Announcement of the German surrender on 2 May did not bring an automatic end to hostilities in Italy. The higher headquarters of the enemy was not in touch with all of their subordinate units, notification of our own advance guards was not everywhere accomplished by 1400, and some groups of die-hard fanatics were reluctant to surrender even after being informed of their formal capitulation at Caserta. II Corps had sent out orders to its divisions late on 2 May to halt in place wherever resistance was encountered; on the following day it was reported that the 1st Parachute Division west of Borgo was unwilling to give in. During the 3rd medium bombers of MATAF [Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force] dropped leaflets in areas where the terms of surrender were likely to be unknown to the enemy, and a little opportunity for reflection convinced the most stubborn Nazi adherents that the battle was truly ended in Italy. Despite a few skirmishes the great bulk of the enemy engaged in no further fighting after 2 May and was willing, even eager to obey any orders issued by our commanders.
On 3 May the 85th and 88th [Infantry] Divisions sent task forces north over ice and snow 3 feet deep to seal the Austrian frontier and to gain contact with the American Seventh Army, driving southward from Germany. The 339th Infantry [85th Division] reached Austrian soil east of Dobbiaco at 0415, 4 May; the Reconnaissance Troop, 349th Infantry [88th Division], met troops from [103rd Infantry Division] VI Corps of Seventh Army at 1051 at Vipiteno, 9 miles south of Brenner. The 338th Infantry [85th Division] came up Highway 12 later in the day and placed a frontier guard at Brenner on the Austro-Italian frontier. To the west the 10th Mountain Division on the 5th reached Nauders beyond the Resia Pass and made contact with German forces which were being pushed south by Seventh Army; here a status quo was maintained until the enemy headquarters involved had completed their surrender to Seventh Army. On the 6th the 10th Mountain Division met the 44th Infantry Division of Seventh Army. Inasmuch as the [2nd New Zealand Infantry Division] British Eighth Army had met Marshal Tito’s forces on 1 May at Monfalcone and the 473rd Infantry [92nd Infantry Division] had encountered French troops near Savona on the Italian Riviera, our forces in Italy had made complete contact with friendly forces on the west, north, and eastern frontiers of Italy and controlled all major routes of egress.
