Operation Chesterfield

Canadian attack plan

Operation Chesterfield

Part of Italian Campaign in the European theatre of World War II

The Hitler Line
| Date| May 24th – 25th 1944

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Location|

South of Rome, Italy

Result|  Allied Victory
Belligerents
Canada
Poland|  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Christopher Vokes
Bert Hoffmeister[1]
Władysław Anders|  Albert Kesselring
Strength
1st Canadian Division
5th Canadian Armoured Division
II Polish Corps|  90th Light Infantry Division
Casualties and losses
879 casualties
12 tanks[2]|  Unknown killed
700 taken prisoner[3]

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Italian Campaign

Invasion of Sicily

* Corkscrew
* Mincemeat
* Barclay
* Animals
* Chestnut
* Narcissus
* Fustian
* Ladbroke
* Gela
* Troina
* Centuripe

Invasion of Italy

* Baytown
* Avalanche
* Slapstick
* Armistice with Italy
* Achse
* Naples
* Devon
* Vatican bombing
* Volturno Line
* Barbara Line
* Bari raid

Winter Line

* Bernhardt Line
* Monte la Difensa
* San Pietro
* Moro
* Ortona
* Rapido
* Monte Cassino
* Anzio
* Cisterna
* Diadem
* Strangle
* Chesterfield
* Trasimene Line
* Ancona
* Elba

Gothic Line

* Rimini
* San Marino
* Gemmano
* Monte Castello
* Garfagnana

1945 Spring Offensive

* Encore
* Tombola
* Bowler
* Roast
* Bologna
* Argenta Gap
* Herring
* Collecchio
* Trieste

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Italian Civil War

Operation Chesterfield was the assault by Canadian and Polish forces on the Hitler Line, on May 23-24 1944 during World War II. The Hitler Line was a German fortified defensive line south of Rome.[4]

Initial attempts to penetrate the defenses before they had been effectively manned had failed and a set piece, prepared assault became necessary. The action was hard-fought and the Germans launched repeated counterattacks over the two days, attempting to retake their former positions. Ultimately, Allied forces of the 1st Canadian Division, 5th Canadian Armoured Division and II Polish Corps penetrated the Hitler line and the German defenders had to retreat, in some disorder.[5] A corresponding same-day American breakout at the Anzio beachhead further weakened the German situation in Italy.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Biography of Major-General Bertram Meryl Hoffmeister (1907 – 1999), Canada".
2. ^ "Chesterfield (Ii) | Operations & Codenames of WWII".
3. ^ "Hitler Line assault battlefield tour for Canadians (Operation Chesterfield) -".
4. ^ Cook, Tim (2015). Fight to the Finish. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Penguin Canada. pp. 78–85. ISBN 978-0-14-318955-8.
5. ^ The Italian Campaign: Breaking the Hitler line – CBC Digital Archives – Medium-Radio/Program-CBC Radio News/ Broadcast Date-May 23, 1944

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