Part 3 = The Po Valley and Alps

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Dated: June 10, 2018

Part 3

The Po Valley and Alps

Photos from the Italian Front - the final days.

These photos were taken after the 85th Division entered the Po Valley and the war was almost over. Within 19 days, the 5th Army had crossed the Po River and chased the retreating Germans into the Alps. During this time, the Allied advance was moving rapidly as units mobilized on tanks, jeeps and trucks. However the change in scenery of the rich Po Valley and the grandiose mountains must have been a temptation to bring out the camera. Most of these photos were taken by my father.

For a description of the fighting and confusion during this time, see
Pursuit to the Arno Capture of Imola
Liberation of Vicenza Bridging the Po Valley.

Return to: Photos- Main Menu Sgt Cole & Buddies Winter in the Apennines

Click on an image to enlarge.

Sgt. N.F. Cole
"In the Po Valley near Alps. At Verona Italy"

"I did this with my own little artillery two days ago.
This is Verona Italy."

Another photo of damage in Verona.
Man appears to be wearing a suite & tie.

"This truck & Bic's was knocked out in Verona. May 2, 1945."

German equipment on side of road in Alps. The German war machine
was now using horse- drawn wagons.

"Eating my last meal in combat in Italy, May 2, 1945. Behind me lie 2 US
soldiers dead. Shot from the top of Mt. The war ended today at 4."

A German officer in overcoat talking with Americans about terms of surrender. Germans surrender to the 337th Regiment at La Stanga.

For details on the German surrender at La Stanga, see Finito! The War is Over.

War is Over!
"This is me, a Jerry helmet, Flag, & a chicken on my head. Two days after the war ended, May 10, 1945. Near Bullun

o, Italy."
(see HELMET below)

Dad’s Last Night of the War

Parco Dopo Belluno

Dad returned to Italy in 1971 to visit his son and grandsons. His son took him on a drive north of Verona to look for places he traveled the last day before the war ended. They drove north out of Belluno and decided to turn around to head back. As they were turning around at a large villa, Dad pointed to a farm house and exclaimed that this was where he spent the last night of the war.

After the truce had been called, the 85th Infantry Division retruned to Belluno area. This is where they rested and began gathering up stray Germans and collecting weapons from the partisans. The 328 Field Artillery Battalion spent their first night after the war ended here at this "farm house" at Parco Dopo Belluno.

Dad's caption to his 1971 photo reads: “House in the Alps where the War ended.”

A WW2 photo belonging to Cpl. William E. Brooks, Battery C, 328 Field Artillery.

Current photo of the house Parco Dopo Belluno located on Hiway #203
that leads north out of Belluno.

Lattitude/Longitude coordinates: 46.199459, 12.12540

Map showing location of Porco Dopo Belluno in relation to town of La Stanga.

See Finito! The War is Over for details on the German surrender at La Stanga.

     In the last photo of Sgt Cole, he is standing with some buddies and showing off some a few of the relics he collected. He had taken several photos of him wearing this German helmet. Here he has added a Nazi flag. Sgt. Cole made it home with a German Police helmet and a small, single-sided Nazi flag---probably exact items shown in this photo. His flag was actually a "banner" because it was printed only on one side. It was the kind that was hung from a balcony or window.
     The chicken? Well, I guess it was one that was liberated and invited to the Victory Dinner celebration. Like I said before, the censors limited you as to what subjects you could photograph. I guess a photo of a GI with a chicken on his head was no security risk.

   Several of these above photos were printed with permission in the book "Dieci giorni di guerra" (10 Days of War) by Luca Valente, published by Cierre edizioni 2006.

Explanation of photo quality. Even though these photos were taken with a captured German camera using 120mm film, the photos were developed only in 2.5 inch size; i.e., the prints were same size as the negative. These scanned images were made from those 50-year old prints as the negatives were lost or damaged

The German Helmet - Photo is yours truly wearing the same helmet shown in photo above with the chicken on it.
This photo was taken probably in 1957. I'm wearing all my Dad's ribbons and medals and I was flying the souvenir Nazi flag above my tent. Wonder what the neighbors thought?

(No, that is NOT a real gun.)

Verona, Italy, 26 April 1945 - An American M-4 Sherman tank of the 13th Armored
Battalion, 1st Armored Division, rolls down a street in Verona, Italy, shortly after the
shattered city was liberated from German occupation. Part of the 1st Armored Division
was attached to the 10th Mountain Division, 5th U.S. Army, while the rest of
the 1st Armored Division drove towards Milan (see photo below).
Official U.S. Army photograph. Photo # SC-270876.

A photo of the 91st Cavalry Recon Squadron driving through the gutted railroad depot in Verona.
The jeep in front has a machine gun mounted on it and the front bumper is marked 5A 91R.
Tanks follow in the background. Sign in background reads "WEHRMACHT" (Army).

Photo is a Signal Corps photo from the dust jacket of "19 Days" by Battery Press.

Milan, Italy, 26 April 1945 - Further west of Verona, lead elements of the 1st Armored
Division drives past the Duomo Cathedral in Milan while drawing out a crowd of gogglers.
There are many similar photos taken at this same time near the Cathedral.
Some photos include views of partisans celebrating their liberation.
Note, the black VW car (front RT) has a rifle propped behind the bumper.

Return to Photos from Italy top menu.

For a description of the fighting and confusion during this time, see Pursuit to the Arno, Capture of Imola & Liberation of Vicenza .

Return to 328th Field Artillery or 85th Infantry Division.