Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Battle of Monte Cassino — Allied Mistake, or Brutal Necessity?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/battle-of-monte-cassino/.
Battle of Monte Cassino — Allied Mistake, or Brutal Necessity?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Winchester67
Elite
If anyone on the Forum has kids/grandkids they should be reading everything that is posted in History. They are a quick read and relay a lot of factual information in more detail than the kids get in school.
The Allies fell back, and planned Operation Diadem – the fourth and final battle. The battle involved attacks on four fronts, and took two months to get all the troops in place.
The attack started on the evening of 11 May 1944. By 17 May, the Polish corps broke through the German defences. On 18 May, Polish troops captured the Abbey at the top of Monte Cassino
The attack started on the evening of 11 May 1944. By 17 May, the Polish corps broke through the German defences. On 18 May, Polish troops captured the Abbey at the top of Monte Cassino
As a literary aside, one of the bomber crew men involved in the bombing of Monte Casino was Walter M. Miller Jr.. The moral dilemma it created for him inspired him to write the award winning A Canticle for Leibowitz, considered one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written.
The Allied commanders were acting with the best information they had, and as mentioned, distracted troops the Third Reich needed elsewhere.
The Allied commanders were acting with the best information they had, and as mentioned, distracted troops the Third Reich needed elsewhere.
This has been arm chair quarter backed for years. Truth is you weren't there, neither was I. You NOR I can second guess what was decided, planned, and executed all those years ago. If you think you know better than the generals of that time then clearly you should just go ahead and end hunger, homelessness, and all the wars going on now. Give me a break.
Smiledon#57
Operator
Right, wrong, indifferent, what is done, is done. If the Americans had lost the war, the Germans would have put the American commanders on trial for this.
I'm not taking a position on the article or battle, but learning from history - especially possible mistakes - helps us to make better decisions in the future. We absolutely should examine this battle and learn what we can from it.