Operation Chesterfield

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

The Hitler Line
DateMay 24th-25th 1944
Location
South of Rome, Italy
Result Allied Victory
Belligerents
 Canada
 Poland		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Canada Christopher Vokes
Canada Bert Hoffmeister[1]
Polish government-in-exile Władysław Anders		 Nazi Germany 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]

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.

  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