Brasília (DF) – Today, the Brazilian Army celebrates the 79th anniversary of the historic conquest of Montese by the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) during the Second World War. The battle, which took place on April 14, 1945, marked a crucial turning point in the war and demonstrated the courage and resilience of Brazilian soldiers.
Despite the 2,300 casualties suffered between September 15, 1944 and April 13, 1945, the FEB managed to almost fully recomplete its troops, allowing the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division to continue with a strength of 14,839 men.
The offensive resumed on April 14, 1945, at 10:15 am. Under the command of General Cordeiro de Farias, the artillery unleashed a violent bombardment on the heights of Montese – elevation 888 – Montello, covering the difficult advance of the 1st Infantry Regiment in the conquest of the town of Possessione.
At 1:30 p.m., the 11th Infantry Regiment broke through its line of departure with the support of a violent preparation of artillery and mortar fire, as well as an efficient smoke screen. At around 3pm, elements of the Regiment advanced on the town of Montese, disorganizing the Nazi resistance there.
The FEB faced stubborn German resistance, well organized and embedded in the terrain of Montese. Even after being repelled by the Brazilian infantry, the Germans persisted for four days with bombardments of Brazilian positions that had already been conquered, turning the small town of Montese into a pile of rubble.
From April 14 to 18, the FEB consolidated its conquest of Montese. It was a bloody battle, which resulted in 426 Brazilian casualties. This sacrifice gave the Allies a tactical advantage and further weakened Nazi resistance.