In the autumn of 1944, as General Patton's army celebrated its triumphal entry into Paris, another Allied force was assembling in southern Italy. Led by a massive contingent of over 100,000 American troops, this diverse international army faced a daunting mission—to breach the formidable Gothic Line, a network of interconnected German fortifications spanning the mountains of northern Italy. Their goal: to reach the heart of Europe before the Red Army. These courageous Allied soldiers engaged in some of the final and most ferocious battles of World War II as they fought their way uphill against entrenched enemies.
"In At War on the Gothic Line," Christian Jennings, a seasoned war correspondent and historian, offers a unique and vivid perspective on this often-overlooked campaign. Through the personal accounts of thirteen men and women from seven different countries, Jennings immerses readers in the historical events as they unfold. He shares stories of valor and bravery displayed by soldiers who faced overwhelming odds, even as they grappled with discrimination from their own allies and superiors.
Witness the unwavering courage of a young Japanese-American officer who would sacrifice everything for his comrades. Join a group of Canadian fur trappers turned snipers as they lie in ambush. Stealthily traverse mountain paths alongside Indian warriors as they launch daring nighttime assaults on fortified enemy positions. And confront the chilling deeds of a one-armed SS-Major guilty of some of the most heinous war crimes in the European theater. These compelling stories and more populate the pages of this fast-paced and action-packed history, offering an intimate look into one of the most crucial yet often overlooked campaigns of World War II.
