Centuripe Battle German unit

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Freesoldier, Mar 8, 2018.

  1. Freesoldier

    Freesoldier Member

    Somebody can explain me the battle with war diaries and help me to discover the positions of 1st German Parachute Regiment in the battle on 3rd August 1943?
     
  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Would you like interviews with the veterans, photographs and battlefield artifacts with that?
     
  3. Freesoldier

    Freesoldier Member

    Well, I'm interested to British troops movements and where paratroopers where
     
  4. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

  5. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    FS,

    Just to ensure clarity on what you're looking for, as you know, the 78th Infantry Division assault on Centuripe commenced on the evening of 1st/2nd August 1943 and went through the whole day of 2nd August before the town was finally "cleared" in the early morning (330am) of 3rd August...there are a number of sources that would make matters clearer for you - including as you mention, the war diaries of the various infantry units. (The Italy Star Assn account in the ink above is not anywhere near specific enough about the details for the final part of the battle).

    An example of what you would uncover from the various war diaries, I attach below a clipping from the August 1943 one for 38 (Irish) Brigade....for the final assaults of the Irish Brigade , I also strongly recommend reading Brigadier Nelson Russell's account and Richard Doherty's published history 'Clear the War' for greater details.

    best wishes
    Richard.

    P1040876 - Copy.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
  6. Freesoldier

    Freesoldier Member

    Thank you all! bexley I've read yesterday the story of " gabinetto" case at Centuripe :)
     
  7. Freesoldier

    Freesoldier Member

    I've found a story of a paratrooper of 1st Fallschirmjager killed "north of Centuripe", can I find more about this place?
     
  8. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Yes my Dad came into the town on the morning of 3rd August 1943 and remembered:

    "When we took Centuripe, I followed closely behind and entered the town in the early morning of its capture. I was not allowed to progress beyond the town walls as the battalion had to clear up pockets of resistance. Dysentery had me in its grip and I was in desperate need of a latrine. I knocked at the nearest house and stumbled out: ‘Scusati, il gabinetto?’ The lady went into the house and brought out a brown earthenware pot and held it out to me. I shook my head, saying: ‘Grazie.’ I saw a young man and approaching him I said: ‘Dove si trove il gabbinetto.’ Looking puzzled, he motioned me to follow him. We went to the town wall and climbed down steps and a steep path. There before us under the walls was a vast culvert lined with metal. With municipal pride he pointed to it and said: ‘Il gabbinetto.’ I thankfully made use of it despite the terrible smell. Hygiene and sanitation were primitive in central Sicily. Most people had only the earthenware pot which was emptied into the vast dump under the town walls. I suspect that the open fields were more frequently used...."
     
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  9. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    You're not providing much detail here but "north of Centuripe" could be anywhere up to Randazzo...

    A couple more maps of the Salso and Simeto crossings

    P1040870 - Copy.JPG P1040873 - Copy.JPG P1040877 - Copy.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  10. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    HI; Sorry to be late with the following bit of information:
    Aparently, this regiment was soon after the allies landing, send by train to Naples.
    Stefan.
     

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