Contents

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Epigraphs

List of Maps

Preface: Attacking Germans in Defensive Positions: “a most unpleasant and hazardous operation”

Part One: Introduction—The Road to the Gothic Line

  1. Beware of the Rabbit

  2. The Torturers of Via Tasso

Part Two: Before the Line

  3. Italy: A Country Made for Defensive Warfare

  4. Nisei Soldiers and the Battle for Belvedere

  5. Indians on the Road to Florence

  6. Blood and Honor: Partisans and the SS on the Road North

  7. Best-Laid Plans: The SOE and OSS in Northern Italy

Part Three: On the Line

  8. Dug-In Defense: The German Plan

  9. The Complexities of Command: Lieutenant General Leese and Operation Olive

10. A Multinational Assault: Ten Armies on the Gothic Line

11. With Infantry and Tanks: The Canadians on the Foglia River

12. Green Devils on the Adriatic: The German Defense and the Fall of Rimini

13. Mules, Bulldozers, and Bailey Bridges: The Indians on the Apennines

14. Alienating the Italian Population: The Massacre at Marzabotto

15. Fighting German Artillery and Jim Crow: The Buffalo Soldiers in Tuscany

16. At the Point of the Line: The Attack on Seravezza

Part Four: Behind the Line

17. Behind Enemy Lines: The SOE and OSS Missions in the North

18. Regular and Irregular Forces: The Fall of Ravenna

19. Christmas in the Serchio Valley

20. East Wind: The Different Flavors of Communism

Part Five: After the Line

21. The Secret Surrender: Operation Sunrise

22. The Last Battles: Colle Musatello and Chioggia

23. The Last Day of Battle: Surrender in Italy and Operation Unthinkable

24. Justice for the Germans

Epilogue: What Became of the Characters in the Book?

Acknowledgments

Endnotes

Index

Photographs

Also by Christian Jennings

About the Author

Copyright