Passed Time - World War 2: Battle of Bologna

World War 2: Battle of Bologna

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In the warm, dust filled April air of Bologna, Italy you could hear bullets whiz through the streets. The smell of blood from dead bodies that were days ole, and the cordite burned the nosed of soldiers. The city was hurt, from the mortars and artillery in the surrounding mountains and rivers to the conflicts in the heart of the once gorgeous city. Buildings were crumbling from the furious shots coming from the gunned warriors. If you were far enough away from the battles you might even hear the cries of the Italian citizens and see people grabbing necessities before escaping to the safety of their homes. The bodies of soldiers were drenched in sweat from dodging bullets and the heavy uniforms on their backs. The Polish 2^nd Corps was pushing the Germans back even with the number they had lost. If the combatants weren’t scarred already from past battles, they were now, physically and mentally. Blood was flying from comrades and enemies alike staining scarring eyes and streets. Crumples bodies hidden away from the brutal attacks behind destroyed buildings and vehicles. Some tending to the wounds from scared enemies, even if it wasn’t theirs. Others were waiting to be taken from this world of hatred, or weeping over those who were lost.

The German soldiers and soldiers from the allies were exhausted. In the Apennines, it was winter, and the allies’ supplies were being shipped off to other operations nearby, however they still fought under Lt. Gen. Truscott who was replacing Maj. Gen. Lucas in 1944. In this harsh winter Lt. Gen. Lemelson had three lines: the first in the valleys filled with trees for excellent cover, the second on the Po Valley which varied from 150-500 yard with natural fortifications on both banks, and the third in the Alpine foothills which still had trenches and placements for artillery from WWI. Even though the German “veterans” lacked vehicles, fire power and air support, they maximized tactical potential during the winter. The reason was that the allies wanted to get to the “soft underbelly of Germany” through Italy and Bologna was a boundary for both sides. The allies didn’t want to destroy the German troops, but penetrate the German front and seize enough territory to have a base for more operations in Po Valley.

The reason for the allies being the victor on April 21, 1945 may have been for the fact that they would replace tired troops with those troops that were in the back, and fix broken machinery and slowly get more supplies. The Allies had used a bullhorn formation with the British and Americans on the flanks and the Polish Corps going through the city attacking the isolated German troops and pushing them back. At 6:15, Bologna, Italy was under Polish liberation and the Italians welcomed them, and hours later Americans showed up late with tanks.