78th Division returned to V Corps for the Allied Spring 1945 offensive in Italy (Operation Grapeshot). Once the Senio was crossed, 78th Division was to push through towards the Bastia Bridge on the Reno and on to Argenta. The operation was launched on 9 April behind massed artillery and went according to plan, with 78th Division clearing Cotignola and then moving into the lead. On 13 April 38 Brigade provided the break-out force of battalion groups with field artillery regiments in support. Once the Reno had been bridged, 38 Bde fought its way through and broke out once more, heading for the critical 'Argenta Gap'. By now 25-pounder ammunition was running short, but on 18 April 38 Bde cut in behind Argenta and 78th Division was leap-frogging its brigades up the Via Adriatica. Then it headed for the River Po, arriving on 22 April. After more stiff fighting, the division crossed in pursuit of the disintegrating German forces. Fighting on the Italian Front ended on 2 May after the Surrender of Caserta, and 78th Division entered Austria as part of the occupation force on 8 May 1945, advancing towards Villach and Klagenfurt.