Ten days. Two mountain ranges. One unbreakable line.
Trace the jagged scar of Northern Italy with the 10th Mountain, 442nd RCT, and Brazilian "Smoking Snakes".
Join us as we follow in the footsteps of legends.
Includes breakfast, dinner, all transfers in the country, expedition equipment, museum access, trekking, and guides for 10 days.
Does not include flights to Italy.
£3495 (Shared Occupancy),
£3995 (Single Occupancy), which can be paid in 4 easy instalments.
JOIN US FOR AN EPIC 10-DAY ADVENTURE ACROSS THE GOTHIC LINE
Follow in the footsteps of the 10th Mountain Division, the Brazilian "Smoking Snakes", and the legendary 442nd RCT across the Gothic Line in northern Italy. Visiting WW2 battlefields, rugged mountain ridges, and historic Italian hubs, this 10-day expedition is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Come and learn their story.
The 10th Mountain Division: Elite Alpine Warriors
Activated at Camp Hale, Colorado, the 10th Mountain Division was America’s first and only elite alpine unit. The 10th Mountain Division, consisting of world-class skiers, climbers, and woodsmen, underwent specific training to endure the harsh conditions of high-altitude warfare. Their arrival in Italy in late 1944 provided the specialised skills needed to finally break the stalemate in the German mountain defences.
The Smoking Cobras: International Resolve
One of the most unique aspects of the Italian campaign was the inclusion of the 1st Brazilian Expeditionary Division (FEB). Known as the "Smoking Snakes", these soldiers proved their mettle alongside the 10th Mountain during Operation Encore. Together, they launched daring assaults on key objectives like Monte Castello and the town of Montese, cementing a bond of brotherhood between the two nations that remains today.
The Impossible Climb: Riva Ridge
In February 1945, the 10th Mountain achieved what the Germans thought was impossible. Under the cover of total darkness, they executed a silent, 1,500-foot vertical climb of Riva Ridge. By capturing this "unscalable" position, they neutralised the German observation posts and cleared the way for the main assault on Mount Belvedere, shattering the "German Green Line".
The 442nd RCT: Breaking the Unbreakable
On the western coastal flank, the Nisei soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—a unit of second-generation Japanese Americans—battled through the rugged marble mountains above Pietrasanta. Despite facing immense prejudice at home, they became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. Their lightning-fast breakthrough of the western Gothic Line in just 32 minutes remains one of the most stunning feats of the war.
Join us as we visit these historic peaks and follow in the footsteps of legends.
Come and learn their story.
By the winter of 1944, the Gothic Line in the Northern Apennines stood as the final, formidable German stronghold in Italy. The terrain was a natural fortress of jagged, vertical peaks and deep, snow-choked valleys that made it nearly impossible for traditional forces to penetrate inland, stalling the Allied advance for months.
To break this stalemate, the Allies turned to specialised units. The 10th Mountain Division, America’s elite alpine troops, was called in to tackle the peaks, while the 442nd RCT and the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) brought relentless determination to the flanks, proving that the "unbreakable" German defences were anything but.
While previous attempts to breach the line had been repelled, the silent night-climb of the "unscalable" Riva Ridge changed the course of the war. Relying on their specialised mountain training and sheer grit, these units bypassed the entrenched valley floors and took the fight to the skies, earning them a reputation as the most lethal mountain force in the world.
Come follow in the footsteps of the 10th Mountain, the 442nd RCT, and the Smoking Cobras with SOE Expeditions as we visit their historical sites and battlefields across Northern Italy.
Fly into Pisa 5th July – depart from Bologna 14th July
From Pisa to Bologna, visit some of the most iconic and hard-fought battlefields of the Italian Campaign. This journey takes you from the rugged marble peaks of the coast to the high Apennine ridges, uncovering the incredible stories of the elite units that finally shattered the Axis hold on Northern Italy.
Visit Breathtaking mountain villages along the historic Gothic Line
Traverse the most legendary and hard-fought battlefields of the Italian Campaign. This expedition leads you from coastal marble summits to towering Apennine ridges, revealing the heroic stories of the elite units that finally broke the Axis grip on Northern Italy.
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