Battle of Monte Cassino





The Battle of Monte Cassino was, in fact, a costly series of battles fought
by the Allies during January and February of 1944 with the intention of
liberating and linking up with allies contained within the Anzio pocket. The
first battle started on January 4, 1944 and the monastery atop the hill was
destroyed by Allied bombing on February 15. Allies aircraft heavily bombed
the ruins of the monastery and staged an assault on March 15. The eventual
connection of the forces was to lead to the capture of Rome on June 4th 1944
just days before the invasion in Normandy.

But the battle at Monte Cassino waged on until May 18 when exhausted Germans
evacuated the stronghold and Allied forces moved in. At least 20,000
soldiers were killed in the battle.