BOMBING OF MONTE CASSINO

Monte Cassino Today. The Monastery Completely Rebuilt

There was indecision about Monte Cassino. This was the mother church of the Benedictine Order and a repository of medieval art. It was founded in 529. By the eighth century it had become a renowned center of learning, and by the eleventh century it was one of the wealthiest monasteries in Europe. The priceless art treasures that had been "liberated" by the Germans were stored  there, awaiting shipment to Germany. Just before the battle, German trucks made frequent trips removing the stolen items. The reluctance to bomb the monastery was finally overcome when the Allies worried that the Germans were holding an impregnable position, and many men would be lost in a storming action.

 

 

 

Bombs began falling on Monte Cassino on February 15. Low flying planes on bombing runs flew over our hospital constantly. The noise was deafening. We had no idea where they were headed. There were 137 B-17's and 43 Mitchell and Marauders. It was later learned that he only people inside Monte Cassino were the monks and two thousand refugees. Although they had been warned to leave, they were afraid to expose themselves to the shelling that was going on. There were no Germans killed or wounded inside the monastery. The Germans moved up the mountain and established themselves in the rubble, where they would stay until May, when breakthroughs at Anzio threatened to cut off possible

escape routes and they evacuated the site. 

 

SIgns were posted on roads to Rome: CASSINO  "It is forbidden to leave road through town anywhere or stop your vehicle on this vital road.  The roads are sealed off.  The roads are full of mines and booby-traps."  It was not difficult for anyone in uniform to use a jeep to go on pass. Some soldiers drove a jeep onto the beach at Mondragone north of Naples, and they wee blown up by a mine. Warning signs were often ignored.

 

 

Back To Index