Night on Riva Ridge- 10th Mountain Division

The true story of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division: climbers, skiers, and mountaineers recruited and trained after lessons from Finland’s ski troops revealed how decisive specialized mountain warfare could be.

In the winter of 1945, the German army held the last major defensive line in Italy’s Northern Apennines. Their strongest position was Riva Ridge: a near vertical mountain fortress the Germans believed impossible to assault.

They were wrong.

Under cover of darkness, American troops climbed the frozen cliffs with ropes, pitons, and mountaineering gear, scaling terrain the enemy considered impassable. Reaching the summit before dawn, they attacked from above, shocking German defenders and breaking open the Gothic Line. The victory at Riva Ridge, followed by the brutal battle for Mount Belvedere, shattered the German defenses in Italy and cleared the path for the Allied advance toward the Alps.

Yes, it is another World War II film, but also part alpine survival story, part commando mission, and a story of camaraderie in a forgotten chapter of history that helped build America’s ski industry.

*The linked article explores how the 10th Mountain Division helped shape the modern U.S. ski industry