The Battle of Montese

DATE: 24/05/2026

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Mortain

TYPE: COOP

TEAMSPEAK: ts1.biaarma.com

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Doctor

SLOTS: 75 / 83

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RATING: (29)

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The Battle of Montese took place between 14 and 17 April 1945 in the Italian town of Montese during the closing stages of the Second World War. The fighting formed part of the final Allied offensive in Italy and saw the 1st Division of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, supported by American armour from the US 1st Armored Division, clash with German forces belonging to the 14th Army. The engagement later became recognised as the bloodiest battle fought by Brazilian troops during the war.

Montese lay among steep hills on the border between the provinces of Modena and Bologna in the Emilia Romagna region. The terrain, combined with strong German defensive works connected to the Gothic Line, made the area difficult to attack. German troops had firmly established themselves around the town, and Allied commanders expected a hard battle. Earlier operations launched by the British Eighth Army had advanced more slowly than hoped after encountering determined German resistance, meaning the offensive launched by the American Fifth Army on 14 April began without the broader breakthrough Allied planners had anticipated.

Within the Fifth Army sector, the Brazilian division was assigned the task of capturing Montese. The attack involved infantry, artillery and supporting armoured units. The 3rd Battalion of the 11th Infantry Regiment formed the centre of the Brazilian advance toward Serreto, Paravento and Montelo, while the 1st Battalion moved on the left flank and the 2nd Battalion advanced on the right.

At around 1:30 in the afternoon on 14 April, Brazilian troops moved against Montese, entering one of the first major urban battles faced by the force during the campaign in Italy. Senior Brazilian officers observed the assault from nearby Sassomolare, which overlooked the town and surrounding hills. As the attack began, the leading platoons advanced uphill under intense German artillery fire. Telephone lines connecting the attacking units were repeatedly cut by shelling, disrupting communications and causing confusion among the troops. Several soldiers were hit during the approach.

Despite these difficulties, the attacking platoons managed to reach the heights overlooking Montese. Communication problems continued after both radio and telephone contact failed due to the rough ground and the damage caused by artillery fire. Allied guns then bombarded German defensive positions on the summit, targeting trenches and fortified bunkers where enemy troops continued to resist. Once the shelling lifted, Brazilian infantry pressed forward again, overrunning the remaining positions and killing or capturing the defenders still holding out there.

Elsewhere along the line, Brazilian combat groups were ordered to silence German positions threatening the right flank of the advance. Using favourable firing positions and attacking at close range, they eventually captured a machine gun strongpoint after repeated assaults. By the evening of 14 April, Brazilian forces had secured much of the hillside around Montese.

The fighting intensified the following day. On the morning of 15 April, German artillery continued to bombard the town as Brazilian troops cleared remaining pockets of resistance. German forces then launched counterattacks in an effort to retake Montese. The battle became especially fierce, with the Germans apparently believing the Brazilian assault represented the main Allied effort in the sector. Heavy concentrations of artillery fire were directed against the Brazilian positions.