The Gothic Line was a string of German defences across Italy, a little to the north of Florence. It became the focus of German opposition to the Allies during the final stages of the campaign in Italy. Both sides committed vast resources to this area…
In May 1940 German forces advanced into France. As French defences fell, the British focused on rescuing their troops. A major evacuation of more than 330,000 men took place from the French port of Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June. In order to delay…
By the end of 1943 Allied forces had reached central Italy, but were delayed by a line of fortifications stretching across the country near Monte Cassino. In an effort to end the stalemate British leaders suggested a landing at Anzio, north of the…
In the summer of 1943 Allied forces attacked Italy. Highland regiments landed on the south-eastern point of Sicily on 10 July. As they moved up across the island they faced considerable German opposition around the town of Francofonte, where…
In July 1943 German forces held the Sferro Hills on the eastern side of Sicily. The Camerons and Seaforths were among the British soldiers tasked to clear the hills. The Germans put up a determined defence, and the rocky mountainous landscape…
In the summer of 1944 the Allies began to liberate Europe from the north-west. After landing in Normandy, they gradually moved through France, before crossing into Germany in the spring of 1945. The final year of war saw some of the fiercest…
During the winter of 1939 to 1940 large numbers of British troops arrived in France. Many of the Camerons, Gordons, and Seaforths were sent to help defend the Maginot Line (a series of fortifications near the border between France and Germany). The…
In late March 1945 the Allies crossed the River Rhine. Highland regiments, including the Camerons, Gordons, and Seaforths, crossed on boats, facing machine-gun fire from the Germans. After successfully reaching the eastern bank of the river, the…
In February 1945 the Camerons, Gordons, and Seaforths helped capture Goch, a small German border town a little to the west of the Rhine. Goch was on the junction of several major roads and was defended with pill boxes and anti-tank ditches. The…
The Reichswald is a forest on the border between Germany and the Netherlands. In February 1945 Allied forces wished to take control of the forest before crossing the Rhine. A combination of trees, flooding, and a determined German defence, meant…
In the early spring of 1945 Highland regiments worked with Canadian forces to take land between the River Maas and the River Rhine (along the border between the Netherlands and Germany). Much of the area was either flooded or covered in woodland,…
In June 1944 the Normandy landings opened a new front in north-western France. After taking the beaches, Allied forces moved inland towards the city of Caen, facing fierce resistance from the Germans. The Seaforths were involved in costly actions…
The Odon is a small river in France to the south-west of Caen. In July 1944 the Odon became the focus of British efforts to resist three German armoured divisions. The British forces experienced heavy casualties, but successfully prevented German…
In June 1940 efforts were made to evacuate the Highland regiments from Normandy. A rapid German advance meant British forces were cut off from major ports. Rescue efforts therefore focused on the small town of St. Valéry-en-Caux. Unfortunately,…