Belmonte Castello, Januar 1944 (Newville, PA)

It was January 1944, in the vicinity of Belmonte Castello. We were portraying the 132nd GR RGT / 44th Infantry Division "Hoch and Deutschmeister."  In late 1943 this division was rebuilt with mainly AUSTRIAN recruits.  After gaining a foothold across the Rapido River, the Allies attempted to break the German defensive line (known as the Gustav Line and also as the Winter Line due to the intense fighting that occurred during the winter of 1943/1944) anchored along the famous Monte Cassino. However, they were unsuccessful and as winter set in the mountains north of the Rapido River Valley, German and Allied forces settled into static mountain positions. During this time period, Allied forces conducted patrols and probes to look for a weak position in the German defensive line in an attempt to plan for the next breakthrough. One of the German units established north of the Rapido River was the 44th Infantry Division. It is during this time period that we were recreating.