A View from the Peak of Special Warfare

As part of this blog’s look at the attack on Monte la Difensa operation, which the First Special Service Force launched before dawn on December 3, 1943, I’m including these photos of the battlefield generously provided by John Dallimore of the North American FSSF Living History Group. John, Kyle McNally, and Paul Dray of the UK's FSSF Living History Group climbed to Difensa’s summit last year dressed in authentic FSSF gear and kit. The three placed a plaque on the mountain (see the photo of McNally, Dallimore and Dray) in honor of the 1,800 commandos of the FSSF (plus members of the Force’s service battalion) who conquered this mountain in late 1943, and helped change the course of the war in the Italian theatre. The plaque also recognizes the cost of this victory for the FSSF: 73 dead, 313 wounded, and 9 missing in action. The dead included Lt. Col. Tom MacWilliam, who commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, which spearheaded the nighttime attack. Difensa remains one of the most extraordinary operations in the history of the FSSF and special warfare. In late 1943 the US 5th Army’s advance up Italy had ground to a stop along the Winter Line, roughly midway up the peninsula. Repeated infantry attacks by the US 3rd, the US 36th and the British 56th infantry divisions failed to uproot the battle-honed Panzergrenadiers who commanded the summit. The assignment was then given to the FSSF, which had just arrived in the theatre. On the night of December 1, 1943, the 600 men of the FSSF 2nd Regiment crept unnoticed by the Germans to the base of Difensa. They hid in a copse of trees and scrub brush during the day, and then at dusk on December 2 silently climbed the slope to cliffs behind the German positions on the summit. Fortunately, the Panzergrenadiers had not guarded the cliffs because they considered them impenetrable. The majority of the men of 1st Company 2nd Regiment (1-2) from 2nd Regiment were able to scale these cliffs undetected before the battle erupted on this tiny, mean plateau, which the Force men referred as the “saucer,” in the early hours of December 3. The battle was short. Within two hours the Force men had seized their objective. But because it took days for the nearby peak of Monte Camino by the to be secured, the commandos endured constant mortar and sniper fire. It took six days for the entire mountain complex made up of the Difensa, Caminio and Monte Maggiore to be secured. But securing it was the first crucial breach of the Winter Line.

Here are photos and descriptions of the Difensa and Camino battlefields provided by John Dallimore. (Check out John’s and Paul's reflections on Difensa in the Fri. Mar. 3 posting below.) Fascinating shots of a legendary battlefield: many thanks again to John, Kyle, and Paul.

In Difensa’s summit or ‘saucer,’ looking North. “Notice the rim that
surrounds the saucer that allowed the force to surprise the Germans.”

A view of nearby Monte la Remetenea from the saucer. (Remetanea was the Force’s secondary objective.)

Looking back at la Difensa from Monte Camino, which the British paid dearly in securing.

A view of Camino from Defensa’s saucer.

Monte la Difensa: The ridge running from Difensa to the right is the one the FSSF crossed at night to get to their point of ascent (see img 329)

In the saucer looking in the direction of Remetenea. “Notice how easily Kyle McNally vanishes on the mountain!”

The cliff where the 2nd regiment ascended LaDifensa. Periodic fires on the mountainside since WW2 have changed the appearance of the slope. Now trees cover the path.

Another view of Camino from the saucer. Notice the "warts," the Force men’s name for a series of outcrops on the ridgeline that provided the enemy excellent firing positions.