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Operation ''Wintergewitter'' (Winter Storm) was an offensive conducted by Italian RSI and Austrian forces against American forces dug in on the west side of the Gothic Line. Often referred to as the Battle of Garfagnana or ''Offensiva di Natale'' ("Christmas" Offensive), the attack resulted in an Axis tactical victory against the Allies. The battle lasted from 26 December 1944 to 4 February 1945.

Operation ''Wintergewitter'' (Winter Storm) was an offensive conducted by Italian RSI and Austrian forces against American forces dug in on the west side of the Gothic Line. Often referred to as the Battle of Garfagnana or ''Offensiva di Natale'' ("Christmas" Offensive), the attack resulted in an Axis tactical victory against the Allies. The battle lasted from 26 December 1944 to 4 February 1945.

On 13 December, as part of the planned Axis offensive, an experienced Italan platoon penetrated through the US platoons guarding Vergemoli and Gallicano in an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the concrete bridge at Farnaci and cut off the American retreat and reinforcements.

In mid-December 1944, Italian ''Waffen SS'' units fighting alongside German units repel several American attempts to capture Bologna city. The Americans suffer 15,700 casualties & call off their assaults.

 

The US 92nd ''Buffalo'' Infantry Division was expected to launch a major offensive on Christmas Day in support of the renewed Allied attacks against the Axis defenders dug in and around Bologna. The attack was cancelled due to the surprise Axis counteroffensive.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/african-american-92nd-infantry-division-fought-in-italy-during-world-war-ii.htm African American 92nd Infantry Division Fought in Italy During World War II]</ref>

==Operation Wintergewitter==

==Operation Wintergewitter==

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.

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.