Part XV - Easy Gains
12th Sep 1944 - Australian mountain infantry flank Italian defences in Bologna in a daring maneuver, causing heavy damage and routing the defenders.
16th Sep 1944 - Two motorized divisions blitz into the province of Parma. Italians are in disarray and flee northeast. Australians capture a lot of equipment, supplies and get hold of several important documents and Italian flags and standarts.
20th Sep 1944 - Amphibious attack on Corsica and Sardinia finds the islands unguarded and the participating troops enjoys few days of unexpected R&R.
2nd Oct 1944 - La Spezia and shortly thereafter Milano and Genoa fall without a fight. Life can't be better for the frontline troops.
18th Oct 1944 - Australians reach French and Swiss borders in Torino and Grenoble.
The picture shows 1st Lt. Leroy Thorson and Cpl. Carl MacKenzie on the peak of Mont Blanc.
27th Oct 1944 - Australian forces storm the city of Toulon and rout the Vichy militia there. Italian lines in North Africa are broken and the US and Commonwealth joint forces advance westwards on the very same day.