Monte la Difensa

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Monte La Defensa was the first combat in the Italian Theatre for the First Special Service Forces. They were attached to the 36th Infantry Division. The mountain itself had become a stalemate for US and British forces because of the defenses employed by the German troops. Casualties were high.

The First Special Service Forces used the special training that they had received in winter and mountain warfare to scale the mountain and decimate the Germans atop the stronghold. The cost was high though. They suffered a 77% casualty rate, but distinguished themselves by doing the seemingly impossible.