The Monte Cassino Society
About the Monte Cassino Society
The Monte Cassino Society is dedicated to furthering an interest in the experiences of those from all nations who took part in the Italian Campaign of World War II.
Our aims: - to collect, document and preserve information about the veterans' experiences.…
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Images
Canadians on ski patrol near Colledimezzo, lead by Regimental Sergeant-Major Prevost.
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News
Pilgrimage 2011
More Information »65th Anniversary of the Battles of Monte Cassino, 17 - 24 May 2009
More Information »March 15, 2009 Welcome to our Website!
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History
December 21, 1943. Moving up with an anti-tank gun during the street fighting in Ortona.
See more images »The Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle for Rome and the Battle for Cassino) was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.
In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Gustav Line was being anchored by Germans holding the Rapido, Liri and Garigliano valleys and certain surrounding peaks and ridges, but not the historic abbey of Monte Cassino, founded in AD 524 by St. Benedict, although they manned defensive positions set into the steep slopes below the abbey walls. On February 15 the monastery, high on a peak overlooking the town of Cassino, was destroyed by American B-17, B-25, and B-26 bombers. The bombing was based on the fear that the abbey was being used as a lookout post for the Axis defenders (this position evolved over time to admit that Axis military was not garrisoned there). Two days after the bombing, German paratroopers poured into the ruins to defend it. From January 17 to May 18, the Gustav defenses were assaulted four times by Allied troops. These operations resulted in casualties of over 54,000 Allied and 20,000 German soldiers.
Background:
The Allied landings in Italy in September 1943 by two Allied armies commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander, Commander-in-Chief Allied Armies in Italy, were followed by an advance northward on two fronts, one on each side of…
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