Coriano Ridge War Cemetery

The entire Canadian Corps was deployed to the Adriatic Sea sector in order to liberate Rimini by the end of August 1944. On 4 September 1944, the 5th Canadian Division left the coastal line to head inland. This group was tasked with conquering the town of Coriano, but because of heavy rain and strong German resistance their advance was hampered and slowed down. The Coriano ridge was the last major impediment to the Allied advance in the Adriatic Sea sector. Its capture was crucial for the seizure of Rimini and the subsequent breakthrough into northern Italy.

After fierce fighting, which was often house-to-house, with a very high number of civilian casualties, on the night of 12 September the Eighth Army resumed the attack on the ridge, deploying both the British 1st Armoured Division and the 5th Canadian Division. The attack succeeded in taking Coriano Hill, but it marked the start of one of the hardest fighting weeks since Cassino back in May, resulting in daily losses for the Eighth Army of around 150 soldiers. The Germans were finally routed on the Marano river, located on the border between the towns of Coriano, Riccione and Rimini, due to the sacrifice of the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade, who were the first to enter Rimini upon finding that the Germans had meanwhile retreated further north. According to the official account, the battle losses for the 1st Canadian Division in the period 25 August-22 September amounted to 2,511 dead. Apart from this, about 1,000 soldiers were medically evacuated. The 5th British Armoured Division had a total of 1,385 battle casualties.

A cemetery commonly referred to as the Cemetery of the Canadians was built in the aftermath of the crossing of the front and contains 1939 graves of various nationalities (1,411 British, 427 Canadians, 28 South Africans, one Australian, 8 Indians, 4 of other nationalities, 61 unknown). In total, there are 5 Allied cemeteries related to the battle for Rimini, between Romagna and Le Marche: 4 related to the Commonwealth, one in Riccione of Greek soldiers.