Day 1.
Meet at Ciampino or Fiumicino Airport and spend the rest of the day visiting Rome.
Day 2.
Study the brisk advance of Fifth Army between 5-30 June 1944 as the Germans fell back to the Dora Line.
Visit to Bolsena CWGC Cemetery. The site of the first camp occupied by 15 Army Group Advanced HQ after the fall of Rome and where King George VI visited Alexander in July 1944.
Visit to Orvieto CWGC Cemetery. Study the Eighth Army advance north after the fall of Rome.
Study the USAAF attack on Allerona Bridge on 28 January 1944 that destroyed a train carrying Allied Prisoners of War to Germany.
Day 3.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade attack on the Casamaggiore-Frattavecchia Ridge as part of the Allied plan to break the Trasimene Line.
Visit to Foiana di Chiana CWGC Cemetery.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade attacks into the hills around Civitella di Chiana as part of the Allied plan to break the Arezzo Line.
Study the 1/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment attack to clear the ground north of Ricasoli in the 4 British Infantry Division’s advance north to Florence.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade attack on the Incontro Monastery to clear the Germans from the heights overlooking Florence and the River Arno.
Day 4.
Visit to Florence American Cemetery.
Visit to German Cemetery in the Futa Pass.
Study the defensive actions by 2nd Battalion Royal Scots on Monte Castellaro on 25-28 November 1944 on the most northerly position in the Fifth Army line.
Study the defensive actions by 19 Indian Infantry Brigade on Monte Grande-Monte Cerere on 11-12 December 1944 as part of Fifth Army.
Day 5.
Visit to Gradara CWGC Cemetery.
Visit to Montecchio CWGC Cemetery.
Study the background to the decision to launch Op OLIVE – the Eighth Army’s attack on the Gothic Line along the Adriatic coast.
Study the advance by 5 Indian Infantry Brigade over the River Foglia and up onto Monte della Croce on 30 August 1944 as it pushed north towards Tavoleto.
Study the advance by 5 Indian Infantry Brigade towards Monte Calvo on 31 August 1944 as it pushed north towards Tavoleto.
Study the plan and execution of the deliberate 5 Indian Infantry Brigade attack on Tavoleto, assess its failure on 1-3 September 1944 and then examine 11 Indian Infantry Brigade’s plan and execution on the night of 3-4 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan to secure San Pietro Ridge on 4-5 September 1944.
Study the execution of the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan to secure San Pietro Ridge on 4-7 September 1944.
Study the 1 British Armoured Division’s advance into the Conca valley intended to exploit 46 British Infantry Division’s success.
Day 6.
Study the 1 British Armoured Division’s forlorn attack towards the River Marano on 4-5 September 1944.
Study 56 British Infantry Division’s attacks on Croce on 4-9 September 1944.
Study the 169 British Infantry Brigade attack on Gemmano Ridge on 8-10 September 1944.
Study the 138 British Infantry Brigade attack on Gemmano Ridge on 10-13 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan and execution to secure Point 449 on the western end of Gemmano Ridge on 15 September 1944.
Study the 5 Indian Infantry Brigade plan for the advance on San Marino on 17-18 September 1944, examine why it stalled and examine how 11 Indian Infantry Brigade regained the momentum on 19 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade action to clear San Marino on 20 September 1944 and push west towards the River Marecchia.
Day 7.
Visit to Coriano Ridge CWGC Cemetery.
Study the 5 Canadian Armoured Division’s attack on Coriano Ridge as part of Op OLIVE – the Allied plan to breach the Gothic Line.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s subsequent role as the follow-on force over the River Marano and into Ospedaletto.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s operation to seize the northern end of Ripabianca Ridge.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade operation to clear Cerasolo in order to allow the 4 British Infantry Division’s advance to continue.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade operation to clear the lower slopes of San Acquilina Ridge prior to the 4 British Infantry Division’s assault to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade attack to clear the rest of San Acquilina Ridge prior to the 4 British Infantry Division’s assault to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge.
Study the 1/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment attack to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge for which Major WBE Brown was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry.
Visit the Queen’s Bays Memorial.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s part in the final stage of Op OLIVE – the crossing of the River Marecchia.
Day 8.
Study the 15 Army Group plan in April 1944 to encircle the majority of the German Army in Italy using Fifth and Eighth Armies – Op GRAPESHOT.
Study the 2 Commando Brigade assault on the Lake Comacchio spit in an attempt to draw German attention to this area as part of Op GRAPESHOT.
Study the 24 Guards Brigade assault on the Fosse Marina bridges in an attempt to facilitate the 78 British Infantry Division’s break into the Argenta Gap.
Study the attack by V (BR) Corps and 8 Indian Infantry Division to cross the Senio and Santerno on 9 April 1945 as part of Op GRAPESHOT.
Study the attack by V (BR) Corps and 2 New Zealand Division to cross the Senio and Santerno on 9 April 1945 as part of Op GRAPESHOT.
Day 9.
Study the attack by V (BR) Corps and 78 British Infantry Division northwards through the Argenta Gap on 12 April 1945 as part of Op GRAPESHOT.
Visit to Bologna Polish War Cemetery.
Visit to Museo Memoriale della Liberta.
Move to Bologna Airport.