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Battle of Senio

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Battle of Senio
Part of the Italian campaign (World War II)
Date9 April 1945
Location
Senio, Italy
Result Indian–Italian victory
Belligerents
Italian Resistance		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
British Raj Namdeo Jadav (WIA) Nazi Germany Albert Kesselring
Units involved
Maratha Light Infantry
Punjab Regiment		 21st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
600,000 Italian civilians[1] 200 Germans captured
Two or more German posts sacked and destroyed by Namdeo Jadav of 5th Maratha Light Infantry[2]

The Battle of the Senio, which occurred in April 1945, was a turning battle in the last stage of the Italian Campaign of World War II. It was fought along the Senio River in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, as Allied forces, including the British Eighth Army, Indian units, and the Italian Resistance, launched a unified attack upon German dug-in positions. This action was part of Operation Grapeshot, the Allied spring offensive to break through German Gothic Line defenses and into the Po Valley. The Senio River, which had a steep floodbanks and open surrounding countryside, had been prepared by German forces as a strong defensive position.

On 9th April 1945, the Allies launched a heavy air and artillery bombardment, followed by coordinated attacks by infantry formations, including the 8th Indian Division. In particular, the 5th Maratha Light Infantry contributed very heavily to the attack, and troops such as Naik Namdeo Jadav showed conspicuous courage in combat. The successful Allied crossing of the Senio River was a major milestone, resulting in a swift collapse of German defenses in Italy and playing a role in the eventual Axis surrender in the region.

Background

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In April 1945, the British Eighth Army made a push in Italy to shatter German lines across the Senio and Santerno Rivers to forestall an escape into the Alps. The V Corps, with the 8th Indian and 2nd New Zealand Divisions, spearheaded the attack near Lugo. The strongly defended Senio, which had high floodbanks and level, open country, was the main challenge.[1][3][4]

Planning

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On 9 April, the two-phase attack on the Senio and Santerno rivers was unleashed by Major General Russell. Following a massive aerial and artillery bombing, the 8th Indian Division attacked across the Senio at Lugo with the 19th and 21st Brigades as leaders, supported by tanks, flamethrowers, and engineers. Five bridges and four cableways had to be constructed speedily to support the advance.[5]

Brigadier Mould's 21st Brigade assault was broken down into five phases: preliminary crossings by the Marathas and Punjabis, then the West Kents; step-by-step objectives were taken in stages, coordinated air and artillery bombardments clearing the way for the final breakthrough past the Scolo Tratturo.[5]

Battle

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Jangi Paltan at the Senio

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The Senio battle commenced on 9 April 1945 with a massive Allied air bombardment against German lines along the Santerno River. At about 13:50, waves of bombers released fragmentation and high-explosive bombs over a broad front. At 15:20, coordinated artillery bombardments followed, striking both the Senio and Santerno lines. Allied guns, mortars, and fighter-bombers pounded enemy defenses for hours on end. British and Indian infantry, who were holding back some 500 yards behind the line, were hiding behind vineyards and ditches, waiting to be ordered forward.[6][2][7]

Namdeo Jadhav at Senio

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Jadav (far right) in 1947

At 19:20, on 9 April, the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade attacked German positions along the Senio River. The 1/5th Marathas encountered fierce resistance when German soldiers, hardly affected by British flamethrowers, unleashed heavy fire. Assault boats were found to be unusable because of the steep riverbank, and Major Crawford was compelled to take a platoon across on foot. Despite that, Crawford was injured and more than 100 Marathas were killed or wounded. An attempt to cross by Major Howard's force was also cut down by cannon fire, and the sole survivor remained.[8]

While the Indian Army was attacking across the Senio River in Italy, 1st Maratha Light Infantry was subjected to heavy German fire. Although seriously injured, Major Van Ingen kept encouraging his men to move forward. Amidst the chaos, Sepoy Namdeo Jadav, who was a company runner, became a pivotal figure.[9]

Though the greater portion of the lead wave were slain or wounded, Jadhav saved two of his wounded companions, bringing them through a swamp, a mine field, and up the riverbank through withering fire. He made repeated one-man assaults on several of the German strong points, fighting with tommy guns and grenades even when wounded.[10][11] Finally, climbing on top of the bank he shouted the Maratha war cry of "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai" and waved the remaining companies across. He not only saved many lives but enabled the battalion to secure the bridgehead and ultimately to crush all enemy resistance in the area.[12]

His initiative suppressed enemy fire from the eastern bank and rallied his company, allowing them to advance. Supported by Major P.G.U. Hardy, the Marathas successfully completed the crossing by nightfall. The operation was a turning point in the Italian campaign and reflected the bravery and fighting spirit of the Maratha Light Infantry.[13]

Battle honours

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Edward Holland's Victoria Cross the highest battle award of the British Empire

Sepoy Namdeo Jadav was honoured with the Victoria Cross. Major PGU Haidy was honoured with Distinguished Service Order while Major JH Chawlord, Major EJ Winter, Subhedar Shivram Gaikwad, Subhedar Jairam Mahadik and Jemadar Rajaram Bhonsale were honoured with Military Cross. CHM Appa Patil and Lance Naik Maruti Shinde were honoured with the Indian Distinguished Service Medal. Lastly Sepoy Shahebrao Shirke was honoured with the Military Medal.[14]

Legacy

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Namdeo Jadav standing at the centre

On 9 April 2017, the Mayor of Lugo di Romagna Davide Ranalli unveiled a Memorial dedicated to VC Namdeo Jadav upon the Senio River eastern bank in the vicinity of San Potito. The ceremony was attended by Brigadier Yogi Sheoran, Defence Wing Attaché of the Indian Embassy in Rome.[15][16][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Soldiers – Museo del Senio". Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  2. ^ a b Valour Enshrined: 1768-1947. Orient Longman. 1971. p. 378.
  3. ^ "The Post". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  4. ^ "WORLD WAR II - The Gothic Line and the Battle of the Senio". Bassa Romagna Mia. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  5. ^ a b Valour Enshrined: 1768-1947. Orient Longman. 1971. p. 377.
  6. ^ "THE FRONT LINE ON THE RIVER SENIO". Bassa Romagna Mia. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  7. ^ "The last battle - Senio River, April 1945 | 28 Māori Battalion". 28maoribattalion.org.nz. 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  8. ^ Valour Enshrined: 1768-1947. Orient Longman. 1971. pp. 378–379.
  9. ^ Pal, Dharm (1960). The Campaign in Italy, 1943-45. Combined Inter-services Historical Section, India & Pakistan; distributors: Orient Longmans, Bombay. pp. 544–597.
  10. ^ Barr, James S. (1945). A Brief History of the Mahratta Light Infantry ... G. Claridge. pp. 26–28.
  11. ^ Jonas, Hans (2021). Memoirs: Hans Jonas. Brandeis University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-68458-046-0.
  12. ^ a b "Hvdr. Namdeo Jadav VC. British Indian Army 5th Maratha Light Infantry The Wartime Memories Project". www.wartimememoriesproject.com. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  13. ^ Das, Chand N. (1997). Hours of Glory: Famous Battles of the Indian Army, 1801-1971. Vision Books. pp. 276–277. ISBN 978-81-7094-069-2.
  14. ^ Valour Enshrined: 1768-1947. Orient Longman. 1971. p. 380.
  15. ^ "Namdeo Jadhav". www.memorialstovalour.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  16. ^ "Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav VC: An Indian Soldier's Bravery in Italy - South Asian Heritage Trust". 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
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