BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO
|
|
German paratroopers defend the ruins of Monte Cassino Monte Cassino, crowned by St Benedict's monastery, overlooks the Mediterranean coastal road from Naples to Rome and is one of the strongest defensive positions in the Italian peninsula. In the winter of 1943^4 it formed the western hinge of the German Winter Line — called the Gustav Line. Following the failure of their offensive (begun in December) to break the Gustav Line, the Allies — now under the direction of Alexander following Eisenhower's departure in December to become Supreme Allied Commander for the invasion of France — decided on a combined land and amphibious assault.
|
|
|
B
company, 24th Battalion, 6th New
Zeland Brigade The amphibious assault, launched on 22 January, went in south of Rome at Anzio. It was intended that the troops in the beachhead there should be relieved by an offensive from the Cassino position which had been attacked by the US II Corps in January, and from across the Garigliano, which was stormed by the British X Corps on 17 January. The X Corps' operation was held after it had made some ground. The II Corps' attack ended in bloody failure. Cassino was to be the focus of three further battles. The next two, by the New Zealand II Corps in February, and by the 2nd New Zealand and 4th Indian Divisions in March, also failed. So too did efforts by the French Corps to outflank it on the east, though their attack gained some mountain territory. Finally it was attacked on 11 May by the Polish II Corps which, after a week of terrible fighting, finally secured the ruins of the monastery which had been devastated by aerial bombardment preceding the third battle.
|
|
|
An
aerial view of the town of Cassino,
|
