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Monte Cassino: The Story Of The Most Controversial Battle Of World War II
"In the cold winter of 1943-44, the Allies were fighting their way north through the mountains of Italy en route to Rome. Overlooking the only feasible passage stood the ancient abbey of Monte Cassino, established by St. Benedict in 529 - filled with priceless masterpieces and sheltering an order of monks who had preserved Western civilization during the Dark Ages. Ranking Allied officers believed that the abbey now also harbored German soldiers spying on the thousands of American G.I.s below." "One of the most controversial events of World War II, the bombing of Monte Cassino was also one of the most tragic. After more than three bitter months of fighting, with thousands killed, Polish soldiers of the Allied army eventually took the hilltop after the Germans retreated. By then, Monte Cassino was in ruins." David Hapgood and David Richardson draw upon the personal accounts of soldiers and besieged monks to masterfully re-create the battle. They assess the military operations and political machinations that led inexorably to the bombing, as well as the personalities of those on both sides of the Atlantic and on the battlefield who struggled to save the abbey. A new afterword reflects on this event and its lingering consequences over half a century after the abbey's destruction.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 20, 2011
Benedict might have been a saint, but he sure as shit was no prophet.
Or, if he was, he was less than kindly for putting monks in danger for 1,400 years by founding a monastery atop the hill of Monte Cassino, a location that happened to straddle the only passable valley south of Rome; a natural and inevitable destination for any invader coming from the south toward the Eternal City. Much pillaging and sacking were to come from Lombards, Saracens, Napoleon's French and, finally--in one of the worst strategic and tactical blunders of World War II--the Allied forces.
The battle of Monte Cassino and the destruction of its ancient abbey in 1944 was a tragedy, a waste and a fiasco, and one of the most fascinating examples of the potent and volatile interplay of political maneuvering, propaganda and morale imperatives, ego-salving and outright miscommunication to have occurred any time in war. It is a perfect illustration of the adage, "Truth is the first casualty of war."
This book does a good job at detailing how one bad decision can lead to another, until the truth ends up being whatever you want it to be, and the target became a monastery that had nothing to do with the battle, but which ended up becoming a glowering, hated symbol of Allied failure, so much so that it had to be destroyed, regardless of the real military necessity of doing so.
This book is written the way I like military histories to be written, in a novelistic fashion without the burden of excessive military strategic detail that would only be of interest to graduates of the West Point War College. Spending a lot of time at the outset on the evacuation of the art treasures of the monastery by the Germans was a good way to start the book, and I liked the insertion of the day-by-day diary entries by the monk as the war encroached ever closer (though I felt the passages were not tied in as synchronously with the rest of the war action in the book as they might have been). The authors did a good job of identifying the blunders of leaders like Mark Clark and New Zealand Gen. Freyberg that led to the needless destruction of the abbey and the refugee civilians inside (as it happened, there is no evidence that one German was killed in the bombing of the abbey, even though the Allies insisted, despite sketchy evidence, that it was being used as defensive fortress position. Ironically, it became that very thing once it was reduced to rubble and the Germans could then inhabit it.)
The book errs, though, in its sparse and even flip coverage of the battles in the mountains and in the town of Cassino itself, and in failing to elaborate on the heroic contribution of the Poles, who are almost not mentioned. The book correctly credits the brilliance and foresight of French Gen. Juin, who early on recognized the best strategy was to take the high observation post northeast of Monte Cassino, bypass the German army to the right and isolate it, and head to Rome, thus leaving the monastery intact and saving lives--a tactic that was finally adopted too late after the needless slaughter of thousands and the destruction of the abbey, thanks to the boneheadness of Gens. Mark Clark, Bernard Freyberg and Harold Alexander. The book even looks at the skittish politics of the Vatican, with a Pope who had to pander to the Nazis to save the Church, even if it meant sacrificing people and buildings.
I wanted to spend a lot more time on this review; I took a lot of notes and wanted to really dig into all the opposing factors that led to the tragedy of Monte Cassino, but decided the effort would be for naught, given that few of you seem to give a shit about history, regardless of how much it has shaped your lives and the world you live in, and no matter how fascinating is the dramatic interplay of politics, life and death and human emotions and extremity of actions inherent in warfare and its larger contexts. You'd rather read about (fictional) matchmakers in bonnets or knights with flowing manes and large cocks and be whisked away in your literary Calgon.
Or, if he was, he was less than kindly for putting monks in danger for 1,400 years by founding a monastery atop the hill of Monte Cassino, a location that happened to straddle the only passable valley south of Rome; a natural and inevitable destination for any invader coming from the south toward the Eternal City. Much pillaging and sacking were to come from Lombards, Saracens, Napoleon's French and, finally--in one of the worst strategic and tactical blunders of World War II--the Allied forces.
The battle of Monte Cassino and the destruction of its ancient abbey in 1944 was a tragedy, a waste and a fiasco, and one of the most fascinating examples of the potent and volatile interplay of political maneuvering, propaganda and morale imperatives, ego-salving and outright miscommunication to have occurred any time in war. It is a perfect illustration of the adage, "Truth is the first casualty of war."
This book does a good job at detailing how one bad decision can lead to another, until the truth ends up being whatever you want it to be, and the target became a monastery that had nothing to do with the battle, but which ended up becoming a glowering, hated symbol of Allied failure, so much so that it had to be destroyed, regardless of the real military necessity of doing so.
This book is written the way I like military histories to be written, in a novelistic fashion without the burden of excessive military strategic detail that would only be of interest to graduates of the West Point War College. Spending a lot of time at the outset on the evacuation of the art treasures of the monastery by the Germans was a good way to start the book, and I liked the insertion of the day-by-day diary entries by the monk as the war encroached ever closer (though I felt the passages were not tied in as synchronously with the rest of the war action in the book as they might have been). The authors did a good job of identifying the blunders of leaders like Mark Clark and New Zealand Gen. Freyberg that led to the needless destruction of the abbey and the refugee civilians inside (as it happened, there is no evidence that one German was killed in the bombing of the abbey, even though the Allies insisted, despite sketchy evidence, that it was being used as defensive fortress position. Ironically, it became that very thing once it was reduced to rubble and the Germans could then inhabit it.)
The book errs, though, in its sparse and even flip coverage of the battles in the mountains and in the town of Cassino itself, and in failing to elaborate on the heroic contribution of the Poles, who are almost not mentioned. The book correctly credits the brilliance and foresight of French Gen. Juin, who early on recognized the best strategy was to take the high observation post northeast of Monte Cassino, bypass the German army to the right and isolate it, and head to Rome, thus leaving the monastery intact and saving lives--a tactic that was finally adopted too late after the needless slaughter of thousands and the destruction of the abbey, thanks to the boneheadness of Gens. Mark Clark, Bernard Freyberg and Harold Alexander. The book even looks at the skittish politics of the Vatican, with a Pope who had to pander to the Nazis to save the Church, even if it meant sacrificing people and buildings.
I wanted to spend a lot more time on this review; I took a lot of notes and wanted to really dig into all the opposing factors that led to the tragedy of Monte Cassino, but decided the effort would be for naught, given that few of you seem to give a shit about history, regardless of how much it has shaped your lives and the world you live in, and no matter how fascinating is the dramatic interplay of politics, life and death and human emotions and extremity of actions inherent in warfare and its larger contexts. You'd rather read about (fictional) matchmakers in bonnets or knights with flowing manes and large cocks and be whisked away in your literary Calgon.
February 5, 2016
A look at what caused the destruction of Monte Cassino during WWII. Military historians will find much of interest.
November 29, 2022
The bombing of Monte Cassino Abbey has been debated since it occurred on February 15, 1944. At the time it was justified as a military necessity since the Germans were using it for an observation post and as a defensive position. This book pretty much disposes of those justifications. There is no doubt that the Germans were in defensive positions nearby the Abbey - within the 300 Meter exclusion zone the Germans had imposed and ignored but there is no evidence that they used the Abbey itself until after it was bombed. Pretty much it came down to the demand by New Zealand General Freyberg whose soldiers were ordered to attack the position. He demanded the bombing and because of his stature as a hero in New Zealand and the political situation where New Zealand could recall its forces to protect the homeland and fight in the Pacific Theater, General Alexander the British Commander in Italy ordered the bombing. Although that story is important, the real story is about a German Doctor in the Herman Goering Division worked to save the treasures of the Abbey. He and the Transportation officer of the Division were able to move much of the archives of the Abbey's library and art work and relics to safety in Rome. It is also about corruption where the the supply officerr of the Division stole some of the treasures from Naples that were moved to the Abbey before it came into the line of fire. Those items were sent to Herman Goering as a birthday present from the Division. Doctor Maximilian Becker deserves much credit for his efforts to save the treasures of the Abbey. Lieutenant Colonel Julius Schlegel should also get credit for providing the packaging and transport of the items to Rome. Lieutenant Colonel Jacobi, the supply officer should be condemned for his actions to plunder some of the treasure to send to Herman Goering. This is a great read and full of action and intrigue about a sad episode in the war in Italy. The Abbot Gregorio Diamare and his assistant, Fr. Martino Matronola and the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey are heroic yet humble. Some lost their lives protecting the Abbey. Additionally, many civilians who came to the Abbey for refuge were killed in the bombing and other action around the Monastery. I recommend this book to all who are interested in WWII especially the Italian Campaign.
May 3, 2020
The book does a good historical presentation of the Battle of Monte Cassino and the plight of its importance in WWII. The key to Rome or an over exaggeration of importance is a major point and counterpoint as well as are the Allies or Axis Powers the good guys or the bad guys. The influence of Catholic morals, Catholic upbringing and Post Catholic sentiment leads those on either side to question what is to be done benefit the propaganda waiting to be used for each other’s benefit. It is my first book on the subject and will make me seek other viewpoints on the subject.
January 10, 2023
I read 70% of this book in a day, a spirit hooked, devastated, occasionally forgetting just how doomed everyone was and oftentimes finding out even worse truth than I thought I knew. Absolutely fantastic piece of history. One of the best history books I’ve ever read.
Only complaint is the version I have’s pictures are way too dark to make out.
Only complaint is the version I have’s pictures are way too dark to make out.
December 20, 2021
great book, highly recommended.
Ignacio Olguin B
Ignacio Olguin B
January 18, 2023
Avery interesting look into something that I never learned in school
February 15, 2016
In terms of analyzing the lead-up to the bombing of the Benedictine abbey at Monte Cassino during world war ii, the book is fairly insightful and provides views into the monks', german, and allies' perspectives. Unfortunately, the actual events surrounding the battle there are touched on but given a short shrift. That's a perhaps understandable editorial choice, but it means the book should probably be read after a more general history of the Italian campaign (like Rick Atkinson's) or of the Cassino battles.
March 7, 2013
Good book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews