| January – May 1944 The Battle of Monte Cassino |
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| By late January the main assault on the Gustav Line
was being focused against Monte Cassino, a monastery from the sixth century nestled deep in the
mountains of central Italy. Here a truly international force—made up not only of British and American
troops, but soldiers from Poland and France as well—launched attack after attack against the Germans
who were entrenched in and around the monastery. Again and again they were driven back after suffering
heavy casualties, but the German position was weakening as well. In mid-May the overall German
commander in Italy, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, ordered a general withdrawal from the area.
When the II Polish Corps attacked on 18 May, they found that the defenders were gone. However,
by this time the ancient monastery was in ruins; it would be completely rebuilt after the war.
Histories: Campaign Maps: Personal Accounts: Photograph: |
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