West European Studies

On the 15th of February 1944, the monastery of Monte Cassino was destroyed by 1, 400 tons of Allied bombs. The bombing was essentially based on the fear that the monastery was being used as a lookout post for the German Army. Two days later, German paratroopers took up positions in the monastery the ruins improved protection from air and artillery attack. From January 17 to May 18, the Gustav line was attacked by Allied formations. Finally, the Allies gathered 20 divisions for a major assault along a twenty mile front and broke through the German defenses with heavy casualties. The Monte Cassino Abbey was also captured.

The Stalemate
Initial attempts to break through the Gustav line and capture Monte Cassino failed miserably. The British X Corps attacked German formations across the Garigliano near the coast, overlooking Monte Cassino. The plan was to threaten supply lines at the rear of the Gustav line. The German XIV Panzer Corps repelled the Allied attack after the arrival of two divisions from Rome. The defenders had two major advantages. The terrain was rugged, suitable for defense. In addition, German supply lines were much shorter than their allied counterpart. Field Marshal Kesselring, the German commander of the Italian Front, could call on reinforcements from Rome in less than 24 hours.

Undaunted by the earlier defeat, the Allies launched another attack along the northern ridges of the mountain, overlooking Monte Cassino. The plan was to pinch out the town of Cassino and open up the Liri Valley. The allies sustained thousands of casualties on the first day of the offensive.

The Allies suspected that the monastery was being used as a lookout post of the Germans. The New Zealand Corps HQ convinced the Supreme Allied commander to bomb the monastery and launch a powerful attack on the center. On the 25th of February 1944, 142 B-17 Flying Fortresses with 47 B-25 Mitchell and 40 B-26 Marauder dropped 1 150 tons of high explosives and incendiaries. The monastery was destroyed.

The bombing proved to be one of the greatest military blunders in history. After the bombing, the Germans occupied the monastery and set-up a lookout post. Indeed, the bombing had been a liability to the Allies because it allowed the Germans to take advantage of the terrain. In addition, the air raid had not been coordinated between the air and ground commands. The raid took place two days before the New Zealand Corps was ready to launch their main assault. By this time, the Germans had already occupied and fortified the monastery.

The Breakthrough
On the 15th of March 1944, the New Zealand Corps, accompanied by several British formations attacked German positions in point 236 and 435. Again, German familiarity of the terrain proved decisive. The Germans repulsed the attack and forced the Allies to withdraw. On May 11, the Allies prepared another major offensive. This time, twenty divisions were added in the order of battle. The Germans fought with determination, but to no avail. Allied manpower and firepower proved too much. On the 18th of May, the monastery was captured and the Gustav line was routed at several points.

The battle had lasted more than four months.