page_title: Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
section_title: Plan of attack
hierarchical_section_title: Spring 1945 offensive in Italy / Background / Plan of attack
caption_attribution_description: Allied Spring Offensive: Italy 1945
context_page_description: The Spring 1945 offensive in Italy was given the code name Operation Grapeshot. It was the Allied attack by Fifth United States Army and British 8th Army into the Lombardy Plain. It started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy.
context_section_description: Clark made his plan on 18 March. He wanted destroy the maximum number of enemy forces, cross the Po and capture Verona.
  The Eighth Army was to go north west to capture Ferrara and Bondeno. The U.S. Fifth Army was to go past Bologna to surround German forces south of the Po. The Fifth Army was to go west towards Ostiglia. Next, the Allies would capture bridge across the Po and go north.
  The Fifth Army plan (Operation Craftsman) aimed to pull German reserves away from Route 65. II Corps would then attack.
caption: Allied Spring Offensive April 1945: Note that 21 ID NZ is actually New Zealand 2nd Infantry Division
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