The battle of monte cassino also known as the battle for rome and the battle for cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the allies against the winter line in italy held by axis forces during the italian campaign of world war ii. The article battle of monte cassino is an military article. In the battle of monte cassino, the allies faced insurmountable obstacles in their mission to break down german defenses and liberate the eternal city of rome. On the 17 th may, the poles launched a final attack on monte cassino and, after facing fierce resistance that quickly turned into handtohand fighting, they managed to raise the polish flag over the ruins. The rugged mountains, winter weather, and outstanding soldiers had enabled the germans to hold out against far superior allied forces. Organized along the garigliano and rapido rivers it included monte cassino, a hilltop site of a sixthcentury benedictine monastery. Other articles where battle of monte cassino is discussed. This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that they have the permission to. The battle of monte cassino was a costly series of four. Halfway between naples and rome, on a mountaintop and visible for miles, stands the benedictine abbey of monte cassino, serene and benign, apparently indestructible. One interesting detail about the battle of monte cassino is how everyone fighting for it perceived it.
The world war ii database is founded and managed by c. Famous life colour photo taken after the battle of monte cassino in italy. The monte cassino board of directors is made up of between 12 and 18 elected or appointed individuals, plus four ex officio members the prioress, subprioress, headmaster and pto president. Monte cassino was one of the bloodiest battles of the war but it had the misfortune of. Long neglected by historians, the horrific conflict saw over 350,000 casualties, while the worst winter in italian memory and official incompetence and backbiting only worsened the carnage and turmoil. The germans had been defeated, and the road to rome was now open. Many of the soldiers in the 100th had families interned in concentration camps back home in the united states. The allied advance in italy had been halted at the town of cassino, 100 miles south of rome.
The germans had around 20,000 killed and wounded by the end of the struggle. May 1944 allied soldiers british, american and south africans hold up nazi trophy flag while combat engineers on bulldozers clear a path through the debris of the bombed out city. On february 15 the allies bombed and demolished the benedictine monastery, erroneously believing that the germans had occupied and fortified it. These harrowing images of monte cassino feature in a new book about the military offensive which sheds fresh light on atrocities committed by military troops after the. This casemate illustrated title explores the battle of monte cassino. Actually, the germans were able to remove both the monks and the treasures of the abbey. The allies had come to a halt in their advance towards rome, 100 miles on the south of rome at the town of cassino the axis blocked their advance. The battle of cassino has beer, intensively analyzed. Culture film news new film pays tribute to forgotten heroes of monte cassino.
Monte cassino, in the province of lazio, is located 81 miles south of rome is the site of the ancient roman town of casinum, but it is best known for its historic benedictine abbey that was a focal point for one the most bloody wwii battles. A german perspective on the battle of monte cassino in 1944. The battle of monte cassino also called the battle for rome and the battle for cassino was a battle during the italian campaign of world war ii. Was the destruction of a historic monastery justified in an effort to break the german line and get the campaign moving again. It was a series of four attacks by the allies against the winter line in italy held by the germans and italians. The history of the battle for rome during world war ii chronicles the crucial 1944 battle. Monte cassino effectively blocked the allies route north to rome and had to be taken despite the difficulties of doing so from a military point of view. The battle of monte cassino was fought january 17 to may 18, 1944, during world war ii and saw the allies win after four bloody engagements. The battle of monte cassino also known as the battle for rome and the battle for cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the allies. It originated as casinum, a town of the ancient volsci people on a site adjacent to the modern town, on the lower slopes of the. Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest. At the beginning of 1944 italy was the western allies only active front against nazicontrolled europe, and their only route to the capital was through the liri valley.
There can hardly be any pole who would not know at least the refrain of the song red poppies on monte cassino czerwone. In the winter of 1943 general albert kesselring withdrew his forces to what became known as the gustav line on the italian peninsula south of rome. It should, however, show everything about the battle, and not downplay aspects of it, like the destruction of the actual, abbey building, the mass rape called marrocchinade, and the destruction of the town of casino. Rae o0mzk4e86mld essays and primary source documents. Monte cassino today usually spelled montecassino is a rocky hill about kilometres 81 mi southeast of rome, in the latin valley, italy, 2 kilometres 1. On march 15 th 1944, the allies started a bombing campaign that was to destroy most buildings in both the town of cassino and the monastery itself. Benedict of nursia who established this very first benedictine monastery around the year 529. From a religiouscultural viewpoint, there was also the famous monastery at monte. German paratrooper observing lower ground from monte cassino, italy, feb 1944. Battle of monte cassino 17 january thru 18 may 1944 monte cassino abbey in november 2004 the battle of monte cassino also known as the battle for rome and the battle for cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the allies against the winter line in italy held by the germans and italians during the italian campaign of world war ii. Battle of monte cassino wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. But cassinos claim to fame rests on the great mountain which rears its head up behind the town and bears its name.
After a few smaller engagements in southern italy, the corps was moved to the vicinity of the monte cassino monastery. The defence of monte cassino was made much easier for the german defenders as a result of the destruction caused by the aerial and artillery bombardments. The sun website is regulated by the independent press. Mon pere etait a montecassino, il a combattu dans le 2e corps polonais, avec le general anders. Joining the final assault was the the 100th infantry battalion, composed of mostly japanese american soldiers. Monte cassino c entral italy, 1944, and in the dead dislodge the german forces that were based in of europe it would be prove to be the complete wwiis. The battle of monte cassino happened in four major phases, the allies finally overrunning the liri valley, the mountains and hills around it, and ancient abbey. Combine this with atkinsons day of battle and you will have a vivid account of the. Battle of monte cassino photographs world war ii database. Unfortunately, we never saw the fulfi lment of those obligations by our western allies, neither in 1939 nor in 1945. Cassino, town, lazio latium regione, central italy. Site of the roman town of casinum, it is best known for its abbey, the first house of the benedictine order, having been established by benedict of.
To get to rome, the allies needed to break through the winter and gustav lines, and in early 1944 they came up against the positions established by the germans around the historic hilltop abbey of monte cassino. Battle of monte cassino breaking through german defense. New film pays tribute to forgotten heroes of monte cassino. German tankers attempting to repairs the tracks of a panzer iv ausf h tank near cassino, italy, early 1944. Rome was captured less than a month later, just two days before dday. In coordinated military operations, the british, french, americans,indian, new zealanders, moroccans, and polish regiments converged on key german strongholds in a bitter struggle that lasted several months and cost. Battle of monte cassino simple english wikipedia, the. The sixmonth battle for monte cassino was britains bitterest and bloodiest encounter with the german army on any front in world war two. They lost about 55, 000 people by the end of the battle.
The allies tried to break through three times in 1944. The battle of monte cassino was one of the most important battles of world war two. Italian campaign and the battle of monte cassino at the beginning of 1944, after moving from iraq to palestine, the 2nd polish corps moved to egypt and then on to southern italy. The battles of monte cassino is not another campaign narrative but a fresh look at some of the key aspects of the battles the controversial bombing of the benedictine monastery, the effectiveness of the commanders involved on both sides, the consequences of the anzio beachhead, the performance of the germans and why four agonising battles. Key second world war battle left 200,000 dead or injured but was overshadowed by dday. Monte cassino it was a typical italian town, around 25,000 inhabitants. Images show the front lines of wwiis monte cassino.
This multifaceted battle marked one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the italian campaign during world war ii. This map isnt popular because it is nearly impossible to take the hill and win as the free french and its an uphill battle. Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest of the allied struggles against the nazi army. Find the perfect monte cassino 1944 battle stock photo. The battle of monte cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the allies against the winter line in italy held by axis forces during the italian campaign of.
The battle of monte cassino is also a symbol of polands keeping its obligations as an ally. Battle of monte cassino italy the observation post. Despite the allies superior numbers the terrain and winter weather allowed the germans to hold their ground. The battle of monte cassino was a ww2 battle that consisted of the 4 costly allied assaults against the nazis winter line, near the town of cassinoball. Battle of monte cassino facts battle of monte cassino.
The battle was won but it came at a high price for the allies. Cassino lies along the rapido river at the foot of monte mount cassino, 87 miles 140 km southeast of rome. The bastion at monte cassino, italy which was held by the germans required a month long siege. Le 4 janvier 1944, le 2e corps americain du general keyes et le corps expeditionnaire francais semparerent du mont trocchio. The battle of monte cassino and the breaking of the gustav.
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