Monte Cassino WW2

[Marmot1]

Just found nice collection of photos..
http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/abbey04.JPG
Monte Casino was a key point in Gustaw line and this victory in May 1944 opened road to Rome for allies.. ir was attacked 4 times and 4th assauld mady by Polish 2nd Corps was succesul,polish tanks menaged to get on the sloopes and this helped infantry...

NOTE: POLISH SOLDIERS SEEMS TO LOOK LIKE BRITISH SINCE THEY USED BRITISH EQUIOPMENT ONLY SMALL ARMATCH AND EAGLE ON HELMET CAN HELP TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
Most of soldiers were polish soldiers who were released from soviet captivity and through IRAN - IRAQ- PALESTINE they reached polish forces and then were moved to italian front... so as you see it is not first time when we are in iraq (we had over 100 000 at the peak,mainly near Mosul area, also there are still polish WW2 military cementaries in iraq)



The mountain of Monte Cassino was a strategic point in the European Theater during WWII. This key mountain was highly defendable and, just beyond it, was smooth sailing into the capital, Rome (which would assure victory in Italy). For Allied forces and Germans alike this point mountain was important. On this mountain, French, Moroccan, Indian, US, British, New Zealand, Algerian and German troops spilled their blood in series after series of grueling battles. Finally, after 5 months of fighting, the Polish 2nd Crops under General Anders made a daring suicide mission and captured the mountain. Today, a Polish cemetery and an Abby lie atop the mountain.

More info:
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/cassino.htm


German Forces - Gustav defensive line
Jan - May 1944
German 10th Army - Generaloberst von Vietinghoff
LI Gebirgs Corps -General der Gebirgs Truppen Fuerstein
5th Gebirgs Division - Generalleutnant Schrank
44th Infantry Division - Generalleutnant Ortner
1st Parachute Division - Generalleutnant Heidrich (releived 90th PanzGren Div-14th Army Res. Moved from Adriatic front to Cassino Front)
XIV Panzer Corps - Generalleutnant von Senger und Etterlin
71st Infantry Division - Generalmajor Raapke
94th Infantry Division - Generalmajor Steinmetz
15th Panzergrenadier Division - Generalmajor Rodt
Kampf-(Korps) Gruppe Bode
Armee Reserve - 90th Panzergrenadier Division - Generalleutnant Baade

Allied forces facing the Gustav line
Allied 5th Army Group - General Alexander
US 5th Army - General Clark
US 2nd Corps - General Keyes
French Expeditionary Corps - General Juin

British 8th Army - General Leese
British 5th Corps - General Keightley
British 10th Corps - General Mc Creery
Polish 2nd Corps - General Anders
British 8th Corps - General Kirkman
Canadian 1st Corps - Reserve Corps - Lt General Burns


http://hsgm.free.fr/rajoutsguerre/cassino/cassino1.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/rajoutsguerre/cassino/cassino2.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino3.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino4.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino5.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino6.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino7.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino8.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino9.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino10.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino7.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/rajoutsguerre/italie/goeringmontecassinocampagneitalie.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/rajoutsguerre/cassino/soldatsbritanniquesmontecassino.jpg
http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino1.jpg
Polish War cementary
http://www.pw.edu.pl/miesiecz/2001/09/img/4-3a.jpg
http://la.znet.com/~amexpo/andre/photos/Monte%20Cassino.jpg
The Poles paid their share of victory at Monte Cassino: over on thousand killed, and three thousand wounded.

http://wrzesnia.w.interia.pl/archiwum/anders.jpg
Gen. Anders, commander of the 2nd Corps, before he died in London in 1972, expressed his wish to be laid to rest with his fallen soldiers near the monastery. After the war a cemetery was built at the foot of the Abbey by surviving soldiers of the 2nd Corps.

At its entrance, the engraved epitaph depicts their bravery and dedication to Poland.

In four languages it reads:

"We, Polish soldiers

For our freedom and yours

Have given our souls to God

Our bodies to the soil of Italy

And our hearts — to Poland"


http://wrzesnia.w.interia.pl/archiwum/sztandar.jpg
Polish flag over monastery after victory...
http://www.jasnet.pl/CIASNA/CASSINO/9CASSIN1.JPG
And later british also was added :-)
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/cas102.jpg
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/cas05.jpg
http://www.medio.mh.se/~vonadler/pg2/scenarios/cassino.jpg
http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/mout/WWII_MOUT_CassinoApr44b.jpg
http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/mout/WWII_MOUT_CassinoApr44.jpg
http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/mout/WWII_MOUT_CassinoApr44a.jpg
http://www.jasnet.pl/CIASNA/CASSINO/9CASSIN2.JPG
http://www.interet-general.info/IMG/ww2-555.jpg

[Operation Ivy]

Good pics my man woot

[catalyst]

seemed 2 be the ultimate in large scale urban ops.....but also combining the taking of a defensive mountain.....and defeating a fortress....

HARD CORE STUFF! pity the fellows b4 couldnt bring the hun under control....save so many lives

[Xingbake]

Great pictures!!!! :D

http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino4.jpg

Is this the famous convent(I can't remember its name) that was bombed out by the Allied forces in this battle since they thought it became a Germany's observation post.?

[tony6]

Yeah-Monte Cassino was one of the most hardcore battles in WWII...

[wholagun]

I used to know a Polish veteran who was a corporal during WW2, he actually passed away recently last month, anyhow im off topic.

He was telling me about Monte Casio which he said was hell but before the whole battle for Monte Casino began and once or twice during the battle (which lasted for I can't remeber how many days) but he told me that the Americans air dropped supplies, and in those supplies they droped American Brandy. And holy **** were the Poles ever happy to see the booze, it boosted their moral so much everyone just felt alot better and were ready to fight again. He was so thankful to the Amreicans dropping Brandy in the supplies that he always bought American Brandy and no other kind.
When he told me I though it was quite funny

[Marmot1]

Great pictures!!!! :D

http://hsgm.free.fr/recent/cassino4.jpg

Is this the famous convent(I can't remember its name) that was bombed out by the Allied forces in this battle since they thought it became a Germany's observation post.?

This was the Benedictins Monastry from the 6th century (you can see it rebuild on 1 photo) it was not an observation point but a stronghold and there were german paratroopers in it, it was sad but americans decided to bomb it since 3 atack on that mountain failed... as you can see whole moutains were rocky and bringing suplies was extremally dificult there was only one road to the peak and it was under fire so polish engineers prepared second one bt it was so narrow that even one damaged diego blocked it so every even sligtly damaged was pulled of road it's why polish equipment loses were high... also whole area was mined there were pilboxes diggend in rock etc. Hell on earth...

http://h-and-d.gry-online.pl/wojna/monte/pliki/mapa.jpg

[Steve Andrews]

I have just finished a book about Monte Cassino by Matthew Parker.
I highly recommend it. The author has interviewed many of the soldiers that were there, from both sides.

I have the utmost respect for the troops on both sides. They went through hell. One Stalingrad veteren who was there said that Cassino was worse.

In one part of the book it tells the story of a soldier who came across two laughing Gurkas. He found that had just been out on a fighting patrol and found threes Germans asleep in a slit trench. They had cut off the heads of the two outer men and left the middle one asleep.

[Kitsune]

A detailed account of the battle for monte cassino can be found here:

http://www.battleofmontecassino.com

There is an interesting site with infos about German Paratroopers here:

http://www.greendevils.com/greendevils/fjwwii.htm

[Seoulstriker]

and if i remember from the history channel, the battle at monte cassino was a military blunder for the allies, right?

[aktarian]

This was the Benedictins Monastry from the 6th century (you can see it rebuild on 1 photo) it was not an observation point but a stronghold and there were german paratroopers in it, it was sad but americans decided to bomb it since 3 atack on that mountain failed...

Isn't it agreed that there were no paratroopers inside Abbey prior to bombing? Not even observers? IIRC Germans even put guard there to make sure no troops entered Abbey.

[fantassin]

The French Expeditionary corps was instrumental in the capture of Cassino; here is an extract of the US commander's in Italy memories:

Quoting from General Mark Clark's autobiography, he describes how the FEC (French Expeditionary Corps) broke through the GUSTAV Line in May of 1944.

"Meantime, the French forces had crossed the Garigliano (River) and moved forward into the mountainous terrain lying south of the Liri River. It was not easy. As always, the German veterans reacted strongly and there was bitter fighting. The French surprised the enemy and quickly seized key terrain including Mounts Faito Cerasola and high ground near Castelforte. The 1st Motorized Division helped the 2nd Moroccan division take key Mount Girofano and then advanced rapidly north to S. Apollinare and S. Ambrogio. In spite of the stiffening enemy resistance, the 2nd Moroccan Division penetrated the Gustave Line in less than two day’s fighting.
"The next 48 hours on the French front were decisive. The knife-wielding Goumiers swarmed over the hills, particularly at night, and General Juin’s entire force showed an aggressiveness hour after hour that the Germans could not withstand. Cerasola, San Giogrio, Mt. D’Oro, Ausonia and Esperia were seized in one of the most brilliant and daring advances of the war in Italy, and by May 16 the French Expeditionary Corps had thrust forward some ten miles on their left flank to Mount Revole, with the remainder of their front slanting back somewhat to keep contact with the British 8th Army.
"For this performance, which was to be a key to the success of the entire drive on Rome, I shall always be a grateful admirer of General Juin and his magnificent FEC." (and a little further)
"The 8th Army’s delay made Juin’s task more difficult, because he was moving forward so rapidly that his right flank---adjacent to the British---constantly was exposed to counter-attacks".

[Marmot1]

This was the Benedictins Monastry from the 6th century (you can see it rebuild on 1 photo) it was not an observation point but a stronghold and there were german paratroopers in it, it was sad but americans decided to bomb it since 3 atack on that mountain failed...

Isn't it agreed that there were no paratroopers inside Abbey prior to bombing? Not even observers? IIRC Germans even put guard there to make sure no troops entered Abbey.

the truth is that you cannot say it for suere... Some polish soldiers admited that there were germans prior to US bombing but now you cannot prove that they were or were not, AFAIK monks were evacuated by germans...

[juhae]

I remember reading once from somewhere that the Allied bombers en route to Monte Cassino passed over the neutral airspace of Switzerland? Anybody have any facts about this?