baraka River]] about {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}} from Keren, where the ''Ponte Mussolini'' had been blown and the approaches to the river mined.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=52}} By noon on 2 February, they were across the river and winding up the Ascidera Valley, until brought to a halt at the Dongolaas Gorge, about {{convert|4|mi|km|abbr=on}} from Keren, where the road had been blocked by the Italians, who blew down the overhanging crags, to fill the gorge with boulders and rocks.

The [[11th Indian Infantry Brigade]], (4th Indian Division) arrived on 3 February, [[reconnaissance|reconnoitred]] the next day and attacked on the left of the gorge on 5 February. The 2nd [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]] fought their way to the top of the ridge called feature 1616, in front of Sanchil and on the night of 6/7 February, the 3/[[14th Punjab Regiment]] passed through and advanced onto Brig's Peak. The Indians were counter-attacked by elements of the [[65 Infantry Division Granatieri di Savoia|65th Infantry Division ''Granatieri di Savoia'']] (Grenadiers of Savoy) who forced them back towards Cameron Ridge, which was being consolidated by [[104th Wellesley's Rifles|(Wellesley's)]] the 1st Battalion/[[6th Rajputana Rifles]]. The ridge was overlooked in front by Sanchil, to the left by Mount Sammana and from behind by other mountains along the Ascidera Valley. The Cameron Highlanders and Rajputana Rifles clung on, despite frequent attacks and having to carry food, water and ammunition up hill for {{convert|1500|ft|m|abbr=on}}, across exposed terrain.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|pp=53–54}}

By 6 February, the [[5th Indian Infantry Brigade]] (4th Indian Division) had arrived and next day, attacked the Dologorodoc feature east of the gorge, looping right through the Scescilembi Valley (known as Happy Valley) and then attacking from the south-east toward Acqua [[Col]] joining Mount Zelele and Mount Falestoh. On the night of 7 February, a company of [[123rd Outram's Rifles|(Outram's)]] the 4th Battalion/[[6th Rajputana Rifles]] took the col until 4:30 a.m., when they ran out of ammunition and were driven back to a lower feature. On 8 February, having spent most of the day under heavy artillery and mortar fire, they withdrew to their jumping-off positions.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|pp=54–55}}

===10–13 February===
On the afternoon of 10 February, 3/[[1st Punjab Regiment]] attacked Brig's Peak and by the morning of 11 February were on top of Sanchil. However, the requirement for men to handle and carry supplies, ammunition and wounded meant there were only two [[platoon]]s to hold the feature.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=55}} Having endured heavy shelling and [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire throughout the day, they were forced off Sanchil and Brig's Peak with heavy casualties by a determined counter-attack from the Savoia Grenadiers. Once again the attackers were thrown onto desperate defence on Cameron Ridge.

Despite the failure by the Punjabis to hold the important observation posts on Sanchil, the renewed attack on Acqua Col—planned for 12 February—went ahead. [[5th Indian Infantry Division]]'s [[29th Indian Infantry Brigade]] was brought up from Barentu and put under command of 4th Division's Major-General [[Beresford-Peirse]] and held in readiness to exploit the hoped-for break-through. At 05:30, supported by an intensive artillery barrage, 4/6th Rajputana Rifles once again led the way. This time, [[Richhpal Ram]] was less fortunate and having gained the crest, had a foot blown off and shortly thereafter was mortally wounded. He was awarded a posthumous [[Victoria Cross]] for his exploits on the Col. Meanwhile, the 4/[[11th Sikh Regiment]] were pushing up around the side of Acqua Col but the overall attack could not be carried through, lacking the extra impact that might have come from the 2/[[5th Mahratta Light Infantry]] which had been diverted to reinforce the hard-pressed defences on Cameron Ridge.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=55}}

Platt decided to pause, regroup and train before making a further attempt at Keren. To free up road transport to bring forward the necessary stockpiles for a new attack, 5th Indian Division returned to Kessala where it could be maintained by the railhead for a period of intensive training until such time as preparations were complete and the division could be brought forward again for the offensive. [[1st Duke of York's Own Skinner's Horse|Skinners Horse]] and most of the Motor Machine Gun companies assembled in front of Arressa and Adi Ugri to pose a threat to the Italian line of reinforcement to Keren.{{sfn|TAC|1942|p=42}} From the north, [[Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)#Northern Front, Eritrea|''Briggsforce'']]—consisting of two battalions from 4th Indian Division's [[7th Indian Infantry Brigade]] and two [[Free French]] battalions—had arrived under Brigadier [[Harold Rawdon Briggs|Briggs]], the 7th Indian Brigade commander. After crossing the border into Eritrea on the Red Sea coast, ''Briggsforce'' had captured Karora and then moved south to take Kubkub. On 1 March, the force had broken through the Mescelit pass some {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} north-east of Keren.{{sfn|TAC|1942|p=43}} ''Briggsforce'' provided not only a third potential direction of attack to occupy the Keren defenders but also created a threat to [[Massawa]] on the coast and pinning valuable reserves there.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=56}}

====Plan of attack====
The scene was set for a set-piece battle with Major-General [[Noel Beresford-Peirse]]'s 4th Indian Infantry Division concentrated on the Sanchil side of the gorge and [[Lewis Heath]]'s 5th Indian Infantry Division, brought forward from Kessala once again, on the Happy Valley side. The Keren defences had been reinforced with the arrival of 6th Colonial Brigade from Metemma and also the 11th Blackshirt Battalion of the Savoia Grenadiers. The defenders now totalled 25,000 strong facing an attacking force which had grown to more than 13,000.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=56}} Beresford-Pierce would launch 11th Brigade, expanded to five battalions under command, against the peaks of the Sanchil mass and 5th Brigade against Mount Sammana on the left of his front.

[[File:Vickers Wellesley Mk I of No. 47 Squadron on a bombing mission to Keren, Eritrea, 2 April 1941. CM645.jpg|thumb|{{centre|[[Vickers Wellesley]] of [[No. 47 Squadron RAF]] based at [[Agordat]], Eritrea, in flight during a bombing sortie to Keren.}}]]
On the 5th Division front, the Italian reinforcements on Dologorodoc meant Happy Valley was dominated by the defenders and the attackers' artillery had had to be withdrawn from their forward positions in the valley to safer locations. Without the artillery, it was no longer considered practical to continue the [[flanking manoeuvre|flanking attack]] through Acqua Col to threaten the Dologorodoc [[supply lines|lines of supply]]. Instead, Major-General [[Lewis Heath]] determined that Fort Dologorodoc would be the key objective for his Indian 5th Infantry Division. Gaining the fort would not only give the attacking forces the artillery observation post to direct fire on both sides of the gorge but would expose the reverse slopes of the Dologorodoc mass (which had been immune to his artillery fire and so a haven to the defenders for supplies and reserves) to direct fire from the fort.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=56}}{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 4}}

The two offensives were planned to take place one after the other on 15 March so that the full force's artillery could be employed for the preliminary bombardment of them both. At the final meeting on 14 March with his commanders Platt said:

{{quote|Do not let anybody think this is going to be a walkover. It is not. It is going to be a bloody battle: a bloody battle against both enemy and ground. It will be won by the side which lasts longest. I know you will last longer than they do. And I promise you I will last longer than my opposite number.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 4}}}}

===15–27 March===
At 07:00 on 15 March, the British and Commonwealth troops of 4th Indian Infantry Division attacked from Cameron Ridge making for Sanchil, Brig's Peak, Hog's Back and the three peaks of Mount Sammana. That night, the battle ebbed and flowed with attack and counter-attack inflicting very heavy casualties on both sides.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=57}}

Meanwhile, on the right, 5th Indian Infantry Division launched its attack on the Dologorodoc feature at 10:30 on 15 March. 2nd [[Highland Light Infantry]] led the attack on the lower features ("Pimple" and "Pinnacle") but made no progress in the daylight because of fire from the overlooking Sanchil peak where the Italian defenders had resolutely beaten off the 11th Brigade assault. They were [[pinned down]], taking casualties and without supply until darkness provided the opportunity to withdraw.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 4}} By moonlight that evening, the attack on Dologorodoc was taken up by 9th Brigade, now commanded by the recently promoted Brigadier Messervy. Heath and Messervy planned a near two battalion attack on ''Pimple'' and ''Pinnacle'' with a third battalion ready to pass through and strike for the fort. The capture of Pinnacle that night by the 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry led by Lieutenant-Colonel [[Denys Whitehorn Reid|Denys Reid]] (with 3/[[12th Frontier Force Regiment]] less two companies under command to take ''Pimple'') is described by Compton Mackenzie in ''Eastern Epic'', his official history of the [[British Indian Army]] during the war, as

{{quote|one of the outstanding small actions of World War II, decisive in its results and formidable in its achievement... Next morning Messervy scrambled up ''Pinnacle'' to congratulate Reid and his Mahrattas and wondered how they had been able to scramble up with their equipment against fierce opposition, when he was finding it a pretty tough job without [either]... At the top, when he saw the victors, he was overcome by the splendor of their feat and his combative amber eyes filled with tears.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=58}}}}

In the early hours of 16 March, the defenders of Fort Dologorodoc made a fierce counter-attack on ''Pinnacle'' and ''Pimple'' for several hours. Crucially, this left the defences at the fort weakened and whilst the counterattack was taking place, the 2nd [[West Yorkshire Regiment]] had made their way over a seemingly impossible knife-edge to surprise the fort's defenders and after a savage fight the fort was captured by 06:30{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 4}}{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=59}} with 40 prisoners taken.{{sfn|TAC|1942|p=44}} Finally, Platt had the artillery observation point so greatly needed.

Through 16 March, the Italians repeatedly counter-attacked whilst 29 Brigade made an unsuccessful attack in the evening to Falestoh and Zeban which was abandoned after dark on 17 March{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=59}} after a day exposed to blistering heat, fierce fighting and no supply.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 4}} For the next 10 days, the 5th Indian Division position at Fort Dologorodoc—exposed to the enemy on three sides—was subject to intense fighting as the Italians threw in more new units in ultimately unsuccessful attempts to regain this key position.{{sfn|TAC|1942|p=44}}

Meanwhile, on the Sanchil feature 4th Division, having been given [[10th Indian Infantry Brigade]] under command, continued to batter away to no avail. On the night of 17 March, having sustained heavy losses, they withdrew from the slopes of Sanchil and Brig's Peak and the damaged 10th Brigade returned to 5th Division to reform. 4th Indian Division continued to hold Hog's Back and Flat Top. Over the next three days, the Italian forces continued to make fierce counter-attacks on both sides of the gorge involving desperate, often hand to hand, fighting.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=60}}

[[File:Indian-field-gun-keren.jpg|thumb|{{centre|British artillery in action at the Battle of Keren}}]]
Platt decided to regroup and concentrate his forces before attacking again. Planning for a set-piece battle, he disbanded Gazelle Force (with Messervy taking over 9th Indian Brigade) and brought 5th Indian Infantry Division (which had been mopping up at Agordat) to the front. On 1 March his command was expanded by the arrival of Briggs Force from the north. Although it lacked the artillery for a major offensive, Briggs Force drew off a significant part of the Keren garrison. This aided Platt's main offensive, which was being launched from the south west. Briggs Force also posed a threat to Massawa to the east, thereby obliging the Italians to maintain a reserve on the coast.{{sfn|Playfair|1954|pp=433–437}}

Platt and his commanders decided that the supreme attack should be made through the Dongolaas Gorge. Heath felt that, because of its physical defensive advantages, the Italians might have neglected their defences. On the nights of 16/17 and 17/18 March, escorted engineers reconnoitred the road block and attempted to make a start to clear it. This failed because of interfering fire from the Italian lines. However, the information gathered made clear to Heath that the key to the gorge was not Sanchil but two smaller features (the ''Railway Bumps'') which overlooked the roadblock and could be approached with much less opposition along the railway line from the tunnel below Cameron Ridge.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}}

An attack on the defenders at the head of the gorge was planned to give the [[sapper]]s and miners the 48 hours they needed free of interference from mortar and [[machine gun]] fire required to clear the road. For this Heath would need his full division and had to wait until 10th Brigade had refitted after its mauling on the Sanchil feature. The plan was for 10th Brigade to advance into the gorge whilst 9th Brigade (which was holding the Fort Dologorodoc positions) would move down to take three smaller hills overlooking the far end of the gorge and 29th Brigade would then attack to take Mount Zeban and beyond it to the east Mount Canabai, which looked down on Keren and guarded the road to Asmara. Command of 10th Brigade was taken over by one of Heath's divisional staff officers, [[Thomas Wynford Rees|Thomas "Pete" Rees]] while his predecessor, Lieutenant-Colonel [[Bernard Campbell Fletcher|Bernard Fletcher]] was released to form ''Fletcher Force'', a mobile force comprising [[The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse)|Central India Horse]] and 6 [[Matilda II|Matilda II tanks]], which would be used to exploit the planned break-through in the gorge and move rapidly into the defenders' rear position and attack their reserves.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}}

On 24 March, diversionary attacks were made on Sanchil while just before midnight the West Yorkshires and the 3/5th Mahrattas in Fort Dologorodoc moved down to take the lower hills overlooking the gorge. The West Yorkshires were able to take their hill unopposed but the Mahrattas met heavy opposition which was well dug-in. However, by 07:30 all three hills were taken and the gorge's defences on its south eastern side silenced.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}}

At 03:00 on 25 March, the 2nd [[Highland Light Infantry]] and the 4/[[10th Baluch Regiment]] on their right advanced from the shelter of the railway tunnel, previously cleared by the sappers and miners, up the gorge. A 100-gun artillery bombardment was raining down on the ridge on Sanchil above (to suppress any defensive fire from this dominating height) and the attack in the gorge achieved complete surprise, with the defenders' attention focused on Sanchil. The 3/[[2nd Punjab Regiment]] then advanced between the Baluchis and the West Yorkshires to clear the gorge. By 05:30, the railway bumps and most of the objectives were captured and the defenders no longer held positions from which to direct fire into the gorge below.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}}{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=61}}

The sappers and miners laboured on the road while the battles on the Sanchil and Dologorodoc features continued. By midday on 26 March, they had completed remaking the road through the gorge.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=61}} In the early hours of 27 March, the British artillery turned onto Zeban and Falstoh. 29th Brigade passed through 9th Brigade's positions to launch their attack at 04:30, but when they made their assault they found the defenders had withdrawn and were able to occupy Falestoh Ridge and the two Zeban summits unopposed.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}} The Italian position was now untenable and by first light the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) was reporting their withdrawal along the road from Keren to Asmara. The defenders on the Sanchil ridge were less fortunate and now effectively cut off the Savoia Grenadiers and Bersaglieri were left with no option but surrender. ''Fletcher Force'' was in Keren by 10:30 and was then sent in pursuit along the Asmara road.{{sfn|Brett-James|1951|loc=ch 5}}

==Aftermath==
===Analysis===
[[File:Ethiopian camel troops.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Ethiopians transporting supplies by camel through vegetation, 22 January 1941 (Photographer: FE Palmer, No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit).}}]]
From 27 March 1941, the route to Asmara and Massawa was open and Wavell was able to order the 4th Indian Division move to Port Sudan for transport back to [[Egypt]]. On 11 April, the [[President of the United States|US President]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], rescinded the status of the Red Sea as a combat zone under the [[Neutrality Acts of 1930s|Neutrality Acts]], freeing US merchant ships to use the route to carry supplies to the Middle East.{{sfn|Raugh|1993|pp=181–182}}

===Casualties===
In the 4th Division history of 1948, Stevens gave {{nowrap|3,273 casualties,}} of whom about ten percent were killed.{{sfn|Stevens|1948|p=55}} In 1951, Mackenzie wrote that in the final stages of the battle, the Italians had {{nowrap|5,000 casualties,}} of whom {{nowrap|1,135 men}} were killed.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=60}} In 1954, I. S. O. Playfair, the British official historian, recorded that Italian troops and [[Eritrean Ascari]] had {{nowrap|3,000 casualties.}}{{sfn|Playfair|1954|p=439}} In 1993, Raugh wrote that {{nowrap|3,000 Italian}} troops were killed and that British casualties were {{nowrap|536 men}} killed and {{nowrap|3,229 wounded}} as did Dear and Foot in 2005.{{sfn|Raugh|1993|p=181}}{{sfn|Dear|Foot|2005|p=247}} An informal review of Bruttini and Puglisi (1957) found that about {{nowrap|3,000 Italian}} soldiers were killed, {{nowrap|4,500 wounded}} and sick, {{nowrap|9,000 Askari}} killed and nearly {{nowrap|20,000 wounded}} giving totals of {{nowrap|12,147 killed}} and {{nowrap|21,700 men}} wounded.{{sfn|Bruttini|Puglisi|1957|p=}}

===Massawa===
[[File:Italians repairing amored vehicle (East Africa) winter 1941.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Italians repairing an armoured vehicle in East Africa, 1941}}]]
Rear-Admiral [[Mario Bonetti]], commander of Italian Red Sea Flotilla and the garrison at Massawa, had {{nowrap|10,000 troops}} and about {{nowrap|100 tanks}} to defend the port.{{sfn|Mackenzie|1951|p=66}} During the evening of 31 March, three of the last six destroyers at Massawa put to sea, to raid the Gulf of Suez and then scuttle themselves but ''Leone'' ran aground and sank the next morning and the sortie was cancelled. On 2 April the last five destroyers left to attack Port Sudan and then sink themselves.{{sfn|Playfair|1954|p=441}} Heath telephoned Bonetti with an ultimatum to surrender and not block the harbour by scuttling ships. If this was refused, the British would leave Italian citizens in Eritrea and Ethiopia to fend for themselves. The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade Group sent small forces towards Adowa and Adigrat and the rest advanced down the Massawa road, which declined by {{convert|7000|ft|m|abbr=on}} in {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} and the Indians rendezvoused with Briggs Force, which had cut across country, at Massawa by 5 April.{{sfn|Playfair|1954|pp=441–442}}

Bonetti was called upon to surrender but refused again and on 8 April, an attack by the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade Group was repulsed. A simultaneous attack by the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade and the tanks of B Squadron 4th RTR broke through the defences on the west side. The Free French overran the defences in the south-west, taking Montecullo and Fort Umberto April 7 as the RAF bombed Italian artillery positions. [[Raoul Magrin-Vernerey|Colonel Monclar]] of the [[13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade|13th French Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade]] captured the Italian Admiralty building and accepted Bonetti's surrender, taking {{nowrap|9,590 prisoners}} and {{nowrap|127 guns.}} The harbour was found to have been blocked by the [[Scuttling#Blockade of Massawa (1941)|scuttling]] of two large [[Drydock#Floating|floating dry docks]], {{nowrap|16 large}} ships and a floating crane in the mouths of the north Naval Harbour, the central Commercial Harbour and the main South Harbour. The Italians had also dumped as much of their equipment as possible in the water. The British re-opened the Massawa–Asmara railway on 27 April and by 1 May, the port came into use to supply the 5th Indian Division.{{sfn|Playfair|1954|pp=441–442}}{{efn|Edward Ellsberg later wrote that after arriving in April, with a salvage crew and specialist equipment, the United States Naval Repair Base, Massawa opened on 8 May for repairs and maintenance.{{sfn|Ellsberg|1946|p=160}}}} The Italian surrender ended organised resistance in Eritrea and fulfilled the strategic objective of ending the threat to shipping in the Red Sea.{{sfn|Raugh|1993|pp=181–182}}

==See also==
* [[Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Brett-James|1951}}
|first=Antony |last=Brett-James |title=Ball of Fire – The Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War |publisher=[[Gale & Polden]] |year=1951 |url=http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fireTC.html |location=Aldershot|oclc=4275700 |accessdate=5 March 2016}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Bruttini|Puglisi|1957}}
|title=L'Impero tradito |trans-title=|last1=Bruttini |first1=A. |last2=Puglisi |first2=G. |authorlink= |year=1957 |publisher=La Fenice |location=Firenze |edition= |oclc=860557190}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Dear|Foot|2005}}
|editor1-last=Dear |editor1-first=I. C. B. |editor2-last=Foot |editor2-first=M. R. D. |editor1-link=I. C. B. Dear |editor2-link=M. R. D. Foot |title=Oxford Companion to World War II |year=2005 |orig-year=1995 |pages=245–247 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-280666-6}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Ellsberg|1946}}
|first=Edward |last=Ellsberg |authorlink=Edward Ellsberg |title=[[Under the Red Sea Sun]] |location=New York |publisher=Dodd, Mead |year=1946 |oclc=1311913 |isbn=978-0-8371-7264-4}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Mackenzie|1951}}
|first=Compton |last=Mackenzie |authorlink=Compton Mackenzie |title=Eastern Epic: September 1939 – March 1943 Defence |volume=I |publisher=Chatto & Windus |location=London |year=1951 |oclc=59637091}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Playfair|1954}}
|first1=Major-General I. S. O. |last1=Playfair |author1-link=Ian Stanley Ord Playfair |first2=Commander G. M. S. |last2=with Stitt [[Royal Navy|RN]] |first3=Brigadier C. J. C. |last3=Molony |first4=Air Vice-Marshal S. E. |last4=Toomer |editor-last=Butler |editor-first=J. R. M. |editor-link=James Ramsay Montagu Butler |series=History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series |title=The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941) |volume=I |publisher=[[HMSO]] |year=1954 |oclc=494123451 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-Med-I/index.html |accessdate=3 September 2015 |display-authors=1}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Prasad|1963}}
|last1=Qureshi |first1=N. A. |last2=Pal |first2=D. |last3=Pandey |first3=K. M. |series=Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War (1939–1945) |title=East African Campaign, 1940–41 |editor-last=Prasad |editor-first=Bisheshwar |authorlink= |year=1963 |publisher=Combined Inter-Services Historical Section (India & Pakistan) |location=Delhi |edition=online |url=http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/India/EAfrica/index.html |accessdate=23 February 2016 |oclc=480344871 |display-authors=1}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Raugh|1993}}
|last=Raugh |first=H. E. |title=Wavell in the Middle East, 1939–1941: A Study in Generalship |authorlink= |year=1993 |publisher=Brassey's UK |location=London |edition= |isbn=978-0-08-040983-2}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Stegemann|Vogel|1995}}
|last1=Stegemann |first1=Bernd |last2=Vogel |first2=Detlef |title=[[Germany and the Second World War]]: The Mediterranean, South-East Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=London |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-19-822884-4}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Stevens|1948}}
|title=Fourth Indian Division |last=Stevens |first=G. R. |authorlink= |year=1948 |publisher=McLaren and Son |location=Toronto, Ont |edition= |oclc=3809328}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Stewart|2016}}
|title=The First Victory: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign |last=Stewart |first=A. |authorlink= |year=2016 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven, CT |edition=1st |isbn=978-0-300-20855-9}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|TAC|1942}}
|author= |title=The Abyssinian Campaigns: The Official Story of the Conquest of Italian East Africa |location=London |publisher=HMSO for [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information]] |year=1942 |url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015018646870;view=1up;seq=1 |accessdate=5 March 2016 |oclc=184818818}}
* {{cite journal |title=The Brits Enter, the Italians Exit |journal=The Eritrean Newsletter |volume=I |number=34 |publisher=ELF Foreign Information Centre |location=Beirut |year=1979 |oclc=6056089}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |first=Giuseppe Federico |last=Ghergo |title=La battaglia di Cheren |trans-title=The Battle of Keren |journal=Storia Militare |number=213 |date=June 2011 |publisher=Albertelli Edizioni Speciali |location=Parma |issn=1122-5289}}
* {{cite book |author= |title=The Abyssinian Campaigns; The Official Story of the Conquest of Italian East Africa. |location=London |publisher=HMSO for [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information]] |year=1942 |oclc=184818818}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Battle of Keren}}
* [http://secondbysecondworldwar.com/?p=3834 This week in the War, 24–30 March 1941: The Fall of Keren—The Unknown Victory]
* [http://worldatwarmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/WW25-p6-13.pdf Battle of Keren]

{{World War II}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keren, Battle of}}
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II]]
[[Category:East African Campaign (World War II)|Battle of Keren]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1941]]
[[Category:1941 in Ethiopia|Battle of Keren]]
[[Category:1941 in Italy|Battle of Keren]]
[[Category:Battles involving Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Italy]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Eritrea in World War II|Battle of Keren]]
[[Category:Ethiopia in World War II|Battle of Keren]]
[[Category:February 1941 events]]
[[Category:March 1941 events]]
[[Category:April 1941 events]]

Operation Herring

2018-06-13T11:45:59Z

Bergherald:

{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Herring
|partof= the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]/[[Italian Civil War]] of [[World War II]]
|image= Paracadutisti italiani salgono a bordo di un C-47 all'aeroporto di Rosignano (20 aprile 1945).jpg
|caption=Italian parachutists departing from Rosignano on 20 April 1945
|date= 19–23 April 1945
|place= Key Axis positions behind the [[Po River]] Valley
|result= Italian victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagicon image|War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg}} [[Italian Social Republic]]
|commander1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Captain Carlo Gay {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Lieutenant Guerrino Ceiner
|commander2=Unknown
|strength1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} 226 parachutists {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} Local partisan groups {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 1+ {{flagicon|United States|1912}} 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]s
|strength2= {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
7,000 soldiers 200 APCs, tanks, and other vehicles
|casualties1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} '''Italy:''' 30 killed 10-12 wounded {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''United Kingdom''': 1 killed
|casualties2= 481 killed 1083 captured 44 vehicles destroyed
|notes=
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox 1945 Spring Offensive}}
{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

'''Operation Herring''' (Herring 1) was the last [[World War II]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] combat drop in Europe.

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|April 1945 offensive]] on the [[Italy|Italian]] front, which was to end the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and the war in Italy, was to decisively break through the [[Germany|German]] [[Gothic Line]], the defensive line along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]] and the [[River Po]] plain to the [[Adriatic Sea]] and swiftly drive north to occupy [[Northern Italy]] and get to the [[Austria]]n and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] borders as quickly as possible. However, German strongpoints, as well as bridge, road, levee and dike blasting, and any occasional determined resistance in the Po Valley plain might slow the planned sweep down. Allied planners felt that dropping [[paratroops]] onto some key areas and locales south of the River Po could help wreak havoc in the German rear area, attack German communications and vehicle columns, further disrupting the German retreat, and prevent German engineers from blowing up key structures before Allied spearheads could exploit them. Lieutenant General Sir [[Richard McCreery]], commander of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|8th Army]], had a number of Italian paratroopers at hand for the task.

==History==
In March 1945, the whole 114-strong Italian paratroops "F" [[Reconnaissance|Recce]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] (12 [[squad]]s under [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] Carlo Gay), and 112 volunteers – four [[platoon]]s, each made up by three squads, led by [[Lieutenant]] Guerrino Ceiner - from the Italian [[184th Airborne Division Nembo|Nembo Paratroops]] [[Regiment]], were picked for Operation Herring. They received a rapid but thorough training update under the supervision of the British paratroops [[Major]] Ramsay, who was reportedly pleased by the paratroopers' excellent performance.
[[File:Paracadutisti italiani verso la zona di lancio dell'operazione Herring.jpg|thumb|left|Italian parachutists en route to the drop zone of Operation Herring]]

The mission would entail eight battle drops on as many areas south of Po River, southeast of [[Ferrara]], the [[Mirandola]] area, and [[Poggio Rusco]] and the [[Modena]]-[[Mantua]] highway. It would last 36 hours. Every paratrooper would be equipped with an Italian [[Beretta Model 38|Beretta MAB]] [[submachine gun]] with 400 rounds, high explosive charges, four [[hand grenades]], dagger, maps, and foodstuff for 48 hours.

On the night of 19–20 April 1945, the Italian paras (plus at least one British paratrooper who had joined them) jumped from 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] [[transport]] aircraft of the U.S. 64th Troop Carrier Group and on their drop zones. Scattering was considerable, but it did not significantly hinder the paratroops' effectiveness. A few were captured upon their landing, but their comrades proved very aggressive – perhaps even too much as several German prisoners were murdered in cold blood by their captors, a cruelty the Germans reciprocated in kind by killing some Italian prisoners as well as a few civilians {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. 16 paras surrounded by German forces and barricaded inside a farmhouse died - all but two - fighting to the last round. Other groups were more successful, inflicting heavy damage and suffering light casualties. Two F Squadron squads (18 men) seized two little towns, Ravarino and Stuffione, capturing 451 Germans and holding out until the arrival of Allied ground forces.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Prigionieri nazisti catturati dai paracadutisti italiani dell'operazione Herring (Mirandola, aprile 1945).jpg|thumb|German prisoners captured by italian paras ([[Mirandola]], April 1945)]]
Operation Herring lasted over 72 hours instead of the 36 initially foreseen, but it turned out to be a success. With some help on the part of the local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] groups, according to some sources 481 German soldiers were killed, 1,083 surrendered, 44 vehicles were destroyed and many captured including some [[tanks]], [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s and guns, 77 telephone lines severed, three bridges taken intact, an ammunition storage site blown up. The price the Italians paid for the success was 31 dead (including a British paratroops [[sergeant]]) and 10-12 wounded. An Italian lieutenant and a private were posthumously awarded the [[Gold Medal of Military Valor|Gold Medal for Valor]].

==See also==
*[[Airborne forces]]

==References==
William Fowler (2010): The Secret War in Italy; Operation Herring and No 1 Italian SAS, Ian Allan, {{ISBN|9780711035287}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004616/http://www.squadronef.it/ Squadrone F] - Detailed website dedicated to Operation Herring (in Italian)

{{coord missing|Italy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring}}
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign|Herring]]
[[Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany|Herring]]
[[Category:Airborne operations of World War II]]
[[Category:April 1945 events]]

Operation Herring

2018-06-13T11:45:33Z

Bergherald:

{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Herring
|partof= the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]/[[Italian Civil War]] of [[World War II]]
|image= Paracadutisti italiani salgono a bordo di un C-47 all'aeroporto di Rosignano (20 aprile 1945).jpg
|caption=Italian parachutists departing from Rosignano on 20 April 1945
|date= 19–23 April 1945
|place= Key Axis positions behind the [[Po River]] Valley
|result= Italian victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagicon image|War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg}} [[Italian Social Republic]]
|commander1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Captain Carlo Gay {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Lieutenant Guerrino Ceiner
|commander2=Unknown
|strength1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} 226 parachutists {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} Local partisan groups {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 1+ {{flagicon|United States|1912}} 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]s
|strength2= {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} 7,000 soldiers 200 APCs, tanks, and other vehicles
|casualties1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} '''Italy:''' 30 killed 10-12 wounded {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''United Kingdom''': 1 killed
|casualties2= 481 killed 1083 captured 44 vehicles destroyed
|notes=
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox 1945 Spring Offensive}}
{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

'''Operation Herring''' (Herring 1) was the last [[World War II]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] combat drop in Europe.

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|April 1945 offensive]] on the [[Italy|Italian]] front, which was to end the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and the war in Italy, was to decisively break through the [[Germany|German]] [[Gothic Line]], the defensive line along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]] and the [[River Po]] plain to the [[Adriatic Sea]] and swiftly drive north to occupy [[Northern Italy]] and get to the [[Austria]]n and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] borders as quickly as possible. However, German strongpoints, as well as bridge, road, levee and dike blasting, and any occasional determined resistance in the Po Valley plain might slow the planned sweep down. Allied planners felt that dropping [[paratroops]] onto some key areas and locales south of the River Po could help wreak havoc in the German rear area, attack German communications and vehicle columns, further disrupting the German retreat, and prevent German engineers from blowing up key structures before Allied spearheads could exploit them. Lieutenant General Sir [[Richard McCreery]], commander of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|8th Army]], had a number of Italian paratroopers at hand for the task.

==History==
In March 1945, the whole 114-strong Italian paratroops "F" [[Reconnaissance|Recce]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] (12 [[squad]]s under [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] Carlo Gay), and 112 volunteers – four [[platoon]]s, each made up by three squads, led by [[Lieutenant]] Guerrino Ceiner - from the Italian [[184th Airborne Division Nembo|Nembo Paratroops]] [[Regiment]], were picked for Operation Herring. They received a rapid but thorough training update under the supervision of the British paratroops [[Major]] Ramsay, who was reportedly pleased by the paratroopers' excellent performance.
[[File:Paracadutisti italiani verso la zona di lancio dell'operazione Herring.jpg|thumb|left|Italian parachutists en route to the drop zone of Operation Herring]]

The mission would entail eight battle drops on as many areas south of Po River, southeast of [[Ferrara]], the [[Mirandola]] area, and [[Poggio Rusco]] and the [[Modena]]-[[Mantua]] highway. It would last 36 hours. Every paratrooper would be equipped with an Italian [[Beretta Model 38|Beretta MAB]] [[submachine gun]] with 400 rounds, high explosive charges, four [[hand grenades]], dagger, maps, and foodstuff for 48 hours.

On the night of 19–20 April 1945, the Italian paras (plus at least one British paratrooper who had joined them) jumped from 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] [[transport]] aircraft of the U.S. 64th Troop Carrier Group and on their drop zones. Scattering was considerable, but it did not significantly hinder the paratroops' effectiveness. A few were captured upon their landing, but their comrades proved very aggressive – perhaps even too much as several German prisoners were murdered in cold blood by their captors, a cruelty the Germans reciprocated in kind by killing some Italian prisoners as well as a few civilians {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. 16 paras surrounded by German forces and barricaded inside a farmhouse died - all but two - fighting to the last round. Other groups were more successful, inflicting heavy damage and suffering light casualties. Two F Squadron squads (18 men) seized two little towns, Ravarino and Stuffione, capturing 451 Germans and holding out until the arrival of Allied ground forces.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Prigionieri nazisti catturati dai paracadutisti italiani dell'operazione Herring (Mirandola, aprile 1945).jpg|thumb|German prisoners captured by italian paras ([[Mirandola]], April 1945)]]
Operation Herring lasted over 72 hours instead of the 36 initially foreseen, but it turned out to be a success. With some help on the part of the local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] groups, according to some sources 481 German soldiers were killed, 1,083 surrendered, 44 vehicles were destroyed and many captured including some [[tanks]], [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s and guns, 77 telephone lines severed, three bridges taken intact, an ammunition storage site blown up. The price the Italians paid for the success was 31 dead (including a British paratroops [[sergeant]]) and 10-12 wounded. An Italian lieutenant and a private were posthumously awarded the [[Gold Medal of Military Valor|Gold Medal for Valor]].

==See also==
*[[Airborne forces]]

==References==
William Fowler (2010): The Secret War in Italy; Operation Herring and No 1 Italian SAS, Ian Allan, {{ISBN|9780711035287}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004616/http://www.squadronef.it/ Squadrone F] - Detailed website dedicated to Operation Herring (in Italian)

{{coord missing|Italy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring}}
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign|Herring]]
[[Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany|Herring]]
[[Category:Airborne operations of World War II]]
[[Category:April 1945 events]]

Operation Herring

2018-06-13T11:41:43Z

Bergherald:

{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Herring
|partof= the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]/[[Italian Civil War]] of [[World War II]]
|image= Paracadutisti italiani salgono a bordo di un C-47 all'aeroporto di Rosignano (20 aprile 1945).jpg
|caption=Italian parachutists departing from Rosignano on 20 April 1945
|date= 19–23 April 1945
|place= Key Axis positions behind the [[Po River]] Valley
|result= Italian victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagicon image|War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg}} [[Italian Social Republic]]
|commander1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Captain Carlo Gay {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Lieutenant Guerrino Ceiner
|commander2=Unknown
|strength1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} 226 parachutists {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} Local partisan groups {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 1+ {{flagicon|United States|1912}} 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]s
|strength2= 7,000 soldiers 200 APCs, tanks, and other vehicles
|casualties1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} '''Italy:''' 30 killed 10-12 wounded {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''United Kingdom''': 1 killed
|casualties2= 481 killed 1083 captured 44 vehicles destroyed
|notes=
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox 1945 Spring Offensive}}
{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

'''Operation Herring''' (Herring 1) was the last [[World War II]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] combat drop in Europe.

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|April 1945 offensive]] on the [[Italy|Italian]] front, which was to end the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and the war in Italy, was to decisively break through the [[Germany|German]] [[Gothic Line]], the defensive line along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]] and the [[River Po]] plain to the [[Adriatic Sea]] and swiftly drive north to occupy [[Northern Italy]] and get to the [[Austria]]n and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] borders as quickly as possible. However, German strongpoints, as well as bridge, road, levee and dike blasting, and any occasional determined resistance in the Po Valley plain might slow the planned sweep down. Allied planners felt that dropping [[paratroops]] onto some key areas and locales south of the River Po could help wreak havoc in the German rear area, attack German communications and vehicle columns, further disrupting the German retreat, and prevent German engineers from blowing up key structures before Allied spearheads could exploit them. Lieutenant General Sir [[Richard McCreery]], commander of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|8th Army]], had a number of Italian paratroopers at hand for the task.

==History==
In March 1945, the whole 114-strong Italian paratroops "F" [[Reconnaissance|Recce]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] (12 [[squad]]s under [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] Carlo Gay), and 112 volunteers – four [[platoon]]s, each made up by three squads, led by [[Lieutenant]] Guerrino Ceiner - from the Italian [[184th Airborne Division Nembo|Nembo Paratroops]] [[Regiment]], were picked for Operation Herring. They received a rapid but thorough training update under the supervision of the British paratroops [[Major]] Ramsay, who was reportedly pleased by the paratroopers' excellent performance.
[[File:Paracadutisti italiani verso la zona di lancio dell'operazione Herring.jpg|thumb|left|Italian parachutists en route to the drop zone of Operation Herring]]

The mission would entail eight battle drops on as many areas south of Po River, southeast of [[Ferrara]], the [[Mirandola]] area, and [[Poggio Rusco]] and the [[Modena]]-[[Mantua]] highway. It would last 36 hours. Every paratrooper would be equipped with an Italian [[Beretta Model 38|Beretta MAB]] [[submachine gun]] with 400 rounds, high explosive charges, four [[hand grenades]], dagger, maps, and foodstuff for 48 hours.

On the night of 19–20 April 1945, the Italian paras (plus at least one British paratrooper who had joined them) jumped from 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] [[transport]] aircraft of the U.S. 64th Troop Carrier Group and on their drop zones. Scattering was considerable, but it did not significantly hinder the paratroops' effectiveness. A few were captured upon their landing, but their comrades proved very aggressive – perhaps even too much as several German prisoners were murdered in cold blood by their captors, a cruelty the Germans reciprocated in kind by killing some Italian prisoners as well as a few civilians {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. 16 paras surrounded by German forces and barricaded inside a farmhouse died - all but two - fighting to the last round. Other groups were more successful, inflicting heavy damage and suffering light casualties. Two F Squadron squads (18 men) seized two little towns, Ravarino and Stuffione, capturing 451 Germans and holding out until the arrival of Allied ground forces.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Prigionieri nazisti catturati dai paracadutisti italiani dell'operazione Herring (Mirandola, aprile 1945).jpg|thumb|German prisoners captured by italian paras ([[Mirandola]], April 1945)]]
Operation Herring lasted over 72 hours instead of the 36 initially foreseen, but it turned out to be a success. With some help on the part of the local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] groups, according to some sources 481 German soldiers were killed, 1,083 surrendered, 44 vehicles were destroyed and many captured including some [[tanks]], [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s and guns, 77 telephone lines severed, three bridges taken intact, an ammunition storage site blown up. The price the Italians paid for the success was 31 dead (including a British paratroops [[sergeant]]) and 10-12 wounded. An Italian lieutenant and a private were posthumously awarded the [[Gold Medal of Military Valor|Gold Medal for Valor]].

==See also==
*[[Airborne forces]]

==References==
William Fowler (2010): The Secret War in Italy; Operation Herring and No 1 Italian SAS, Ian Allan, {{ISBN|9780711035287}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004616/http://www.squadronef.it/ Squadrone F] - Detailed website dedicated to Operation Herring (in Italian)

{{coord missing|Italy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring}}
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign|Herring]]
[[Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany|Herring]]
[[Category:Airborne operations of World War II]]
[[Category:April 1945 events]]

Operation Herring

2018-06-13T11:40:31Z

Bergherald:

{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Herring
|partof= the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]/[[Italian Civil War]] of [[World War II]]
|image= Paracadutisti italiani salgono a bordo di un C-47 all'aeroporto di Rosignano (20 aprile 1945).jpg
|caption=Italian parachutists departing from Rosignano on 20 April 1945
|date= 19–23 April 1945
|place= Key Axis positions behind the [[Po River]] Valley
|result= Italian victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagicon image|War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg}} [[Italian Social Republic]]
|commander1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Captain Carlo Gay {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Lieutenant Guerrino Ceiner
|commander2=Unknown
|strength1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} 226 parachutists {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} Local partisan groups {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 1+ {{flagicon|United States|1912}} 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]s
|strength2= Unknown
|casualties1= Unknown
|casualties2= Unknown
|notes=
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox 1945 Spring Offensive}}
{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

'''Operation Herring''' (Herring 1) was the last [[World War II]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] combat drop in Europe.

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|April 1945 offensive]] on the [[Italy|Italian]] front, which was to end the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and the war in Italy, was to decisively break through the [[Germany|German]] [[Gothic Line]], the defensive line along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]] and the [[River Po]] plain to the [[Adriatic Sea]] and swiftly drive north to occupy [[Northern Italy]] and get to the [[Austria]]n and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] borders as quickly as possible. However, German strongpoints, as well as bridge, road, levee and dike blasting, and any occasional determined resistance in the Po Valley plain might slow the planned sweep down. Allied planners felt that dropping [[paratroops]] onto some key areas and locales south of the River Po could help wreak havoc in the German rear area, attack German communications and vehicle columns, further disrupting the German retreat, and prevent German engineers from blowing up key structures before Allied spearheads could exploit them. Lieutenant General Sir [[Richard McCreery]], commander of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|8th Army]], had a number of Italian paratroopers at hand for the task.

==History==
In March 1945, the whole 114-strong Italian paratroops "F" [[Reconnaissance|Recce]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] (12 [[squad]]s under [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] Carlo Gay), and 112 volunteers – four [[platoon]]s, each made up by three squads, led by [[Lieutenant]] Guerrino Ceiner - from the Italian [[184th Airborne Division Nembo|Nembo Paratroops]] [[Regiment]], were picked for Operation Herring. They received a rapid but thorough training update under the supervision of the British paratroops [[Major]] Ramsay, who was reportedly pleased by the paratroopers' excellent performance.
[[File:Paracadutisti italiani verso la zona di lancio dell'operazione Herring.jpg|thumb|left|Italian parachutists en route to the drop zone of Operation Herring]]

The mission would entail eight battle drops on as many areas south of Po River, southeast of [[Ferrara]], the [[Mirandola]] area, and [[Poggio Rusco]] and the [[Modena]]-[[Mantua]] highway. It would last 36 hours. Every paratrooper would be equipped with an Italian [[Beretta Model 38|Beretta MAB]] [[submachine gun]] with 400 rounds, high explosive charges, four [[hand grenades]], dagger, maps, and foodstuff for 48 hours.

On the night of 19–20 April 1945, the Italian paras (plus at least one British paratrooper who had joined them) jumped from 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] [[transport]] aircraft of the U.S. 64th Troop Carrier Group and on their drop zones. Scattering was considerable, but it did not significantly hinder the paratroops' effectiveness. A few were captured upon their landing, but their comrades proved very aggressive – perhaps even too much as several German prisoners were murdered in cold blood by their captors, a cruelty the Germans reciprocated in kind by killing some Italian prisoners as well as a few civilians {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. 16 paras surrounded by German forces and barricaded inside a farmhouse died - all but two - fighting to the last round. Other groups were more successful, inflicting heavy damage and suffering light casualties. Two F Squadron squads (18 men) seized two little towns, Ravarino and Stuffione, capturing 451 Germans and holding out until the arrival of Allied ground forces.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Prigionieri nazisti catturati dai paracadutisti italiani dell'operazione Herring (Mirandola, aprile 1945).jpg|thumb|German prisoners captured by italian paras ([[Mirandola]], April 1945)]]
Operation Herring lasted over 72 hours instead of the 36 initially foreseen, but it turned out to be a success. With some help on the part of the local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] groups, according to some sources 481 German soldiers were killed, 1,083 surrendered, 44 vehicles were destroyed and many captured including some [[tanks]], [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s and guns, 77 telephone lines severed, three bridges taken intact, an ammunition storage site blown up. The price the Italians paid for the success was 31 dead (including a British paratroops [[sergeant]]) and 10-12 wounded. An Italian lieutenant and a private were posthumously awarded the [[Gold Medal of Military Valor|Gold Medal for Valor]].

==See also==
*[[Airborne forces]]

==References==
William Fowler (2010): The Secret War in Italy; Operation Herring and No 1 Italian SAS, Ian Allan, {{ISBN|9780711035287}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004616/http://www.squadronef.it/ Squadrone F] - Detailed website dedicated to Operation Herring (in Italian)

{{coord missing|Italy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring}}
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign|Herring]]
[[Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany|Herring]]
[[Category:Airborne operations of World War II]]
[[Category:April 1945 events]]

Operation Herring

2018-03-22T14:15:08Z

Bergherald:

{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Herring
|partof= the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]/[[Italian Civil War]] of [[World War II]]
|image= Paracadutisti italiani salgono a bordo di un C-47 all'aeroporto di Rosignano (20 aprile 1945).jpg
|caption=Italian parachutists departing from Rosignano on 20 April 1945
|date= 19–23 April 1945
|place= Key Axis positions behind the [[Po River]] Valley
|result= Italian victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} [[Italian Resistance]]
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagicon image|War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg}} [[Italian Social Republic]]
|commander1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Captain Carlo Gay {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Lieutenant Guerrino Ceiner
|commander2=Unknown
|strength1={{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}}226 parachutists {{flagicon image|Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg}} Local partisan groups {{flagicon|United Kingdom}}1+ {{flagicon|United States|1912}}14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]s
|strength2=around 7000 infantry
200 apcs,tanks and other vehicles
|casualties1= {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} '''Italy:''' 30 killed 10-12 wounded {{flagicon|United Kingdom}}'''United Kingdom''': 1 killed
|casualties2=481 killed 1083 captured 44 vehicles destroyed
|notes=
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox 1945 Spring Offensive}}{{Campaignbox Italy}}
}}

'''Operation Herring''' (Herring 1) was the last [[World War II]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] combat drop in Europe.

==Background==
The [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy|April 1945 offensive]] on the [[Italy|Italian]] front, which was to end the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] and the war in Italy, was to decisively break through the [[Germany|German]] [[Gothic Line]], the defensive line along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]] and the [[River Po]] plain to the [[Adriatic Sea]] and swiftly drive north to occupy [[Northern Italy]] and get to the [[Austria]]n and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] borders as quickly as possible. However, German strongpoints, as well as bridge, road, levee and dike blasting, and any occasional determined resistance in the Po Valley plain might slow the planned sweep down. Allied planners felt that dropping [[paratroops]] onto some key areas and locales south of the River Po could help wreak havoc in the German rear area, attack German communications and vehicle columns, further disrupting the German retreat, and prevent German engineers from blowing up key structures before Allied spearheads could exploit them. Lieutenant General Sir [[Richard McCreery]], commander of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|8th Army]], had a number of Italian paratroopers at hand for the task.

==History==
In March 1945, the whole 114-strong Italian paratroops "F" [[Reconnaissance|Recce]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] (12 [[squad]]s under [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] Carlo Gay), and 112 volunteers – four [[platoon]]s, each made up by three squads, led by [[Lieutenant]] Guerrino Ceiner - from the Italian [[184th Airborne Division Nembo|Nembo Paratroops]] [[Regiment]], were picked for Operation Herring. They received a rapid but thorough training update under the supervision of the British paratroops [[Major]] Ramsay, who was reportedly pleased by the paratroopers' excellent performance.
[[File:Paracadutisti italiani verso la zona di lancio dell'operazione Herring.jpg|thumb|left|Italian parachutists en route to the drop zone of Operation Herring]]

The mission would entail eight battle drops on as many areas south of Po River, southeast of [[Ferrara]], the [[Mirandola]] area, and [[Poggio Rusco]] and the [[Modena]]-[[Mantua]] highway. It would last 36 hours. Every paratrooper would be equipped with an Italian [[Beretta Model 38|Beretta MAB]] [[submachine gun]] with 400 rounds, high explosive charges, four [[hand grenades]], dagger, maps, and foodstuff for 48 hours.

On the night of 19–20 April 1945, the Italian paras (plus at least one British paratrooper who had joined them) jumped from 14 [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] [[transport]] aircraft of the U.S. 64th Troop Carrier Group and on their drop zones. Scattering was considerable, but it did not significantly hinder the paratroops' effectiveness. A few were captured upon their landing, but their comrades proved very aggressive – perhaps even too much as several German prisoners were murdered in cold blood by their captors, a cruelty the Germans reciprocated in kind by killing some Italian prisoners as well as a few civilians {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. 16 paras surrounded by German forces and barricaded inside a farmhouse died - all but two - fighting to the last round. Other groups were more successful, inflicting heavy damage and suffering light casualties. Two F Squadron squads (18 men) seized two little towns, Ravarino and Stuffione, capturing 451 Germans and holding out until the arrival of Allied ground forces. Even though the pressure was coming down hard on the Germans in Italy, the Germans did not give up easily, but they were no match for the Italians.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Prigionieri nazisti catturati dai paracadutisti italiani dell'operazione Herring (Mirandola, aprile 1945).jpg|thumb|German prisoners captured by italian paras ([[Mirandola]], April 1945)]]
Operation Herring lasted over 72 hours instead of the 36 initially foreseen, but it turned out to be a success. With some help on the part of the local [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] groups, according to some sources 481 German soldiers were killed, 1,083 surrendered, 44 vehicles were destroyed and many captured including some [[tanks]], [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s and guns, 77 telephone lines severed, three bridges taken intact, an ammunition storage site blown up. The price the Italians paid for the success was 31 dead (including a British paratroops [[sergeant]]) and 10-12 wounded. An Italian lieutenant and a private were posthumously awarded the [[Gold Medal of Military Valor|Gold Medal for Valor]].

==See also==
*[[Airborne forces]]

==References==
William Fowler (2010): The Secret War in Italy; Operation Herring and No 1 Italian SAS, Ian Allan, {{ISBN|9780711035287}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004616/http://www.squadronef.it/ Squadrone F] - Detailed website dedicated to Operation Herring (in Italian)

{{coord missing|Italy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring}}
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign|Herring]]
[[Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany|Herring]]
[[Category:Airborne operations of World War II]]
[[Category:April 1945 events]]