Expert: claudio rey garcía - 3/6/2005

Question
I would appreciate if you could provide me with the location of Mount Castelo, in Italy where the Brazilian Army engaged a batlle against the German army; Latitude and longitude, and if possible what was the date of said batlle!
  thank you very much for your help.   
o

Answer
Dear Dave,

As for the actual battle, on February 21, 1945 the Brazilian Expeditionary Force achieved one of its most remarkable feats during the Campaign of Italy—the conquest of Monte Castello, until then considered an inexpugnable fortress.
That conquest became legendary not only for its expressive tactical meaning but also for the extremely adverse conditions that involved the attack operation.
Under the first signals of Italian winter three attacks launched on November 24, 25 and 29 against Monte Castello have been unsuccessful, partly due to our much lower topographic positions which lead to uphill attacks on steep surface covered by snow and mud with no air and tanks support, partly due to the reduced combat experience of the last two companies newly arrived in the battle field. On December 12 with reformulated operation plans but still under the same adverse conditions as before, a fourth unsuccessful attack was launched.
At last as Spring drew near the offensive was retaken in February 1945, this time with air and armored support.
On February 21, before dawn, the Brazilian took an offensive action against Monte Castello which fell at sunset after much tenacity and bloodshed. From its top was heard the cry of victory called out by the soldiers who still would have to overcome many counter-attacks from the experienced German soldiers until the effective consolidation of the conquest.
Monte Castello's bastion had fallen down. On the battlefield altar the Brazilian heroes have become true representatives of a people threatened in its sovereignty.
As for the responsible of the Brazilian feat, we have Brazilian General Joâo Batista Mascaranhas de Moraes.
He was born in São Gabriel, in Rio Grande do Sul. João Batista Mascaranhas de Moraes was graduated in the Army School and as a first-lieutenant engineer he worked from 1910 to 1914 setting limits on the borderline between Brazil and Bolivia. In the period between 1922 and 1935 he commanded several troops of the Army, placing himself always by the side of the established Governments during the revolutionary moves that took place in this period. He was moved up to a division-general position in April 1942. He took an improvement course in the USA and therefore, he went to Italy, working under the 5th North American Army's command, he took the troops of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force to the victories of Monte Castello, Castelnuovo and Montese among others. Back to Brazil he requested transfer to the reserve. Soon he received the honors of a marshal. In December 1951 a special law of Brazilian's Congress determined he moved back to the For-life activities, duties that he carried out until the day he died in 1968
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As for the location I have found 3 references.
There is one town by the name of Monte Castello di Vibio which is perched atop a hill overlooking the course of the Tiber River as it flows through the heartland of central Italy, in the Umbria Region, and the Perugia Province.
Then there is the Rivoli Fort, a large round construction situated on the Monte Castello which dominates the panorama of the Adige Valley, in northeastern Italy. The Austrians built it between 1849 and 1852 to protect the roads that go towards the Baldo and the Adige towards the North; it guaranteed a 360° control. It was called Wohlgemuth in honour of a general who distinguished himself in the 1848 war. When the Veneto region was annexed to the Reign of Italy the check lookout was inverted
And finally, there is the comuna di Monte Castello, in the region of Emilia Romagna, province of Forli'Cesena, crossed by the Appenines Chain, near the Adriatic Sea. I think this is the one you are looking for, because it is not too far of the town of Montese,, Fornovo Di Taro, and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. (Toscana), where the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces also fought battles against the german forces.
This Monte Castello would be located in a latitude between 44/45º N and a longitude between 12/13º E.
Hope to have helped
Claude