Changes

==Operation Wintergewitter==

==Operation Wintergewitter==

From 26-31 December, as part of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's Operation Winter Storm (planned in conjuction with Benito Mussolini), the ''Monte Rosa'' (Alpine) and ''San Marco'' (Marine) Divisions under General Mario Carloni, with supporting Austrian Gebirgsjäger (mountain) units  attacked and overran the forward battalions of the US 92nd ''Buffalo'' Infantry Division (under General Edward Almond) entrenched along the Serchio  Valley, with the Italians forming and commanding two of the three Axis Spearheads involved.

From 26-31 December, as part of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's Operation Winter Storm (planned and promoted in conjunction with Benito Mussolini<ref>"Italian government, then at Brescia, reported that Mussolini had urged on Hitler the argument that an attack on the weakly-held western sector of the Allied front in Italy by two Italian and two German divisions would, by advancing to the Arno and cutting of Eighth Army, give the Axis a much-needed military success." British Intelligence in the Second World War, Francis Harry Hinsley, p. 357, Cambridge University Press, 1979 </ref>), the ''Monte Rosa'' (Alpine) and ''San Marco'' (Marine) Divisions under General Mario Carloni, with supporting Austrian Gebirgsjäger (mountain) units  attacked and overran the forward battalions of the US 92nd ''Buffalo'' Infantry Division (under General Edward Almond) entrenched along the Serchio  Valley, with the Italians forming and commanding two of the three Axis Spearheads involved.

The Axis force advanced in three columns on the night of 25 December. The first column moved toward Vergemoli-Calomini, the second toward Treppignana-Castelvecchio, with the third advancing toward Sommocolonia-Barga.  The soldiers from the 2nd Battalion (US 366th Regiment) at Sommocolonia were hit first, with several forward platoon positions overrun and Bebbio and Scarpello captured. The American battalion had no option but to withdraw toward Coreglia.

The Axis force advanced in three columns on the night of 25 December. The first column moved toward Vergemoli-Calomini, the second toward Treppignana-Castelvecchio, with the third advancing toward Sommocolonia-Barga.  The soldiers from the 2nd Battalion (US 366th Regiment) at Sommocolonia were hit first, with several forward platoon positions overrun and Bebbio and Scarpello captured. The American battalion had no option but to withdraw toward Coreglia.

Generals Mark Clark and Lucian Truscott would be at a loss explaining the defeat of the 92nd ''Buffalo'' Division, claiming that several crack German ''Gebirgsjäger'' Battalions had overrun the US 366th and 370th Infantry Regiments. The two participating Austrian ''Gebirgsjäger'' Battalions would come under heavy criticism from the Italian commanders for taking too much time in clearing Sommocolonia.

Generals Mark Clark and Lucian Truscott would be at a loss explaining the defeat of the 92nd ''Buffalo'' Division, claiming that several crack German ''Gebirgsjäger'' Battalions had overrun the US 366th and 370th Infantry Regiments. The two participating Austrian ''Gebirgsjäger'' Battalions would come under heavy criticism from the Italian commanders for taking too much time in clearing Sommocolonia.