What Caused So Much Trouble at the Battle of Monte Cassino?
The World War 2 battle of Monte Casino, between the Germans occupying Italy and a force of international allies, was incredibly hard fought, but ended controversially.
After Britain, the USA and their allies had thrown the Germans and Italians out of North Africa, the crumbling Italians looked like a prime target to attack. Allied forces first conquered Sicily, and then landed in Italy in the September of 1943, under the overall command of Harold Alexander.
As they did so Italy, having sacked Mussolini, changed sides in the war and the Germans sent troops down to keep their hold on the country. More on the Western Front. Consequently the invading Allies still had to fight their way up the peninsular, and the advance north through the narrow confines of Italy was split into two, with Mark Clark’s US Fifth Army on the east of the Apennine mountains, and Bernard Montgomery’s British Eighth Army on the west.
The advance north was slow, thanks to terrain which favoured the resilient German defenders, and poor weather. The Germans had discussed where to mount their defence, with some wishing to retreat far north, but Hitler hoped to save Rome and eventually allowed the Germans, after they were pushed back, to settle on a prepared set of defences to the south of the city – the Gustav Line. Here Hitler hoped to hang on for as long as needed. Montgomery left to command ground forces in Operation Overlord, planned for the next year, and Oliver Leese replaced him.
The American forces advanced up two key transport lines: Routes 6 and 7. Passage along 6 went through the Liri Valley, between the Abruzzi and Aurunci mountains, whose southern end was especially suited to defenders because of a combination of rivers and hills. In this area sat the town of Cassino, and the abbey of Monte Cassino on top of the hills. The rivers Gari and Rapido were also handy for defence, and the whole site is an incredible, natural, defensive position.
The Allied plan was to use an assault on Monte Cassino as a diversion for an amphibious landing at Anzio, after which Cassino would be abandoned by the Germans. The Fifth Army reached the Gustav Line on January 15th, and although tired after the long assault north, had to mount an attack to support the landings. The initial assault was by Britain’s X Corps, who did manage to pull troops away, the Germans sending two divisions from Rome to assist in defending. The main attack began on January 20th. Although some Allied forces were able to cross the Rapido river they were forced back, and it wasn’t until the 34th Infantry Division made it across that a beachhead was established, a few days later. They kept attacking, but couldn’t seize either Monte Cassino or the hills. Forces from the French Expeditionary Corps assisted by attacking nearby targets. The landings at Anzio duly went ahead, and landed with little opposition. However, General Lucas of the invading force declined to march on Rome, from which German troops had been taken for Cassino, instead securing his bridgehead.
The New Zealand Corps under Lieutenant General Freyberg now came forward to continue the attack, which was planned on moving through the northerly mountains and the rail from the south east. However, the Allies believed the Germans were, despite their well-publicised claims to have left it, using the abbey for observation, and so on February 15th it was bombed by the allies. Afterwards it was discovered the Germans really hadn’t been using it, but seeing as it was damaged their troops did now occupy the ruins.
The attack was resumed on February 15th, and there was some success, with the 4th Indian Division getting close in the hills and the 28th Maori Battalion taking the rail hub at Cassino, but the Germans hung on. A change of plan was devised, and while overall this also failed more strongpoints were taken at Castle and Hangman’s Hill. Now late March, and with his troops tired, Freyberg called a halt.
Alexander now planned Operation Diadem with a greater concentration of Allied force as the Eighth Army had been moved over the mountains. Clark and the French held the coast, forcing a way up Route 7 and the French going into mountains west of the Liri. Leese would attack the Liri valley itself, while Polish troops would encircle Monte Cassino. Thanks to cunning, the Germans hadn’t realised these movements were taking place, and so on May 11th Diadem began with surprise on all four advances.
Route 7 was fought to an early halt, the French got deep into the mountains, Leese’s men crossed the Rapido and managed to hold it long enough for bridges to be built and armour bought up, but the Poles were badly mauled. As the battle wore on Clark made progress, the hold over the Rapido grew, and the French began a flank attack. This was enough for the Germans to begin withdrawing to a newly prepared ‘Hitler Line’ eight miles back, and the Poles managed to capture the defenders in the abbey.
A few days later a combined assault was made in conjunction with troops at Anzio, and the Germans were pushed back and confused. However, although Clark was ordered by Alexander to attack the German retreat and encircle, but he now ordered VI Corps, coming from Anzio, to turn for Rome. He missed the chance to destroy the German Tenth Army, and he’s been accused of making this major error because he wished to go down in history as the man who retook Rome; in the end his troops got there on June 4th. Later commentators have concluded that Cassino was a ‘hollow victory’ as a result of Clark’s actions.
The Invasion of Italy
After Britain, the USA and their allies had thrown the Germans and Italians out of North Africa, the crumbling Italians looked like a prime target to attack. Allied forces first conquered Sicily, and then landed in Italy in the September of 1943, under the overall command of Harold Alexander.
As they did so Italy, having sacked Mussolini, changed sides in the war and the Germans sent troops down to keep their hold on the country. More on the Western Front. Consequently the invading Allies still had to fight their way up the peninsular, and the advance north through the narrow confines of Italy was split into two, with Mark Clark’s US Fifth Army on the east of the Apennine mountains, and Bernard Montgomery’s British Eighth Army on the west.
The advance north was slow, thanks to terrain which favoured the resilient German defenders, and poor weather. The Germans had discussed where to mount their defence, with some wishing to retreat far north, but Hitler hoped to save Rome and eventually allowed the Germans, after they were pushed back, to settle on a prepared set of defences to the south of the city – the Gustav Line. Here Hitler hoped to hang on for as long as needed. Montgomery left to command ground forces in Operation Overlord, planned for the next year, and Oliver Leese replaced him.
Monte Cassino
The American forces advanced up two key transport lines: Routes 6 and 7. Passage along 6 went through the Liri Valley, between the Abruzzi and Aurunci mountains, whose southern end was especially suited to defenders because of a combination of rivers and hills. In this area sat the town of Cassino, and the abbey of Monte Cassino on top of the hills. The rivers Gari and Rapido were also handy for defence, and the whole site is an incredible, natural, defensive position.
The First Assault Fails
The Allied plan was to use an assault on Monte Cassino as a diversion for an amphibious landing at Anzio, after which Cassino would be abandoned by the Germans. The Fifth Army reached the Gustav Line on January 15th, and although tired after the long assault north, had to mount an attack to support the landings. The initial assault was by Britain’s X Corps, who did manage to pull troops away, the Germans sending two divisions from Rome to assist in defending. The main attack began on January 20th. Although some Allied forces were able to cross the Rapido river they were forced back, and it wasn’t until the 34th Infantry Division made it across that a beachhead was established, a few days later. They kept attacking, but couldn’t seize either Monte Cassino or the hills. Forces from the French Expeditionary Corps assisted by attacking nearby targets. The landings at Anzio duly went ahead, and landed with little opposition. However, General Lucas of the invading force declined to march on Rome, from which German troops had been taken for Cassino, instead securing his bridgehead.
Freyberg’s Assaults
The New Zealand Corps under Lieutenant General Freyberg now came forward to continue the attack, which was planned on moving through the northerly mountains and the rail from the south east. However, the Allies believed the Germans were, despite their well-publicised claims to have left it, using the abbey for observation, and so on February 15th it was bombed by the allies. Afterwards it was discovered the Germans really hadn’t been using it, but seeing as it was damaged their troops did now occupy the ruins.
The attack was resumed on February 15th, and there was some success, with the 4th Indian Division getting close in the hills and the 28th Maori Battalion taking the rail hub at Cassino, but the Germans hung on. A change of plan was devised, and while overall this also failed more strongpoints were taken at Castle and Hangman’s Hill. Now late March, and with his troops tired, Freyberg called a halt.
Operation Diadem
Alexander now planned Operation Diadem with a greater concentration of Allied force as the Eighth Army had been moved over the mountains. Clark and the French held the coast, forcing a way up Route 7 and the French going into mountains west of the Liri. Leese would attack the Liri valley itself, while Polish troops would encircle Monte Cassino. Thanks to cunning, the Germans hadn’t realised these movements were taking place, and so on May 11th Diadem began with surprise on all four advances.
Route 7 was fought to an early halt, the French got deep into the mountains, Leese’s men crossed the Rapido and managed to hold it long enough for bridges to be built and armour bought up, but the Poles were badly mauled. As the battle wore on Clark made progress, the hold over the Rapido grew, and the French began a flank attack. This was enough for the Germans to begin withdrawing to a newly prepared ‘Hitler Line’ eight miles back, and the Poles managed to capture the defenders in the abbey.
A few days later a combined assault was made in conjunction with troops at Anzio, and the Germans were pushed back and confused. However, although Clark was ordered by Alexander to attack the German retreat and encircle, but he now ordered VI Corps, coming from Anzio, to turn for Rome. He missed the chance to destroy the German Tenth Army, and he’s been accused of making this major error because he wished to go down in history as the man who retook Rome; in the end his troops got there on June 4th. Later commentators have concluded that Cassino was a ‘hollow victory’ as a result of Clark’s actions.
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