About us

Centro Internazionale Documentazione “Linea Gotica”
Via dell’Aquila, 27 – 47900 Rimini (RN) – Italy
Tel./Fax +39.0541.773373
e-mail: info@gothicline.org

On Jan. 27, 1994 the Centro Internazionale Documentazione “Linea Gotica” was constituted in Rimini as a cultural, private, non-profit Association whose purpose is to promote the collection and custody of 2nd World War documents, particularly those concerning the Gothic Line offensive in 1944.

The CID “Linea Gotica” was founded by historian Amedeo Montemaggi, gathering an impressive collection of documents from sources in Italy, Great Britain, Canada, the USA, Germany, Poland, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries.

Following the founder’s passing, the Centre is pending organization and digitization to enhance the accessibility of its valuable collection of documents.

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Amedeo Montemaggi

Riminese, President of the Centro Internazionale Documentazione “Linea Gotica”, a former contributor to Italy’s leading newspapers and National Radio Broadcasting, was an antifascist during World War II. He has authored numerous works spanning literature, geography, history (covering topics from Italian writer Italo Svevo to Ancient Egyptian literature, to the history of Jazz) and photography (depicting Finland, the Marecchia Valley, and 1950s Rimini). As a historian of World War II in Italy, he has extensively researched the Battle of Rimini (also known as Alexander’s Summer Offensive or the Offensive of the Gothic Line), examining its significance within both national and international contexts.

His revision of the traditional military picture starts from the axiom that military Strategy is based on politics. He points out the prime importance of the merger of Christian and Churchill’s purposes in Italy and the consequent baffling “important divergence” between UK and US Grand Strategies on the Russian aims about the Mediterranean control which means – according to Mr Churchill’s words – the control of the Western World. The Gothic Line offensive, enlarged with her aims in Greece, had consequences valid until now.

Montemaggi has lectured about the Gothic Line at important national and international meetings, in 1984 at Pesaro and Sestino (where he won the 1st National Prize), in 1987 at Kassel and Milazzo, in 1990 at Bologna, in 1994 at Lucca, in 1995 at Florence, Medicina, San Marino Rep., Bologna. He has written many articles on the battle of Rimini for prestigious Italian newspapers and magazines (“Corriere della Sera”, “Il Resto del Carlino”, “Storia Illustrata”, “Storia Militare”). In many works he has documented the wartime events of many towns along the Gothic Line (Tavullia, Cattolica, Gemmano, Montecolombo, Riccione, S. Lorenzo in Correggiano, Corpolò, Verucchio, Santarcangelo, Savignano, Sarsina, Linaro, Cesena, Medicina, etc.).

In 1994 he has been decorated with the Cruce Imagine Pro Meritis by the Supremus Magister Ordinis Teutonici. (OTC)

In 1997 the President of the Italian Republic has conferred him the decoration of Grande Ufficiale for cultural merits.

From 2002 to 2008 Honorary President of the ARIES (Associazione Ricerche Iconografiche e Storiche).
Since 2002 he has been a member of the National Committee for the Armed Forces in the War of Liberation.

Since 2005 he has been a member of the Rubiconia Accademia dei Filopatridi in Savignano sul Rubicone, since 2009 as Accademico Onorario.

In 2009 he has been decorated with the Crucem Officialis Pro Merito Melitensi by the Grand Master of the S.M. Order of Malta.

His most important works are

1980 – Offensiva della Linea Gotica. (Bologna) A fundamental book to understand a new history of the genesis of the war Campaign in Italy and the most detailed account of the 135 days of battle of the Gothic Line offensive, day by day, unit by unit.
1983 – Rimini-San Marino ’44. La battaglia della Linea Gialla. (R.S.M.) The breaching of the Rimini (Yellow) Line in the most bloody week of the Italian campaign.
1984 – San Marino nella bufera. 1943-1944 gli anni terribili. (R.S.M.) The political and military chronicle of the neutrality of the little Republic of Freedom.
1985 – Savignano ’44. Dal Rubicone a Bologna. (Rimini) Settembre-ottobre1944. The reasons why the offensive became a failure in the central sector of the Apennines, at Mount Battaglia
1985 – La Linea Gotica. (with an essay by Gerhard Schreiber) (Roma, Civitas, F.I.V.L.,1° ed. 1990, 4ª edition) Revision of 8th Army operations.

New History

1990 – Monte Battaglia. Kesselring in ginocchio vince. (Bologna, Convegno Interregionale) Success or failure ? The decisive point of the battle of Rimini analysed through Anglo-American-German-Italian reports and memoirs
1993 – Linea Gotica avamposto dei Balcani (foreword by sen. Paolo E. Taviani, with essays by Strome Galloway, Raleigh Trevelyan, Gerhard Muhm and excerpts from Maurice Matloff) (Roma, Civitas, F.I.V.L., 1995, 3rd ed.) Definitive study of the political Anglo-Russian-American contrasts on the battlefields in Italy and in the Balkans (Yugoslavia and Greece). Revision of the US 5th Army operations.
1994 – La Croce e la Spada, Chronicle of the importance of the Catholic Church in the battle of Rimini (serial)
1995 – 16 Agosto 1944. Tre Martiri, (Rimini, ANPI). The capture and hanging of three Riminese partisans
1997 – A.M. & Bill McAndrew: “Linea Gotica. The Gothic Line” – Anglo-Italian (Tavullia), foreword by Lt. Gen. William Milroy. The new reality of the Canadian-English breaching of the Gothic Line n.1.
1998 – Gemmano. La Cassino dell’Adriatico. The Cassino of the Adriatic. Anglo-Italian (Gemmano,2ª ed), foreword by Maj. John Strawson. The Allied forces stop at the Gothic Line n.2 and the 10 days battle of Gemmano.
1999 – Leadership degli alleati e dei tedeschi sulla Linea Gotica (Accademia Militare, Modena) Technical study of the German (Auftragstaktik) and Allied tactics (Befehlstaktik) on the Gothic Line.
Cronistoria di Rimini e della Linea Gotica dal 1942-1944. Collection of 142 articles printed on “Il Resto del Carlino” and “Il Corriere della Sera” from 1942 to 1997.
2000 – 2001. Adviser on the Gothic Line battlefields to the Accademia Militare (Modena), Canadian Land Force Command & Staff College (Kingston) and to the Land Warfare Training Centre (Warminster).

The ultimate trilogy + Iconographical synopsis

2002 – LINEA GOTICA 1944. La battaglia di Rimini e lo sbarco in Grecia decisivi per l’Europa sud-orientale e il Mediterraneo”. – Foreword Gen. Luigi Caligaris – (Ed. Museo dell’Aviazione, via S. Aquilina 58, 47900 Rimini).
The book, officially presented on Sept. 21, 2002, on the 58th anniversary of the liberation of Rimini, is the conclusion of the whole historiography work of the Author about the offensive of the Gothic Line, “the biggest battle ever fought in Italy”. In 344 pages of great size 21×30 cm, with 190 photos and 26 maps, it gives a detailed account of the Italian Campaign from the offensive of the Gothic Line, enlarged to the Greece landing, until Spring 1945, showing its political and military interdependence with the Balkan events and the world policy through the reservation of the divergent and controversial decision of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, until never revealed with such a brutal sincerity.

2006 – LINEA GOTICA 1944: SCONTRO DI CIVILTA’ (GOTHIC LINE 1944: CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS) “A grave and decisive hour for the whole Humanity… from whom depends the Christian civilization” (Pope Pius XII)” (Ed. Museo dell’Aviazione, via S. Aquilina 58, 47900 Rimini).
With the essays by Strome Galloway, Bill McAndrew, Maurice Matloff, Gerhard Muhm, Douglas Orgill, George Orwell, John Strawson, Raleigh Trevelyan and A.M.
“Linea Gotica 1944. Scontro di civiltà (Clash of civilizations)” has as a subtitle the warning that the Pope Pio XII pronounced on Sept. 1, 1944 as soon as he knew that the Allied 8th Army had breached the Gothic Line at the Metauro river, to point out to the whole humanity the importance of the hour. The Gothic Line offensive (battle of Rimini) had been launched by Premier Sir Winston Churchill with the Pope viaticum in order to defend the Christian civilization against the soviet Communism. The outcome of this undertaking is examined by the book according to the ideological-political views of the men who directed the world policy before, during and after the war, placing in the centre the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose baffling character’s aspects made him the most tragic personality of the time.

2008 – CLAUSEWITZ SULLA LINEA GOTICA (CLAUSEWITZ ON THE GOTHIC LINE) As the superior German tactics blocked the attack of the overwhelming Allied Armies. (Ed. Angelini Editore, via Orsini 11, 40026 Imola (BO)).
Foreword by Gen. C.A. Giorgio Battisti.
“Prof. Montemaggi is perhaps the main Italian scholar of the Italian Campaign and particularly of the Allied Gothic Line offensive in Summer/Autumn 1944. The reconstruction of the military events made in his many works through a careful analysis which shows the strategical and tactical choice of opposite deployments is always characterized by clarity and objectivity and also by an uncommon cleverness to give an harmonious and fair outline of the situation according the Allied, German and Italian points of view.” (G. Battisti)

2010 – ITINERARI DELLA LINEA GOTICA 1944. Historical-iconographical guide to the Gothic Line battlefields (Ed. Museo dell’Aviazione, via Sant’Aquilina 58, 47900 Rimini). 4 itineraries with 217 photographs and 54 maps and sketches.
“Like all the works of Montemaggi, “Itinerari della Linea Gotica 1944” is a model of what a pictorial and critical account of a battle should be. Controversy as to what might have happened if Alexander had not lost so many divisions for the Anvil-Dragoon operation will no doubt continue.” (Maj.Gen. J. Strawson)

About Amedeo Montemaggi

USA

Trevor N. Dupuy, President HERO-TNDA Publishers & Researchers Inc., historian (A Genius for War)
I have long maintained that Mr.Churchill and the British Chiefs of Staff were correct in their strategic assessment of the desirability of an Allied offensive to the Danube Valley through Italy or through the Balkans and that the American Chiefs of Staff were strategically short-sighted in opposing that concept. I have argued the matter with the late Gen.A.C.Wedemeyer, who was the Army Planner.I am sympathetic to the thesis of your book.

United Kingdom

Maj.Gen. John Strawson, later C.O. 4th Hussars and Chief of Staff Land Forces U.K. historian (The Italian Campaign ) Your knowledge of the battles of the Gothic Line is unequalled and you – thing most unusual – have looked at those fights from every point of view.
The “Clash” is a most impressive publication and I believe it will always be of great strategic interest to examine and predict what have may been the outcome had Allied decisions allowed for greater strength to remain in Italy.

Maj. Gen. Robert Ward, Honorary Colonel Queen’s Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Amedeo Montemaggi is the greatest military expert of the Gothic LIne.

Brig. John Paley, combatant, 4th Hussars “Gemmano, the Cassino of the Adriatic”.This is war.

Maj. John Cotterill, (Combined Armed School Warminster) “Visiting the Gothic Line without Montemaggi is a wasted time.”

Maj. F.V.Sheppard, combatant Queen’s Royal Regiment “Gemmano” is the best historic report on the battles of the Gothic Line.

Raleigh Trevelyan, combatant and historian (Rome ’44) You have given the most precious contribution to the history of Italy and of the war.
Now the “Clash” with the assemblage of the articles and materials… is agreat achievement of enormous value to historians… The “cronistoria fotografica” is excellent and useful. I congratulate you wholheartedly.

James Lucas, combatant and historian (World War Two through German Eyes) You are the recognized authority on the war in Italy.

Douglas Orgill, combatant and historian (The Gothic Line – Ital. La Linea Gotica) For professor Amedeo Montemaggi, friendship, respect and admiration.

H.H. Fra’ Matthew Festing, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta I learned a huge amount about those important battles and all the nations who partecipated in these events owe you a huge debt of gratitude for all the wonderful hard work which you do.

Canada

Lt. Gen. William A. Milroy, former Chief of Canadian Army, Montemaggi, the greatest scholar and esport of the historical problem “Linea Gotica” (Gothic Line).

Gen. Henri Tellier, R.22.R., combatant, protagonist of the Battle of Rimini. You are, without doubt, the most knowledgeable, prolific and, it seems to me, objective and understanding historian on this subject and its impact on the war itself.

David Pentley, Commander Canadian Land Force & Staff College, Kingston Montemaggi is the only historian who knows the offensive of the Gothic Line from three points of view, the Allied, the German and the Italian.

Bill McAndrew, historian, Canadian Directorate of History, (Canadians and the Italian Campaign) You are a special source of knowledge and know the military operations of the Gothic L. better than any other historian.

Ken MacLeod, (The Italian Campaign) Montemaggi, the world leading authority on the battle of the Gothic Line.

Dominick Graham, historian (Tug of war – La battaglia di Italia 1943-45) Montemaggi, the Riminese guru of the Gothic Line.

Mark Zuehlke, historian (The Gothic Line) Montemaggi, the world leading expert on the Gothic Line.

Germany

Gen. Franz S. J. Uhle-Wettler, Com.te NATO Defense College, historian (Deutsche Militär Geschichte) Montemaggi presents the point of view of the “other side of the hill” with such a commendable loyalty…

Gerhard Schreiber, historian (Revisionismus und Weltmachtstreben) Montemaggi fills up many blank spaces in the historiography of the Italian campaign.

Greece

Panteleimos Fostini, Metropolite of Chios, historian (Proschinima sto Rimini) Many thanks to the Riminese historian Montemaggi who let me know the ‘”Offensiva della Linea Gotica”, “Rimini – S.Marino ’44”, “Savignano ’44” and “La Linea Gotica” (1990).

Switzerland

Capt. J. François Richon, Ecole Polytechnique Federale, Séminaire d’Histoire Militaire Montemaggi not only analyses the military events on the whole Gothic Line but inserts the offensive in the world politics and strategy… His work is the first global synthesis of the various national histories.

Italy

Life Senator Paolo Emilio Taviani, historian, president F.I.V.L.(Feder. It. Volontari Libertà). Montemaggi is known as the greatest expert in our Country and one of the best ones in the world as regards to historiography of the war campaign in Italy.

Giovanni Spadolini, Italian Premier and Defence Minister Your work has a remarkable importance. I have informed the Chiefs of Staff.

Gen. Sq. Aerea Francesco Cavalera, former Chief of the Italian Defence You put a landmark in the history of that passage of Armies.

Gen. Sq. Aerea Duilio Fanali, C.O: Raggruppamento Caccia regia Aeronautica Italiana 1943-45 I have appreciated your work, fruit of commendable and thorough synthesis, objective and and authoritative, of events that have moulded our present with an unequivocal mark.. and an undeniable, incisive influence on our future.

Gen. Luigi Caligaris, International political and military expert (Paura di vincere) It looks as in Italy only Montemaggi has dealt with the Auftragstaktik. I hope Montemaggi will become the founder of a school of thought to promote a sober and objective way to represent history.

Gen. Salvatore Scotto Di Carlo, (Italian Aeronautica) It has the chrism of a work of high historical level conferred by the impressive documents, by the profound and well-balanced rationality, by the harmonious richness and variety of details, by the narrative validity.

Franco Bandini, historian, (Storia Illustrata, Occhio polemico, 1981) The volume is much more than a simple description because it contains the demonstration – impeccable – of a theory to which historians have turned a deaf ear.that the offensive was fought only apparently against Kesselring but in reality against Stalin and above all against the Roosevelt-Marshall-Hopkins triad.

Renzo De Felice, historian, (Mussolini, l’alleato) In the last ten days of September Kesselring would have asked Hitler to withdraw behind the Po (A.M. Linea Gotica).

Raimondo Luraghi, historian, (Storia della guerra civile americana) Montemaggi, the greatest scholar and expert of the historical problem “Linea Gotica”.

Arrigo Petacco, historian (Storia del fascismo) Montemaggi, the most alert reconstructer of the battles of the Gothic LIne.

Giorgio Pini, fascist historian and former Under-Secretary of the Interior in the Mussolini’s Republic R.S.I. Exact and very well-documented chronicle of the Gothic Line offensive.

Filippo Frassati, marxist historian (La Resistenza e gli Alleati) His much effective work gives a careful and detailed rec onstruction of the military operations in Autumn 1944.

Mino Martelli, catholic historian (Una guerra, due Resistenze) Montemaggi graduates as the greatest world expert on this matter.