Changes

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.

In the early hours of 26 December, a company of American soldiers from the 92nd US Infantry Division and Italian Communist Partisans in Sommocolonia (a village of 200 inhabitants) found themselves pinned down by heavy softening up fire from Axis mortars fire.  29-year-old Lieutenant John R Fox, an artillery officer, reported the streets of Sommocolonia filled with soldiers from the Austrian 4th Gebirgsjäger (Mountain) Battalion. The elite Austrian soldiers expected little resistance as many Black American troops had been reported in the area. However, much fierce resistance was encountered in Sommocolonia.

Around 4 in the morning on 26 December, a company of American soldiers from the 92nd US Infantry Division and Italian Communist Partisans in Sommocolonia (a village of 200 inhabitants) reported coming under heavy enemy mortar fire.  29-year-old Lieutenant John R Fox, an artillery officer, reported seeing the narrows streets of Sommocolonia filled with soldiers from the Austrian 4th Gebirgsjäger (Mountain) Battalion. The attacking Austrian soldiers expected little resistance as many Black American troops had been reported in the area. However, the ''Buffalo'' soldiers put up a tough fight in Sommocolonia.

By 9 in the morning, house-to-house combat taking place in the streets Sommocolonia. The American soldiers and Communist Partisans, soon realized that they could, at best, only slow down the Axis offensive.   

By 9 in the morning, house-to-house combat was reported taking place in Sommocolonia. The outnumbered American soldiers and Communist Partisans, soon reported that they could, at best, only slow down the enemy attacks.   

Orders to retreat were radioed from US headquarters in Barga, but by that time, two thirds of the American and Communist defenders were dead or wounded. With the American and Italian wounded dragged inside, the Austrians started burning houses in Sommocolonia.

Orders to retreat were transmitted from US headquarters in Barga, but by that time, two thirds of the American and Communist defenders were killed or wounded. With the American and Partian wounded dragged inside, the Austrians started burning houses in Sommocolonia.

The US field artillery at Barga provided fire support for the Somocolonia defenders, with Lieutenant Fox radioing the co-ordinates. With Austrian and Italian infantry reinforcing the attack, several men at Barga heard Fox’s last call for smokescreen to cover the escape of the surviving American soldiers and Italian  Partisans. Heavy artillery fire then rained down on Fox's position.  The US artillery commander hesitated at first in firing directly on his position, but Lieutenant Fox had his way and was killed soon after. Of the Somocolonia defenders, only 18 Americans made it back to the lines of the US 5th Army.

The US field artillery at Barga provided fire support for the Somocolonia defenders, with Lieutenant Fox radioing the co-ordinates. With Axis infantry reinforcing the attack, several men at Barga heard Fox’s last call for smokescreen to cover the escape of the surviving American soldiers and Communist Partisans. Heavy artillery fire then rained down on Fox's position. The US artillery commander hesitated at first in firing directly on his position, but Lieutenant Fox had his way and was killed soon after. Of the Somocolonia defenders, only 18 Americans made it back to the lines of the US 5th Army.

In the fighting on 26 December, Austrian mountain troops had also captured Fornaci from the Americans, and the Italians captured the village of Molazzano but failed to take Brucciano.   

In the fighting on 26 December, Austrian mountain troops also captured Fornaci from the Americans, and the Italians captured the village of Molazzano but failed to take Brucciano.   

On the night of 26/27 December, the surviving civilians from Sommocolonia were rounded up by the Austrians and Italians and suspected Communist Partisans and sympathizers detained. The local Italian priest later told of seeing Lieutenant Fox’s body in the rubble, along with the bodies of about 100 Axis soldiers. About 50 American soldiers and 30 Communist Partisans were killed in the defence of Sommocolonia.

On the night of 26/27 December, the surviving civilians from Sommocolonia were rounded up by the Austrians and suspected Communist Partisans and sympathizers detained. The local Italian priest later told of seeing Lieutenant Fox’s body in the rubble, along with the bodies of about 100 Austrian soldiers. About 50 American soldiers and 30 Communist Partisans were killed in the defence of Sommocolonia.

On 27 December, Austrian troops captured Pian di Coreglia, a main objective, while Italian troops captured the village of Calavorno.

On 27 December, Austrian troops renewed their advance and captured Pian di Coreglia, while Italian troops captured the village of Calavorno.

On 27 and 28 December, with US 92nd ''Buffalo'' Division falling back or digging in all along the 9-kilometre frontline, around-the-clock bombings and strafing missions from 1,000 US P-47 Thunderbolts, Mustang fighters, Mitchell bombers and British Commonwealth Spitfires, Kittyhawks, finally halting the Axis advance.

On 27 and 28 December, with US 92nd ''Buffalo'' Division falling back or digging in all along the 9-kilometre frontline, around-the-clock bombings and strafing missions from 1,000 US P-47 Thunderbolts, Mustang fighters, Mitchell bombers and British Commonwealth Spitfires, Kittyhawks, finally halting the Axis advance.

US War Correspondent Sid Feder would confirm that Allied air power played a key part in halting the Axis offensive:

US War Correspondent Sid Feder would report the Allied air power that halted the Axis offensive:

''Strong Allied air and ground forces were thrown into battle today in an effort to halt the German assault on a six-mile front in the Serchio river valley, where American doughboys have been driven from the important road town of Barga in two days of fierce fighting. The Germans declared that the U.S. 92nd division had been knocked back "some kilometres", which evidently was aimed at the vital Allied supply port of Livorno (Leghorn) ... The Allied tactical air forces hurled the full fury of their bombs, cannon and machineguns against the attacking enemy, with well over 1,000 warplanes participating in the headlong strikes against troop concentrations, gun posts, occupied buildings and road junctions in the battle area. American Thunderbolt and Mustang fighters and Mitchell medium bombers were joined by British and South African Spitfires and Kittyhawks in the blistering assault. Many fires and explosions were seen around Barga and two towns in the immediate northwest, Castelnuovo and Gallicano.''

''Strong Allied air and ground forces were thrown into battle today in an effort to halt the German assault on a six-mile front in the Serchio river valley, where American doughboys have been driven from the important road town of Barga in two days of fierce fighting. The Germans declared that the U.S. 92nd division had been knocked back "some kilometres", which evidently was aimed at the vital Allied supply port of Livorno (Leghorn) ... The Allied tactical air forces hurled the full fury of their bombs, cannon and machineguns against the attacking enemy, with well over 1,000 warplanes participating in the headlong strikes against troop concentrations, gun posts, occupied buildings and road junctions in the battle area. American Thunderbolt and Mustang fighters and Mitchell medium bombers were joined by British and South African Spitfires and Kittyhawks in the blistering assault. Many fires and explosions were seen around Barga and two towns in the immediate northwest, Castelnuovo and Gallicano.''

Despite Allied air superiority, a number of Italian rifle companies and platoons advance 10 kilometres or more and reach the outskirts of the Spa Town of Bagni Di Lucca  and the ''Monte Rosa'' and reinforcements in the form of the ''San Marco'' and ''Italia'' Divisions would successfully defend their forward positions in the Serchio Valley for several days, weeks or months.

Despite Allied air superiority, a number of Italian rifle companies and platoons advance 10 kilometres or more and reach the outskirts of the Spa Town of Bagni Di Lucca  and the ''Monte Rosa'' and reinforcements from the ''San Marco'' and ''Italia'' Divisions would successfully defend their forward positions in the Serchio Valley for several days, weeks or months.

Although the Axis offensive had pushed back the Americans by about 25 kilometers, Allied air power and reinforcements from the 8th Indian Infantry Division halted the offensive.

Although the Axis offensive had pushed back the Americans by about 25 kilometers, Allied air power and reinforcements from the 8th Indian Infantry Division halted the offensive.