The Fallschirmjäger were the paratroop branch of the German Luftwaffe. They were considered elite troops and proved it in the early days of World War II. For much of the combat in Italy, the Canadians faced these elite troops in their advance, Ortona, and the Gothic Line.
The originators of the paratrooper concept were the Russians who were experimenting with large para operations since the 1920s. One of the foreign officers who observed these exercises was a German fighter pilot named Col. Kurt Student. Col. Student was impressed with the potential of paratroops and became the first commander of the German paratroops when they were established in January of 1936 as an arm of the Luftwaffe (Air Force).
Although initially a battalion, the unit grew rapidly. By 1939, it was a Corps including paratroops, glider troops, and elite light infantry.
The Fallshirmjager was transported by Junkers 52 transport aircraft and optionally DFS 230 gliders.
Although prepared for action in Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Poland; they first saw action in April 1940. They deployed in Norway and Denmark to occupy airfields – allowing follow on forces to land safely.
In May 1940, the German forces invaded Belgium. A key strong point for the Belgium was the fortress of Eben Emael. This fortress had 1200 troops, mines, machine guns, 18 large artillery pieces and many bunkers connected by tunnels. On 10 May 1940, the dawn saw 10 DFS 230 gliders land on the fortress carrying an assault team of just 78 paratroopers. The next day, the Germans had suffered six dead and twenty wounded but had captured the fortress.
The division next saw major action in the invasion of Crete in May 1941. Over 22,000 German soldiers dropped on Crete but over nine days, 3250 were killed and 3400 were wounded. The scale of the causalities meant that the paratroopers never deployed in a strategic role again.
Over time, 10 parachute divisions were formed.
1st was formed in 1936 and saw action in Europe, Russia, and Italy. It surrendered to Allied forces in Italy on 2 May 1945.
2nd formed in early 1943 and fought in Ukraine and Normandy. It was surrounded near Brest and surrendered 20 September 1944. A new unit with the same name was created in December fought in Germany until the end of the war.
3rd was formed in late 1943 and was machine gun heavy with 930 MG 42s. Each company would have 20 and each squad would have 2. The unit was decimated in the Falaise gap and was rebuilt using replacements from Luftwaffe field regiments. It surrendered to American troops in April 1945.
4th formed in Italy in November 1943. It was formed by units from 2nd supplemented by Italian paratroopers. It saw action at Anzio and on the Gothic Line. It surrendered on 2 May 1945.
5th, 6th, and 7th were formed in France during 1944. The 5th was the last full unit to actually received parachute training. It took heavy causalities in France and surrendered in mid March 1945. The 6th was broken up with one regiment going the the Herman Goering Division and the other two taking heavy losses in France, finally surrendering in May 1945. The 7th was created from training units and other “orphan” units. It was formed in August 1944 and fought in Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) and in North West Europe until surrendering at the end of the war.
The 8th, 9th, and 10th were parachute divisions in name only. They were formed of untrained soldiers from non-combat Luftwaffe units such as mechanics and ground crews. The 8th was destroyed in the Netherlands. The 9th was destroyed near Berlin. The 10 surrendered to the Soviet Army in May 1945.

From the early days of the Mediterranean Campaign, Naples suffered heavy Allied bombing raids causing severe damage and upwards of 20,000 civilians killed. After the Italian capitulation, Italian Troops in the area retreated to Naples as they had no orders. German forces took over the city.
The next few weeks saw sporadic resistance against the German occupation. On 12 September 1943, 4,000 soldiers and civilian men were deported for forced labour in northern Italy and Germany. Ten days later, a decree that all men 18-33 were required to show up for the same thing. German troops began rounding up those men and holding them in the city stadium.
On 10 September, between Piazza del Plebiscito and the gardens below, the first bloody clash occurred, with the Neapolitans successfully blocking several German motor vehicles. In these fights, three German sailors and three German soldiers died. The occupiers managed to free some of those imprisoned by the rioters, thanks to an injunction by an Italian official, who summoned his countrymen to surrender some of their hostages and all their weapons. The retaliation for the Piazza del Plebiscito clashes came quickly: the Germans set fire to the National Library and opened fire on the crowd that had gathered there. As well, the German commanders declared a curfew and execution orders for those who disobeyed and that 100 Italians would be executed for every German killed. Several Italian soldiers and policemen were then publicly executed. Italian resisters began stealing and stockpiling
Things became worse when on 23 September, the Germans ordered a forced evacuation (20 hrs notice) of all buildings and homes that were within 300m of the waterfront (approximately 250,000 people). Also, all males between 18 and 30 were ordered to compulsory labour camps in Germany. Within three days, the Germans sent soldiers into Naples to implement the deportment order.
Almost simultaneously, a manifesto from the city's prefect called for compulsory work for all males between the ages of 18 and 30 — in effect a forced deportation to labor camps in Germany. Only 150 Neapolitans out of the planned 30,000 responded to the call, leading Schöll to send soldiers into Naples to round up and immediately execute resisters. Unarmed crowds went into the streets to oppose the roundups and free the deportees.
The next four days were known as the four days of Naples.
There were riots and armed clashes. Italian casualties amounted to 155 resistance and civilians. German troops started evacuating on the 27th and had abandoned the city by 1 October.
The Naples resistance was not coordinated but did have the effect of stopping the German occupiers from defending the city against the approaching Allied Army or destroying it as per Hitler’s orders.

Popski's Private Army (No. 1 Demolition Squadron or PPA), was one of several raiding units of British Special Forces set up in Africa during 1942. PPA was set up by Major Vladimir Peniakoff – “Popski” (He was named Popski as the signallers had a problem with his real name). It served in Africa and Italy. Its role was to attack fuel dumps in the same way that SAS and RLDG did.
When the war started, Popski attempted to join the RAF but was rejected. Because he spoke Arabic, the British Army assigned him to liaise with the Libyan Arab Force. He went on to form the Libyan Arab Force Commando. This was a small force of British and Libyan solders who operated behind enemy lines.
Popski returned to Egypt in mid-1942 and formed No. 1 Demolition Squadron. At 23 members, it was the smallest unit in the British Army. This is also where they picked up the name Popski’s Private Army.
PPA was run very informally. All officers reverted to Lieutenant and all other ranks reverted to Private upon joining the unit. There was no separate messing, no saluting and no drill.
In Africa, the PPA racked up many successes. – finding the mountain pass so that the British could flank the German Mareth Line; link up with the American army in Tunesia, and many raiding/ reconnaissance operations around the Battle of Kasserine Pass, including taking the surrender of 600 Italians. Prior to going to Italy, the unit increased its manning complement to 35 all ranks.

In September 1943 an advance PPA patrol discovered the vulnerabilities of the German 1st Parachute Division opposing 1st Airborne. After that, the PPA increased to 80 men. Italian PPA operations were executed using three fighting patrols (six jeeps, 18 men) and one HQ (four jeeps, 12 men). Each jeep was armed with .50in and .30in machine guns.
The PPA undertook many roles usually secret and mobile. They were even used to act as line troops using their high mobility and firepower to make the enemy think that they were a larger force thanthey really were. Several of their operations included using landing craft to land behind enemy lines.
After Italy, PPA continues in Europe.
At various times PPA worked alongside other units such as the LRDG, SAS, No. 1 Special Force (SOE), Phantom, ‘A’ Force and OSS.
By the time that they were disbanded on 14 September 1945, PPA personnel had been awarded a DSO (Popski), a Distinguished Conduct Medal, 6 MCs, 10 MMs, and 14 Mentions in Despatches.

The action at Motta Montecorvino was the first major combat between the Canadian Troops and the German Defenders (1st Parachute Division).  The Germans had developed a specific delaying tactic intended to slow the Allied advance while work on the Winter Defense Line (made from Gustav, Hitler, and Bernhardt) was completed.

The basic tactic was to deploy troops to a dominant and defensible feature; then employ fierce resistance as long as possible using defensive positions and artillery/mortars to disrupt any attacks.  This would be followed by a rapid withdrawal (usually at night) leaving behind mines, booby traps and well supplied rear guards.

This was codified in two paragraphs of the  German 10th Army orders in late September 1943:

"Within the limits of the delaying action, every opportunity is to be taken of destroying enemy
forces that have pushed ahead incautiously, and of inflicting heavy losses through action of combined
arms. Withdrawal to the individual defence lines and the delaying action between them are dependent on
the enemy advance.

Withdrawal movements must only take place as a result of overwhelming enemy pressure or of
heavy losses caused by intense artillery fire. The practice is to be followed of intensifying our own
artillery fire shortly before withdrawal, and posting rearguards well supplied with ammunition to screen
the withdrawal movement ...."

The Winter Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy in 1943, commanded by Albert Kesselring. These three lines was designed to defend the area around Rome. Its defence hinged on the town of Monte Cassino and Highway 6 that ran direct to Rome. The Gustav Line ran across Italy from just north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, through the Apennine Mountains to the mouth of the Sangro River on the Adriatic coast in the east. The two subsidiary lines, the Bernhardt Line and the Hitler Line ran much shorter distances from the sea to just North East of Cassino.
The Gustav line stalled the allied advance from December 1943 until June 1944.

Casa Berardi, Italy – December 14, 1943
Le Royal 22e Régiment

Citation
For determined leadership and example.

The capture of the key road junction on the main Ortona-Orsogna lateral was entirely dependent on securing the hamlet of Casa Berardi. Both this and a gully in front of it had been turned by the Germans into formidable strong points defended by infantry and tanks.

On 14th December 1943, Captain Triquet’s company of the Royal 22e Régiment with the support of a squadron of a Canadian Armoured Regiment was given the task of crossing the gully and securing Casa Berardi. Difficulties were encountered from the outset. The gully was held in strength and on approaching it the force came under heavy fire from machine-guns and mortars. All the company officers and 50 per cent of the men were killed or wounded. Showing superb contempt for the enemy, Captain Triquet went round reorganizing the remainder and encouraging them with the words, ‘Never mind them, they can’t shoot.’ Finally when enemy infiltration was observed on all sides shouting, ‘There are enemy in front of us, behind us and on our flanks, there is only one safe place – that is on the objective,’ he dashed forward and with his men following him broke through the enemy resistance. In this action four tanks were destroyed and several enemy machine-gun posts silenced.

Against bitter and determined defence and under heavy fire, Captain Triquet and his company, in close co-operation with the tanks, forced their way on until a position was reached on the outskirts of Casa Berardi. By this time the strength of the company was reduced to two sergeants and 15 men. In expectation of a counter-attack Captain Triquet at once set about organizing his handful of men into a defensive perimeter around the remaining tanks and passed the mot d’ordre, ils ne passeront pas. A German counter-attack supported by tanks developed almost immediately. Captain Triquet, ignoring the heavy fire, was everywhere encouraging his men and directing the defence and by using whatever weapons were to hand personally accounted for several of the enemy. This and subsequent attacks were beaten off with heavy losses, and Captain Triquet and his small force held out against overwhelming odds until the remainder of the battalion took Casa Berardi and relieved them the next day.

Throughout the whole of this engagement Captain Triquet showed the most magnificent courage and cheerfulness under heavy fire. Wherever the action was the hottest he was often seen shouting encouragement to his men and organizing the defence. His utter disregard of danger, his cheerfulness and tireless devotion to duty were a constant source of inspiration to them. His tactical skill and leadership enabled them, although reduced by casualties to a mere handful, to continue their advance against bitter resistance and to hold their gains against determined counter-attacks. It was due to him that Casa Berardi was captured and the way opened for the attack on the vital road junction.

(Image: Seaforth at Christmas dinner)  It was a bloody Christmas in Ortona. The Loyal Edmonton War Diary remarked on 25 December, “Today is our fifth Christmas on Active Service and the fiercest fighting so far encountered continued throughout the day”.  Small groups of men rotated out of the line for a few hours peace.

Battalion commanders contrived to provide real Christmas dinners for their rifle companies. The Seaforth had captured Santa Maria di Constantinopoli church which they now used for their observance of the day. Tables were laid with white cloths, and the four rifle companies were relieved in succession, each for two hours, for the festivities. The Pipe Major played while the meal was served.  Their War Diary related: “The setting for the dinner was complete, long rows of tables with white tablecloths, and a bottle of beer per man, candies, cigarettes, nuts, oranges and apples and chocolate bars providing the extras. The C.O., Lt: Col. S. W. Thomson, laid on that the Companies would eat in relays . . . as each company finished their dinner, they would go forward and relieve the next company.... The menu .. . soup, pork with apple sauce, cauliflower, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, Christmas pudding and mince pie....

From 1100 hours to 1900 hours, when the last man of the battalion reluctantly left the table to return to the grim realities of the day, there was an atmosphere of cheer and good fellowship in the church. A true Christmas spirit. The impossible had happened. No one had looked for a celebration this day. December 25th was to be another day of hardship, discomfort, fear and danger, another day of war.

The expression on the faces of the dirty bearded men as they entered the building was a reward that those responsible are never likely to forget. . .. During the dinner the Signal Officer . . . played the church organ and with the aid of the improvised choir, organized by the padre, carols rang out throughout the church.”

1CIB was ordered to push forward to the west of it with a view to cutting the coast road and the enemy’s communications. This move began on 23 December; hampered by rain, mud and mines.  The HastyPs reached their objectives, and the 48th took over the advance. The 48^th reached their goal, the high ground just northwest of Ortona and were wholly cut off. They maintained their position over Christmas Day, going hungry because supplies could not be got forward and the mud prevented tanks from coming up in support. That night,  a carrying party of the Saskatoon Light Infantry got up to them with rations and carried their wounded back. The Saskatoons’ commander received a warm note of thanks from his opposite number of the 48th. “It was a hazardous, wearisome job to perform on Christmas Night”, wrote Lt.-Col. Johns-ton, “but you may be assured this unit and in particular the casualties you carried out will be forever grateful.”

On January 22, 1944, Operation Shingle saw Allied forces landing near Anzio, Italy in an attempt to outflank the German defenses (Winter Line) and open up an attack to take Rome. The concept of operations was that to defend against the landing, German troops would have to be either taken from the strong point of Cassino or if taken from Rome, not be available to reinforce Cassino. If the landing was not opposed, Allied forces could cut off the Winter Line defenders.

Anzio was a small port about 63 km (39 mi) south of Rome. It sits in a swampy basin surrounded by mountains. German intelligence determined that no landing was possible there. Any landing there would require rapid and aggressive movement to move out of the basin and into the surrounding terrain.

On 22 January, the British 1st Infantry Division landed at “Peter” beach (9.7 km/ 6 mi north of Anzio), 6615th Ranger Force attacked Anzio directly, and the US 3rd Infantry Division landed on X-Ray beach (9.7 km/ 6 mi north of Anzio). Initially, the landing was completely unopposed. A jeep patrol was able to reach the outskirts of Rome. By midnight, 36,000 Allied soldiers had landed with over 300 vehicles. But rather than attacking, they chose to consolidate and dig in.

The Germans moved every available troop to repulse the landing. 20,000 German soldiers had moved into prepared positions by the night of the landing. Two days later, the beach head with two Allied divisions was surrounded by 8 German Divisions with 5 more en route. By 29 January, Allied forces had grown to 69,000 troops and 208 tanks along with over 500 artillery pieces. German defenders now numbers over 71,000 but grew to more than 100,000 by early February.

Through February and March; attack and counter attack took place with no significant movement. One German thrust managed to almost break the British lines but a concentrated attack by Allied air power stalled the attack. In April, both sides retired to their lines to rebuild and resupply.

By May, the German defenders were in poor shape compared to the Allies whose beachhead now held over 150,000 troops. The Germans were in prepared positions but were short of combat leadership and had no real reserves – troops having been siphoned off to support the Gustav Line.

The break out took place on 23 May 1944. The attack was preceded by 1,500 Allied guns as well as close air support. The attack was led by the US 1st Armoured and the 3rd Infantry Divisions. On the first day, they lost 100 tanks and almost 1000 causalities. By early June, the breakout was complete and the German defenders maintained a fighting retreat through Rome. By 4 June, an uncontested Rome was captured by the Americans.

In all, the Allies suffered 7,000 killed, 36,000 wounded or missing while the German losses were 5,000 killed, 30,500 wounded or missing, and 4,500 prisoners; making the Anzio landings one of the costliest battles of the war.

(image Canadian no 19 set) The movement of the British 8th Army from Ortona to the mouth of the Liri Valley had to be concealed from the Germans. In order for this to take place, a massive strategic deception took place.

A cunning plan was envisioned to lead the Germans into believing that another amphibious operation would take place. This one would land at Civitavecchai(60 km north of Rome) on 15 May 1944. The landing forces would consist of 1CID, US 36 Infantry Division, and 5CAB.

The deception began with pretending that this force had grouped at Salerno for amphibious training and rehearsals. Canadian signals detachments began sending false traffic in the Salerno area while the actual units went “dark”. False signs bearing the maple leaf were set up pointing to imaginary staging areas. On 2 May, a large “rehearsal” including Canadian and Royal Navy elements took place “virtually” for the benefit of German Intelligence.

To reinforce the illusion, the Allied Air Forces started flying a large number of photo reconnaissance missions over Civitacecchia and even bombed nearby radar stations.

Meanwhile all 8th Army movement was carried out at night and units would lie up under camouflage during the day. Supply dumps were also carefully hidden from sight.

After the war, captured German Intelligence summaries misplaced 1CID in Salerno rather than where it was east of Caserta; 5th CAD was under the command of the Poles northeast of Cassino, and I Canadian Corps’ location was unknown.

German defensive works were quite elaborate and well planned. One of the more interesting features was the Panzertrum. This was a Panther Mark V turret armed with 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun embedded on top of a buried prefabricated metal or concrete bunker. This gun could penetrate any allied armour to a distance of 1,200m and since it was in a turret; it had 360-degree coverage. The bunker contained living quarters, a generator, and ammunition storage for the crew.

Panzertrum were shipped as prefabricated units from Germany to the defensive location. Once arrived, labourers would dig a large hole in the ground and the bunker would be built in the hole. The top of the bunker would be at ground level and then the Panzer turret would be mounted onto the turret. This low profile (along with camouflage) made the Panzertrum extremely hard to see. The turret was also up armoured on the roof (in later models, the commander’s cupola was removed) so it became even more impervious to artillery.

Thirty Panzerturms were to reach Italy by July 1 1943 and one hundred steel shelters (most capable of housing a machine-gun post or antitank gun) were also sent.

Panzertrum were very cost effective. They were less expensive to build than a full tank. They were also less expensive to ship to the front. They required less maintenance/refulling. The bunker was more comfortable than a tank and held more ammunition so the crew was more effective.

Aquino is a small farming town in south central Italy about 120 km southeast of Rome. Even today, it has just over 5,000 inhabitants. In 1944, Aquino anchored the western end of the Hitler Line. The Hitler Line was a defensive line of obstacles and strong points which blocked the advance to Rome along the Liri Valley.

The Hitler Line was considered a Main Defensive Line by the German High Command. It ran from the mountains north of Aquino to Aquino and then across the high ground to Pontecorvo, where the Liri River provided a natural barrier. The Hitler line was constructed over five months by Todt labour battalions. The Hitler Line was built to have defense in depth to 900 meters. The entire line was protected by a 19 foot wide barrier of barbed wire, mines, and an anti-tank ditch. All approaches were covered by mortars, machine guns, and anti-tank guns. Of special interest were eight Panzerturms These were fifty foot by fifty foot cement bunkers topped with the turret of a Panther V and its 75mm gun (1200 m range). Each Panzerturm was supported by a minimum of three anti-tank guns and a number of machine guns. The Panzerturms were highly camouflaged as were all German defensive works. There were also over 70 self propelled guns. The entire line was supported by the 90th Panzer Grenadier Battalion and an array of German Paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Division.

On 19th May 1944, Lt.Col. Robert (Bob) Purves commanded the Ontario Regiment. They were encamped just south of Aquino. The OntRs were tasked with supporting the British 26th Armoured Brigade. The 26th was to sweep through Aquino and then hook behind the German Lines. The OntRs were then to directly support the British 30th Infantry Brigade in exploiting the gap created by the 26th’s attack.

The attack stepped off at 0500 that morning. The regiment had bivouacked in a small copse of trees south of the Acquino Airport for the previous night. The weather was a steady drizzle of cold rain all night and the morning advance was conducted in heavy fog.

The order of the attack was as follows. B Squadron under Maj. McIndoe was to advance along the road to the airport with Royal East Kent Regiment (5th Buffs) to take and move through Aquino. Maj. Millen’s A squadron was to move to the north end of the airport and defend the right flank. The left flank was protected by the 8th Argyle and Sunderland Highlanders. C Squadron was held in reserve.

At 0700, the A Squadron Shermans moved onto the airport. Their role was to provide covering fire to the Royal East Kent and to engage targets of opportunity.

First blood was drawn by a German Anti-tank gun well camouflaged within the Aquino cemetery. It engaged and knocked out a B Squadron tank at 0745 between the Airport and the Village of Aquino. The infantry was pinned down by German Machine gun emplacements at the edge of the cemetery.

A second troop from B Squadron flanked the cemetery and moved within 300 yards of Acquino. The troop was engaged by an anti-tank gun but the gun was destroyed.

Immediately, all three tanks of the troop were taken under fire by a camouflaged bunker with an 88mm gun. All three tanks were repeatedly hit but continued to shoot at the 88 until the tanks caught on fire. All of the crew members escaped with the exception of Trooper Jack Phillips who was never seen again.

A Squadron attempted to come to the aid of B Squadron. An A Squadron troop was sent to enter the town from the northeast but they came under AT fire attempting to cross a rail road and had to withdraw. A second troop tried the same but sweeping wider, but they also came under direct fire and were forced to withdraw after the troop leader’s tank was knocked out.

C Squadron was then called up from reserve and moved up to provide cover and add to the protection of the right flank.

Hastings and Prince Edward County Light Infantry in Italy on a Universal Carrier
Just before 0900, the Commanding Officer and the signals section of the 5th Buffs was engaged by mortars and the Universal Carriers that they were riding in was destroyed. This meant that the Ontario Regiment Tanks could not communicate with the Infantry that they were supposed to support.

Around 0930, two tanks from B Squadron and one more tank from A Squadron were taken out by AT fire. Both Captain Nichol and Lt. Symons were wounded. A C Squadron troop under command of Lt. Cameron tried to move across the railroad. Two of those tanks were engaged, set on fire and abandoned.

Meanwhile at the airport, the remaining tanks of A Squadron came under German Artillery fire. Maj, Millen was wounded by shell fragments in the head and Capt. “Bud” Hawkins took over command.

The OntRs attempted to renew the advance but as soon as a tank moved, it was exposed and taken under fire.

A large number of British Infantry causalities were moving back to cover at the airport. The OntR Chaplain Waldo Smith and his driver Tpr. Westover used their jeep to transport over 180 British wounded to the Regimental Aid Post.

No further attacks were possible and the OntR and the 5th Buffs retreated back to the cover of the 30th British Infantry Brigade as dusk fell.

In all, the regiment lost 13 tanks (nearly one third of their total strength). Every tank in the unit was hit at least once by anti tank fire. The regiment suffered five wounded and one missing in action. 

The Battle of Cassino takes place at the mouth of the Liri Valley between mid January and mid May 1944. It is a series of four assaults to open up Highway 6 which runs through the valley to Rome.

The town of Cassino sits at the southern entrance to the Liri Valley and anchors the Winter Line. The two western defensive lines (Bernhardt and Hilter) run from the western Tyrrehnian to Cassino and the main Gustav line runs from the sea, across Italy through Cassino to Ortona on the eastern coast.

In December of 1943, the Canadian Army took Ortona in a bloody battle, breaching the Gustav Line in the east. Winter weather denied the Allies air support and armour mobility, stalling any further advance in the mountainous terrain. That left two possibilities, Highway 7 on the Coast and Highway 6 inland through the Liri Valley.

The Germans had flooded the coastal road making Highway 7 impassible.

For the Allies to take Rome, they had to advance up Highway 6 through the Liri Valley and for that; they had to take Cassino.

The town of Cassino lies at the foot of Mount Cairo. It is at the confluence of the Gari and Liri rivers. The Gari river flows from a spring in the town for a couple of miles till it joins the Liri south of the town. The Liri river begins east of Rome and flows through the Liri Valley to Cassino where it joins with the Gari and flows into the Sea.

First Attack

The first attack was planned to have the 5th Army attack on 17 January 1944.

The attack would take place across a 30 km (20 mi) front.

The main attack would be by US II Corps at the junction of the Liri and Gari Rivers. This attack would be supported by the British X Corps on the left and the French Expeditionary Corps making a wide right flank against the hinge of the Gustav and Hitler defensive lines at the base of Mount Cairo.

The 5th Army reached their start lines on 15 January 1944. The final 11km (7 mi) through the Bernhardt line cost them six weeks and 16,000 causalities.

On the 17th, the 56th and 5th British Infantry divisions were able to force a crossing of the river and on the 19th – the 46th division crossed on their right. This assault put pressure on the defending German XIV Panzer Corps which caused the 29th and 90th Panzergrenadier Divisions to be brought down from Rome to reinforce the line. The delay for the main thrust allowed the two Panzergrenadier Divisions to deploy and defeat the main attack.

The main attack took place on the 20th. The US 36th Infantry Division of II Corps attacked across the river but their lack of armour support left them vulnerable to the well-situated 15th Panzergrenadier Division with their tanks and self-propelled guns. By the evening of the 22nd, the attack was called off.

II Corps tried again on the 24th. The US 34th forded the Rapido stream against the German 44th Infantry Division. It took eight days to establish a foothold in the mountains.

The two French Expeditionary Corps divisions (2nd Moroccan, 3rd Algerian) went into the mountains against the German 5th Mountain Division. A lack of reserves saw their advance halt on 31 January.

By 11 February 1944, US II Corps withdrew from the area. Causalities were heavy. The US 34th Division suffered 80% causalities. The FEC took 2,500 causalities. US 36th Division too 2,100 dead, wounded, and missing. British X Corps took 4,000 causalities.

Second Attack
On 16 February 1944, a second attack was mounted by the 4th Indian Division and the New Zealand Division.

The 4th Indian followed the same path of advance as the US 34th with similar results. The 2nd New Zealand attacked the south of Cassino, briefly taking the Railway Station and then losing it to a counter attack on the 18th.

Third Attack
The third battle would be undertaken by the 4th Indian and the New Zealand Divisions again.

The attack was to follow a heavy bombing raid. The bombing raid took place on the morning of the 15 March. It consisted of 750 tons of 1,000 lb bombs. It is estimated that less than 50% hit a mile or less from the target. Between the bombing and the subsequent artillery barrage, half of the paratroopers in the town had been killed.

Although a number of initial successes and the commitment of the UK 78th Infantry Division, the German 1st Parachute Division continued to hold Cassino. The Allies pulled back on 23 March.

It would be two months before the Allies would try again.

Monte Cassino is a Catholic monastery situated high on a rocky hill above the town of Cassino. The first monastery was established by St. Benedict of Nursia (480-527, founder of the Benedictine Order) in 529 AD. Prior to that, it was the location of a Roman temple to Apollo.

Although the monastery building was not original, it was built during the 1700s and contained and estimated 800 papal documents, 100,000 prints, 200 parchment manuscripts, over 80,000 volumes from the libraries, 500 incunabula (=a type of book which was printed and not handwritten before the 16th century), and pieces of art and tapestries.

Fortunately for history, two Axis officers (German officer Captain Maximilian Becker and Austrian officer Lieutenant Colonel Julius Schlegel) evacuated the collection starting in October 1943. The collection took 120 trucks and were (after strenuous protests) delivered to the Vatican in Rome. 15 cases of art (originally from the Capodimonte Museum in Napels were looted and given to Herman Goering in December 1943 as a birthday present.

During the fighting in the Liri valley, Allied senior officers assumed that the monastery was being used by Axis forces as a part of the Gustav line and as an observation point. After the war, it was determined that General Kesselring purposely kept the German forces away from the site. However, in early February 1944 – the Commander in Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy, General Sir Alexander ordered the bombing of the monastery.

On the 14th of February, leaflets were dropped in the area of the monastery. They read “Italian friends, until this day we have done everything to avoid bombing the abbey. But the Germans have taken advantage. Now that the battle has come close to your sacred walls we shall, despite our wish, have to direct our arms against the monastery. Abandon it at once. Put yourselves in a safe place. Our warning is urgent. <signed> Fifth Army”

The next morning 250 B-17s, B-25s, and B-26s dropped an estimated 600 tones of high explosive on the site, reducing it to rubble. That afternoon, a further 150 aircraft attacked a second time.

Two days after the bombing, the Abbot left and the German Paratroopers moved in.

The bombing decision was made after Eisenhower’s Protection of Cultural Property Order was signed in December 1943. It reads “If we have to choose between destroying a famous building and sacrificing our own men, then our men’s lives count infinitely more and the buildings must go. But the choice is not always so clear-cut as that. . . Nothing can stand against the argument of military necessity. That is an accepted principle. But the phrase ‘military necessity’ is sometimes used where it would be more truthful to speak of military convenience or even personal convenience. I do not want it to cloak slackness or indifference.”

Rebuilding of the monastery began in the 1950s and it was re-consecrated by Pope Paul VI in 1964.