Battle of Rimini (1944)
The Battle of Rimini was a battle during World War II. It happened between 13 and 21 September 1944 in Rimini in Italy.
| Battle of Rimini | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Italian Campaign (World War II) | |||||||
 German trucks driving through muddy, flooded and unpaved roads near Rimini; typical terrain encountered during the offensive. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom Canada Kingdom of Greece New Zealand |
 Nazi Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
E. L. M. Burns Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos |
 Traugott Herr | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
 3,377 | |||||||
The battle was part of Operation Olive. This was the main Allied attack on the Gothic Line in August and September 1944. This was part of the Italian Campaign in the Second World War.
The Rimini Line was a German defensive line which was part of the Gothic Line. Rimini had 1,470,000 rounds fired against it by allied forces.
Background
On 23 August 1944 Eighth Army launched Operation Olive. It attacking the eastern side of Italy. By the first week in September the attack had broken through the defences of the Gothic Line.
Battle
The 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade stopped two strong German attacks on 8 and 10 September. On 13 September the brigade tried to capture Rimini. The Germans were well prepared and held off the Greeks.
The following day 7 and 8 Troop of the B Squadron, 20th Armoured Regiment were added to the attack. The German defenders left.
On 15 September the Greeks attacked the Rimini airfield. Allied bombers attacked the western side of the airfield, and the Greeks attacked afterwards. The Germans attacked with fire from infantry, anti-tank rockets (Panzerschrecks), self-propelled guns, and emplaced Panther turrets.
The following day (17 September) the three battalions continued their advance. Once the airfield was taken the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade turned towards Rimini. On 18 September the 2nd and 3rd Battalions moved towards Rimini.
On the morning of 21 September, the 2nd Greek Battalion reached the city and raised the Greek flag on the municipal building. At 7:45 of 21 September the mayor surrendered the city to the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade.
Battle Of Rimini (1944) Media
The Church of San Lorenzo in Strada in Riccione after the battle, c. 1944
A lecythus in Athens War Museum containing ground from the Hellenic Military Cemetery in Riccione
Banner of the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade commemorating the battle of Rimini (Athens War Museum)
A tank in front of Rimini's Arch of Augustus in 1944
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens. The inscription "ΡΙΜΙΝΙ" can be seen in the stone carved text right above the guard's foot.
The Hellenic Military Cemetery in Riccione, January 2006
