Breaking the Gothic Line

Dr Paul Latawski recounts how the formidable Gothic Line was breached during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.

The Gothic Line was the last line of defence for the Axis forces in Italy. Situated in the northern parts of the formidable Apennine Mountains, it would be used by the German forces in Italy as they retreated from the advancing Allied offensive.

It was down to the American Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army to break through this defence and liberate key areas such as Milan and Bologna.

In this riveting talk, Dr Paul Latawski will highlight the fall of the Gothic Line, focusing on the Polish II Corps and the considerable role they played in breaching this major fortification.

About the speaker

Paul Latawski

Dr Paul Latawski is a senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His research centres on the operational history of the Polish Armed Forces in the West during the Second World War.