Monte Cassino

Firebomb Fritz · Post by **Firebomb Fritz** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 3:04 pm

Who ordered the bombing of the monstary at Monte Cassino? was it Field Marshall Alexander or his American counterpart (i can't remember his name) ?

101stDoc · Post by **101stDoc** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 8:37 pm

The request to bomb it was initially made by Major General Francis Tuker (UK), CO of the Indian Division.

Lieutenant General Bernard Freyberg (NZ/UK) basically took Tuker's request, made it his own and sent it up the chain to Clark.

Clark (US) was opposed to bombing the hill, but under pressure from home to the scene, he allowed his subordinate, General Harold Alexander (UK) (Clark's Chief), to make the final call. This was moreso out of politics between the US and the UK (aka WW2 2).

So, technically speaking, Alexander gave the order.

This', to me, one of the interesting points about Clark. There was HUGE support from back home in support FOR the bombing on Cassino, even amongst Catholics. Clark did catch some hell for not supporting it intially, but that eventually waned.

Doc

KampfgruppeMeyer · Post by **KampfgruppeMeyer** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 10:13 pm

you are absolutely correct on all points (ww2 2) lol

Firebomb Fritz · Post by **Firebomb Fritz** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 8:00 am

Thanks

WT · Post by WT » Wed Aug 13, 2003 5:49 pm

I happened to tour the Abbe of Montecassino a few years ago. They had one section of their museum dedicated to the bombing. I got the distinct impression that they have not yet forgiven Mark Clark.

KampfgruppeMeyer · Post by **KampfgruppeMeyer** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 6:09 pm

makes sense. but i respect clark

behblc · Post by **behblc** » Sun Aug 24, 2003 4:09 pm

When Clark decided to take Rome he allowed Kesselrings lads to escape...headline of Rome meant a lot to him but it may in the longrunhave cost lives.

101stDoc · Post by **101stDoc** » Sun Aug 24, 2003 6:00 pm

behblc wrote:When Clark decided to take Rome he allowed Kesselrings lads to escape...headline of Rome meant a lot to him but it may in the longrunhave cost lives.

No doubt the Anzio campaign and the resulting schlogging to Rome could have been avoided. Yet one giant SNAFU in a cast of who knows how many...

Doc

behblc · Post by **behblc** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:28 am

Churchill though that Italy was going to be the "soft under belly".....it was anything but.
The 1970's T.V. series shown many times since described it as a "tough old gut" in contrast to Churchills words ......Dame Astwith (think that is correct but won't mind being set right !) spoke of " the D-Day Dodgers" the men who had an easy life in Italy rather than being in England preparing for D-Day. " Big mistake....Huge !"

British historian Prof. Richard Holmes wrote and narrated a programme for BBC describing he battle for Cassio as he walked over the ground , and veterans from both sides told their stories.
Well worth seeing .

C. Udentz · Post by **C. Udentz** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:47 am

Who are you trying to fool?

You watch the BBC far too much. Is this the sum and substance of your knowledge?

Tell us something about the battle, if you have even heard of it apart from sound-bites.

behblc · Post by **behblc** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 2:40 am

Cal.
Did I step on your toes. Sorry must be my big feet.
Regret to say I like listening to a man who talks as well as Richard Holmes does and I make no apology to you.
Given the choice Cal and I believe I have that choice I can read what I want and if I have a spare 30 minutes I can use it as I choose to do so.
Anything else ?

Doman · Post by **Doman** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:17 pm

Who won the Battle of Monte Cassino?

Good site in English about Polish Resistance in WW2:

http://www.ww2.pl/

Sites about Polish September Campaign:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Sep ... #Aftermath

http://www.1939.pl - very good Polish site about Defence War in 1939.

Very good photogallery of almost 250 photographs, there are also photographs of Polish soldiers fighting at Monte Cassino.

http://www.ww2.pl/apps/?command=fotografie/pokaz

Very good site about weapons of Polish Army - 1918 - 1939 (but unfortunetly in Polish), with quite big Photogallery (pl. - FOTOGALERIA)

http://www.wojsko18-39.internetdsl.pl/w ... /index.htm

Benoit Douville · Post by **Benoit Douville** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:27 pm

It was on May 18 1944, that after many failed attempts by Allied forces to conquer Monte Cassino, this strategic point blocking access to Rome, that the 2nd Polish Corps succeeded after a bloody battle lasting seven days. 860 Polish soldiers died and 2800 were wounded. The Battle of Monte Cassino, won by Polish forces, has its place in history as one of the most decisive Battles of World War II.

Regards

UK Lightgunner · Post by **UK Lightgunner** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:13 am

Benoit Douville wrote:It was on May 18 1944, that after many failed attempts by Allied forces to conquer Monte Cassino, this strategic point blocking access to Rome, that the 2nd Polish Corps succeeded after a bloody battle lasting seven days. 860 Polish soldiers died and 2800 were wounded. The Battle of Monte Cassino, won by Polish forces, has its place in history as one of the most decisive Battles of World War II.

Regards

Its not that black and white saying the Polish won the battle by themselves,a lot of people died wearing down the Germans in previous attacks so to say the Poles won it is an insult to those very people,are you Polish by any chance?

Tom Houlihan · Post by **Tom Houlihan** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:06 am

UK, I've never seen Benoit insult anyone intentionally. I think he was referring specifically to the Polish success on that particular day, as opposed to the whole battle.

Feldgrau.net

Monte Cassino

Monte Cassino

Rome.

Re: Rome.

The Soft under Belly.

Monte Cassino

No ...its not.