Buy the battle for monte cassino 1st edition by forty, george isbn. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about monte cassino like never before, in no time at all. Firsthand accounts reveal wwii allies horror during monte. And although they cover all four battles for cassino, their focus is on the destruction of the monastery in february 1944, which would prove to have been counterproductive.
Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest of the allied struggles against the nazi army. Historian angelos mansolas has researched the intense battle for his new book monte cassino, january may 1944, the legend of the green devils. Churchill was determined to wage this battle, refering to the italian campaign as the soft underbelly of europe. Parker relies heavily on veterans accounts of the battle in his narrative. The battle of monte cassino was fought january 17 to may 18, 1944, during world war ii 1939 to 1945. Actually, the germans were able to remove both the monks and the treasures of the abbey. They lost about 55, 000 people by the end of the battle. On february 15 the allies bombed and demolished the benedictine monastery, erroneously believing that the germans had occupied and fortified it. Nov 19, 2004 buy the battle for monte cassino 1st edition by forty, george isbn. Ten armies in hell by peter caddickadams a film about the battle for monte cassino one of the most. James teams up with second world war polish history aficionado simon rees to explore the battle of monte cassino. Other articles where battle of monte cassino is discussed. May 23, 2014 james teams up with second world war polish history aficionado simon rees to explore the battle of monte cassino. 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.
Not simply americans, british, and germans, but russians, indians. The washington post monte cassino was perhaps the most interesting campaign of all. The battle of monte cassino first phase history learning site. Parkers writing is excellent and his account very informative. Thirtyfourth infantry division failed to capture the western anchor of the gustav line, and one of the holiest shrines of. From this point, matthew parker launches monte cassino, his study of what, justifiably, he calls in the book s subtitle the hardestfought battle of world war ii. Thirtyfourth infantry division failed to capture the western anchor of the gustav line, and one of the holiest shrines of roman catholicism, the abbey of monte cassino. Monte cassino lasted 5 months and was a sprawling battle, by many measures the biggest of the war, and considered by many on the german side to be worse than stalingrad. The battle of monte cassino was regarded an act of insanity a disaster waiting to happen. Jan 17, 2017 the achievements of monte cassino are twofold.
For the new zealand division, this german strongpoint southeast of rome would prove the most tragically elusive prize of the italian campaign. Battle of monte cassino order of battle january 1944 wikipedia. For the 3 rd assault, twin attacks were planned from the north of the rapido valley into the town and the monastery hill. 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. Aug 27, 2017 historian angelos mansolas has researched the intense battle for his new book monte cassino, january may 1944, the legend of the green devils, which includes haunting firsthand accounts of. May 18, 2011 the battle of monte cassino was the costliest and most controversial battle of world war ii. Battle for monte cassino told in new film by john irvin bbc. May 19, 2015 the battle of monte cassino was one of the most important battles of world war two. Monte cassino was one of the most bitter and bloody battles of the second world war, causing tens of thousands of casualties over five months in 194344. Oct 19, 2012 the battle for monte cassino was a series of 4 battles fought by the allies in an attempt to smash the german gustav line of defences during the italian winter to early summer of 1944. Best books for learning about the battle of monte cassino. Rome was captured less than a month later, just two days before dday. Together they investigate the story of the polish ii. A strategic town on the road to rome, the fighting lasted four months and cost the lives of more than 14,000 men from eight nations.
One interesting detail about the battle of monte cassino is how everyone fighting for it perceived it. The battles for monte cassino then and now book depository. The struggle for cassino in early 1944 was one of the most brutal and costly battles involving new zealand forces in the second world war. The battle for monte cassino was a series of 4 battles fought by the allies in an attempt to smash the german gustav line of defences during the italian winter to early summer of 1944. The hardest fought battle of world war ii is a very good account of the four battles around cassino, italy, from january to may 1944. Together they investigate the story of the polish ii corps under general anders. From a religiouscultural viewpoint, there was also the famous monastery at monte. Also, there is an overview of the rest of the italian campaign through the occupation of rome in late 1944. It was also an incredible some books jump to the top of my to read list as soon as i open them.
The sixmonth battle for monte cassino was britains bitterest and bloodiest encounter with the german army on any front in world war two. The result is a comprehensive study of the battles from every viewpoint, with many illustrations. Cassino the italian campaign nzhistory, new zealand. Nov, 2018 the battle was won but it came at a high price for the allies.
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. 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. Battle of monte cassino order of battle january 1944 is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the fighting on the winter line january 1944. Battle of monte cassino breaking through german defense. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. From this point, matthew parker launches monte cassino, his study of what, justifiably, he calls in the books subtitle the hardestfought battle of world war ii. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Unit has books written and a movie made about them i think. Feb 17, 2011 at the centre of the line, blocking the route to rome, was the town of cassino, dominated by the mountain of monte cassino with its 1,400 year old benedictine abbey. They were the most famous bunch involved though didnt fight it all themselves. Includes picturesincludes accounts of the fighting by. It was a series of four attacks by the allies against the winter line in italy held by the germans and italians. This huge volume could become the last word on the cassino battles of world war ii in italy. 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 battle of monte cassino, from january to may 1944129 days of hell was arguably the allies toughest combat of world war ii. The polish war cemetery at monte cassino holds the graves of 1,072 poles who died storming the bombedout benedictine abbey atop the mountain in may 1944, during the battle of monte cassino. The economist few people today realize that british and american soldiers fought in a battle that compares to stalingrad for human suffering. May 23, 2011 the following was the speech given by general alexander,commanderinchief of the allied armies in italy to the polish corps after the victory at monte cassino decorating general wladyslaw anders with the order of the bath in front of the 2nd corpus troops. The battle began on march 15 th starting with an air offensive that dropped over 750 tons of bombs with delayed fuses. The cemetery is maintained by the council for the protection of memorial sites of struggle and martyrdom. Battle of monte cassino simple english wikipedia, the free. After the battle books the battles for monte cassino. The orders of battle at the end of this book list divisions from the uk, the usa, poland, new zealand, india, france including algeria, morocco, and tunisia and, of course, germany.
Monte cassino tells the extraordinary story of ordinary soldiers tested to the limits under conditions reminiscent of the bloodbaths of world war one. In a battle that became increasingly political, symbolic and personal as it progressed, more and more men were asked to throw themselves at the virtually impregnable german defences. I thought the 442nd regimental combat team made monte cassino sorta famous and probably the most discussed battle of italian campaign in the states. A film about the battle for monte cassino one of the most bitterlyfought land campaigns of world war ii is being made to coincide with the battles 70th anniversary. Aug 03, 2012 image caption us troops make their way up into the hills. Battle for monte cassino told in new film by john irvin. New film pays tribute to forgotten heroes of monte cassino. The germans had around 20,000 killed and wounded by the end of the struggle. The battles for monte cassino, italy 1944, wwii youtube. In the battles for monte cassino then and now, publishers after the battle has produced one of its finest works so far and i am sure this book will generate considerable interest in the italian campaign from a very wide audience. The intention was a breakthrough to rome at the beginning of 1944, the western half of the winter line was being anchored by germans holding the rapido.
At the beginning of 1944, the western half of the winter line was held by germans. Like other savage encounters with the wehrmacht in italy, it is now mostly overlooked, though the sacrifice and suffering were enormous, leaving 3. The battles for cassino encompassed one of the few truly international conflicts of the second world war. In monte cassino, military historian peter caddickadams provides a vivid account of how an array of men from across the globe fought the most lengthy and devastating engagement of the italian campaign in an ancient monastery town. At the centre of the line, blocking the route to rome, was the town of cassino, dominated by the mountain of monte cassino with its 1,400 year old benedictine abbey. The meat of the book follows with a much closer look at the 5 month spoiling battles around, the eventual bypassing of the town along the coast, to the final fall of cassino in may of 44. 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. T he authors open with a chapters that provides an overview of th e four attempts to capture cassino and one on the anzio operation, which taken together giv e a good idea. The history of the battle for rome during world war ii chronicles the crucial 1944 battle.
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