Battle of Monte Cassino

Battle of Monte Cassino
Part of the Italian Campaign of the Second World War
Ruins of the town of Cassino after the battle.
Date 17 January – 18 May 1944 (4 months and 1 day) Location Monte Cassino, Italy 41°29′N 13°49′E / 41.483°N 13.817°E / 41.483; 13.817 Result Allied victory[2][3]
Belligerents
United Kingdom British India  New Zealand  United States  Free French Forces  Poland Canada South Africa Italy and others	Germany  Italian Social Republic[1]
Commanders and leaders
Harold Alexander Mark Clark Oliver Leese	Albert Kesselring Heinrich von Vietinghoff F. v. Senger und Etterlin
Units involved
Fifth Army Eighth Army	10th Army
Strength
240,000 men 1,900 tanks 4,000 planes[4]	~140,000 men[source?] unknown tanks and aircraft
Casualties and losses
55,000 casualties[5]	~20,000 casualties[5]
class=notpageimage| Location within Italy

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. 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. They held the Rapido, Liri, and Garigliano valleys and some of the mountains. Together, these valleys and mountains were called the Gustav Line. The goal of the Battle of Monte Cassino was to break through this line to Rome.

Monte Cassino, a church, was not occupied by the German defenders. The Germans had set up defence positions in the slopes. American bombers dropped 1,400 tons of bombs onto the Cassino Abbey.^[6]

German paratroopers went into the abbey's ruins. Between 17 January and 18 May, Monte Cassino and the Gustav defences were attacked four times by Allied troops. The German defenders were finally driven from their positions, but with many losses for the Allies.^[7]

1. ↑ Villoresi, p. 35
2. ↑ Parker, p. 347
3. ↑ Crwys-Williams, p. 358
4. ↑ Farrington, p. 45
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Axelrod, p. 208
6. ↑ Manchester & Reid, p. 801
7. ↑ Jordan & Wiest, p. 92