▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Spring ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁off ensive ▁in ▁Italy , ▁ 1 5 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁and ▁captured ▁Bolog na ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁April ▁after ▁hard ▁fighting ▁against ▁the ▁ 6 5 th . ▁P urs uit ▁of ▁the ▁rout ed ▁enemy ▁to ▁the ▁French ▁border ▁was ▁halt ed ▁on ▁ 2 ▁May ▁upon ▁the ▁German ▁surrender ▁in ▁Italy ▁and ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁in ▁Europe . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 7 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁the ▁ 1 6 th ▁SS - Pan zer ▁Gren ad iers ▁command ▁post ▁in ▁San ▁V inc en zo , ▁Italy ▁was ▁over run ▁by ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 3 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Regiment . ▁The ▁command ▁post ▁was ▁a ▁town ▁center ▁a partment ▁which ▁had ▁been ▁comm ande ered , ▁when ▁the ▁own ers ▁returned ▁to ▁their ▁a partment ▁they ▁found ▁a ▁signed ▁large ▁le ather - bound ▁St iel er ' s ▁Hand ▁Atlas ▁which ▁had ▁been ▁left ▁behind . ▁ ▁The ▁division ▁participated ▁in ▁six ▁major ▁Army ▁campaign s ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁and ▁Italy . ▁The ▁division ▁is ▁cred ited ▁with ▁am ass ing ▁ 5 1 7 ▁days ▁of ▁front - line ▁combat , ▁second ▁only ▁to ▁the ▁ 6 5 4 ▁days ▁of ▁fighting ▁by ▁the ▁ 3 2 nd ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁One ▁or ▁more ▁ 3 4 th ▁Division ▁units ▁were ▁engaged ▁in ▁actual ▁combat ▁for ▁ 6 1 1 ▁days