Sven hassels iconic novel about the battle for monte cassino. Unit has books written and a movie made about them i think. This is not only the best single book on the subject but a model of how military history ought to. My knowledge comes from melchior wankowicz book bitwa o monte cassino. Diadem was supported by air attacks called operation strangle. 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 book begins with an outline of the italian campaign strategy that led to the epic battle s of monte cassino. Cassino is located at the foot of monte cairo near the confluence of the gari and liri rivers. The story of the hardestfought battle of world war. This huge volume could become the last word on the cassino battles of. I thought the 442nd regimental combat team made monte cassino sorta famous and probably the most discussed battle of italian campaign in the states. Like other savage encounters with the wehrmacht in italy, it is now mostly overlooked, though the sacrifice and suffering were enormous, leaving 3.
Aug 27, 2017 these harrowing images of monte cassino feature in a new book about the military offensive which sheds fresh light on atrocities committed by military troops after the famous battle. The book begins with an outline of the italian campaign strategy that led to the epic battles of monte cassino. The action took place during the war of the second coalition during the larger conflict known as the french revolutionary wars. The battle of cassano dadda was fought on 27 april 1799 near cassano dadda, about 28 km 17 mi ene of milan. These men had escaped poland as it fell to the germans and russians in 1939. In may 1944, the gustav line finally collapsed, with the second polish corps succeeding in capturing the abbey. While this book isnt specifically about it, it is significantly covered. Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest. Cassino the italian campaign nzhistory, new zealand. In truth, the only indicator for a victory in this battle was that the gustav line fell. The battle of monte cassino was fought january 17 to may 18, 1944, during world war ii and saw the allies win after four bloody engagements. The author examines in detail this struggle to open up the road to rome.
Military experts have long agreed that it would hardly be possible to find a better example of an impregnable natural defensive barrier on the road to rome than that provided by the city of cassino. Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest of the allied. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Anatomy of the battle by janusz piekalkiewicz 1988. This book details the six month battle for monte cassino in italy during ww11. The battle for monte cassino marked one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the italian campaign during world war ii. Actually, the germans were able to remove both the monks and the treasures of the abbey. 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. He is most famous for his reporting for the polish armed forces in the west during world war ii and writing a book about the battle of monte cassino. Reflections of the battle of monte cassino pleszak. Anatomy of the battle by janusz piekalkiewicz 1988, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The third battle of cassino in midmarch was preceded by a thunderous artillery barrage from nine hundred guns and a massive aerial bombardment of the town. The ultimate decision to bomb monte cassino was one of the most controversialand tragicevents of world war ii.
For the new zealand division, this german strongpoint southeast of rome would prove the most tragically elusive prize of the italian campaign. Hitler has ordered that every position must be held to the last, and every lost position recaptured by counterattack. The battle was actually four battles ultimately drawing into the struggle allied troops from the united states, great britain, canada, france. Batty breaks up the leaflets he found that day into several. 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. Melchior wankowicz 10 january 1892 10 september 1974 was a polish army officer, popular writer, political journalist and publisher. Before reading this excellent book by fred majdalany i knew little about the battles for cassino in 1944, though i was aware of the controversy over the bombing of the benedictine monastry on monte cassino. Images show the front lines of wwiis monte cassino mail online. The monumental fourmonth monte cassino battle saw allies launch. The economist few people today realize that british and american soldiers fought in a battle that compares to stalingrad for human suffering. Also, there is an overview of the rest of the italian campaign through the occupation of rome in late 1944. The city is best known as the site of the abbey of montecassino and the battle of monte cassino during world war ii, which resulted in huge allied and german casualties as well as the near total destruction of the town itself. More about the italian theater in 1943 and 1944 in general. These harrowing images of monte cassino feature in a new book about.
May 05, 2020 on the right, the final battle for the prize of monte cassino fell to anders polish corps. His particular strength is his treatment of combat dynamics on both sides of the fighting line, from division headquarters to foxholes. One of the bloodiest european battles of the second world war was that from january to june 1944 for the gustav line, anchored on monte. The battle of monte cassino and the breaking of the gustav line. The battle of cassino by fred majdalany, though a relatively small volume at 235 pages, is a positively exceptional chronicle of the gritty 4month allied ordeal to. The thunder of the guns could be heard in rome, 170 miles away. The story of the most controversial battle of world war ii by david hapgood, david richardson at.
With nearly four hundred thousand copies in print around the world, this is the bestselling and most respected account of the sixmonth battle for monte cassino britain and americas bitterest and bloodiest encounter with the german army on any front in world war two. 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. Portrait of a battle cassell military classics the battle of monte cassino. This book is a learning experience for anyone interested in world war ii on any level. One interesting detail about the battle of monte cassino is how everyone fighting for it perceived it. As the battle grew longer their forces just increased and the germans started withdrawing from various positions. Better known as the battle of cassino, the campaign only ended when rome was. The story of the hardestfought battle of world war two by parker, matthew isbn. Us army in world war iimediterranean theater of operations. 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. Images show the front lines of wwiis monte cassino daily mail. The sixmonth battle for monte cassino was britains bitterest and bloodiest encounter with the german army on any front in world war two. New zealands casualties at cassino from february 1. They held the rapido, liri, and garigliano valleys.
To be honest, before i read this book i had no idea a tremendous artillery battle was fought at monte cassino during the allied invasion of italy. Buy battle of cassino new edition by majdalany, fred isbn. Book contains information about the losses and directions of polish attacks down to the level of a single. Battle of monte cassino simple english wikipedia, the. Monte cassino is the true story of one of the bitterest and bloodiest of the allied struggles against the nazi army. In september 1943 a combined british and american amphibious force finally made the first allied landing on the continent of europe. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Many are mentioned in peter battys 2005 book paper war nazi propaganda in one battle, on a single day, cassino, italy, may 11, 1944. The successful capture of the mountain top monastery and the town of cassino below was crucial in opening the road to rome. Nov, 2018 the battle was won but it came at a high price for the allies.
Kesselring knew from the beginning of the allied invasion of italy that his fight would, at best, be a slow, agonizing withdrawal. It was essential to force an immediate breakthrough against one of the most powerful natural fortresses in europe where for months the germans had blasted new gun emplacements into the rock and erected sandbag walls and sowed minefields. These harrowing images of monte cassino feature in a new book about the military offensive which sheds fresh light on atrocities committed by military troops after the famous battle. Monte cassino, the hardest fought battle of world war ii. Parker relies heavily on veterans accounts of the battle in his narrative. This book tells so much more though than that controversy, fred majdalany was an infantry officer who fought at cassino but he is able to. The washington postmonte cassino was perhaps the most interesting campaign of all. Apr 19, 2018 in history books the battle of monte cassino is often overshadowed by the others but it was the first major battle of the western allies on european mainland as they advanced north from the foot of italy.
This multifaceted battle marked one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the italian campaign during world war ii. The battle of monte cassino, from january to may 1944129 monte cassino. Matthew parker this book is a story of the horrors of war seen from the. The battles for cassino encompassed one of the few truly international conflicts of the second world war. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. After the battle books the battles for monte cassino. It seems the history of the monastery at monte cassino stretches back centuries before st. Best books for learning about the battle of monte cassino. These have been debated ever since, but no important book on. 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. On february 15 the allies bombed and demolished the benedictine monastery, erroneously believing that the germans had occupied and fortified it. The battles for monte cassino then and now by jeffrey.
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. Majdalany, 4 books mariano dellomo, 4 books melchior wankowicz, 4 books catholic church, 4 books tommaso leccisotti, 3 books fred majdalany, 3 books melchior wankowicz, 3 books eligio della rosa, 2 books angelo pantoni, 2 books herbert bloch, 2 books inguanez, mauro dom, 2 books tosti, luigi conte, 2. Parkers writing is excellent and his account very informative. It was not just the battle of cassino, it was a battle for poland, general anders recalled years later in his book titled without the last chapter. Having survived the horrors of the eastern front, the 27th penal regiment are posted to italy.
The story of the most controversial battle of world. It was a series of four attacks by the allies against the winter line in italy held by the germans and italians. Battle of monte cassino summary eight days into the battle the allied forces attacked german defenses on the italian front. At the beginning of 1944, the western half of the winter line was being anchored by germans holding. The battle of monte cassino download ebook pdf, epub. In the battle of monte cassino and the subsequent fight for rome in the following weeks, the allies lost over 100,000 men. 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. One of the bloodiest european battles of the second world war was that from january to june 1944 for the gustav line, anchored on monte cassino, famous for its benedictine abbey.
The british army contained units from new zealand, india and africa. 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 the germans and italians during the italian campaign of world war ii. The history of the battle for rome during world war ii. 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. Soldiers from more than a dozen nations fought through that savage winter in a ferocious battle that allowed no advance or retreat. I knew monte cassino from thomas aquinas residence there, 700 years earlier. Those books written specifically about cassino contain a. Monte cassino sometimes written montecassino is a rocky hill about kilometres 81 mi southeast of rome, in the latin valley, italy, 2 kilometres 1. It was also an incredible some books jump to the top of my to read list as soon as i open them. For 9 months, the allies struggled to take the gustav line and the abbey of monte cassino. 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.
They were the most famous bunch involved though didnt fight it all themselves. 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. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Other articles where battle of monte cassino is discussed. The germans had around 20,000 killed and wounded by the end of the struggle. The italian campaign in general was churchills idea. F majdalany shows the significance of the battle of cassino, not only in the italian campaign, but also in the whole course of the world war in europe. The museum commemorating polish participation in the battle is located at the polish military cemetery at monte cassino. Moreover, it prevented the advancing forces in the south from rescuing the threatened beachhead at anzio. 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 during the period generally known as the first battle of monte cassino.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The battle for the benedictine monastry on the hilltop of monte cassino between january and may 1944 was one of the most dramatic in the battle for italy. It is one of the best from the after the battle stable. 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. The allied force consisted of the us fifth army under gen mark clark and the british 8 th army.
Pre battle losses and losses from piedimonte are included. After campaigns which began with amphibious assaults in both africa and sicily, the allies were hoping that the invasion of italy would be an equally successful endeavor. Operation diadem, also referred to as the fourth battle of monte cassino or, in canada, the battle of the liri valley, was an offensive operation undertaken by the allies of world war ii u. The last one was monte cassino, the hardest battle of world war ii by matthew parker. There were many more leaflets dropped on the allied troops at monte cassino that do not mention the monastery but were picked up off the ground. It resulted in a victory for the austrians and russians under alexander suvorov over jean moreaus french army. Caddickadams uses the events of the battle to tell the stories of the armies that bled out around cassino. Site of the roman town of casinum, it is best known for its abbey, the first house of the benedictine order, having been established by benedict of nursia himself. The book brings an unique perspective to the battle by focusing on how the the various armies were successful or not successful.
Battle of monte cassino simple english wikipedia, the free. This is the second book i have read dedicated to cassino and one of several on the combined cassino anzio campaign. At the beginning of 1944, the western half of the winter line was held by germans. The battle of monte cassino, from january to may 1944129 days of hell was arguably the allies toughest combat of world war ii. Includes picturesincludes accounts of the fighting by. Books the battles for monte cassino after the battle. This city was important because it stood along the best route to rome. Anders exhorted his men to triumph over the germans they deeply despised. Battle of monte cassino order of battle january 1944. Although the battle was fought by allied, as well as us, soldiers, the history of the us army in world war ii provides quite satisfactory coverage of the battle 4 5. Images show the front lines of wwiis monte cassino. The economist few people today realize that british and american soldiers fought in a battle that compares to stalingrad for human sufferi. Fifth army and british eighth army in may 1944, as part of the italian campaign of world war ii. It was a series of four attacks by the allies against the winter line in italy held by the germans and italians at the beginning of 1944, the western half of the winter line was held by germans.