Battle of Monte Castello

Battle of Monte Castello
Part of the Gothic Line Offensive during the Italian campaign of World War II
Brazilian infantry of the FEB preparing for an assault near Monte Castello
Date 25 November 1944 – 21 February 1945 Location Monte Castello, Italy Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Brazil United States	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Mascarenhas de Morais Willis D. Crittenberger George Price Hays	Eccard von Gablenz
Strength
1st Brazilian Division 1st Fighter Aviation Group 10th Mountain Division Task Force 45	232nd Infantry Division
Casualties and losses
417+ dead and wounded, 8 POWs ~950 dead and wounded (10th Mountain)	Unknown dead and wounded 23+ taken as POWs

The Battle of Monte Castello (Italian: Battaglia del Monte Castello; German: Schlacht von Monte Castello; Portuguese: Batalha de Monte Castello) was a major engagement fought between 25 November 1944 and 21 February 1945 during the Italian campaign of World War II.

Fought in the northern Apennine Mountains, the battle pitted the advancing Allied forces—primarily the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Força Expedicionária Brasileira – FEB) alongside the US 10th Mountain Division—against heavily entrenched defenders of the Wehrmacht's 232nd Infantry Division. After four preliminary assaults between November and December 1944 were halted by severe winter conditions, heavy artillery fire, and steep terrain, the Allied forces launched a coordinated joint offensive (Operation Encore) in February 1945, resulting in the Brazilian 1st Division successfully capturing the summit on 21 February 1945.