88^th Infantry Division

The 88th Infantry Division, the first all-draftee U.S. Army division to enter combat, entered the line in Italy in early 1944, relieving the British along the Garigliano River near Minturno. During the May offensive against the Gustav Line, its regiments fought for Monte Scauri and Santa Maria Infante, advancing from Rocca Secca across the Arnaseno Valley before the division pushed through Rome on June 4 along the Via Prenestina. After rehabilitation it resumed the advance through Volterra and cleared the south bank of the Arno in heavy combat through late July.

Campaign map image

World War II Campaign Map of the 88th Infantry Division. Map courtesy of HistoryShots.

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The division's most intense autumn fighting came in the Gothic Line sector east of Highway 65. The 350th Infantry Regiment fought the Battle for Monte Battaglia from September 27 to October 13 — a sustained struggle for a key summit east of the Apennine crest — while other regiments contested Monte Cappello and Belvedere. Mud, rain, and determined defense halted the drive south of Bologna, where the division spent a long winter in mountain positions.

When the final offensive opened in April 1945, the division fought the Battle for Monte Monterumici on April 16-17 before breaking into the Po Valley. It crossed the Panaro River on April 22, reached the Po on April 23, and crossed the next day before capturing Verona against scattered resistance on April 25-26. Clearing Vicenza on April 28 and crossing the Brenta River on April 30, the division was advancing through the Dolomites toward Innsbruck when the German surrender in Italy ended hostilities on May 2.