The Italian attack, observed by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in person, was launched on the 9 March with a heavy artillery barrage and air bombardment; on the main sector, held by the Greek 1st Division, over 100,000 shells were dropped on a 6 km front. Despite repeated assaults and heavy shelling that dug up the soil, the defenders of Hill 731 held during 9–15 March.[6] With the support of the Greek artillery, they managed to take advantage of the terrain and launch counterattacks.