"On the way to Monte Cassino" Italy - 1944 (2 Viewers)

Sgtkillroy1944 said:
Very nice set up love all the photoshop work!, My Grandfather fought with the US 91st inf at Monte Cassino!
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I would recommend going to Monte Cassino , I went there years back when Was stay in Rome only a hour and half on the train and very nice museum :smile2:
 
Jack said:
Todd

Are there any nationalities who distinguished themselves in this campaign that you are referring to in particular? No Australians, but I am sure someone must have done well{sm4}

Jack
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Marty, I'm of course bias towards my own countrymen and have read and heard several very moving accounts of their scraps with Jerry throughout their campaign up the east coast. including the battles for Cassino. My 91yr old WW2 veteran neighbour has also had an influence, with his tales of survival fighting with the NZ Second Division in Italy.

To be fair though, I've read a great deal about the Allies in Italy and they all have been harrowing accounts. Despite common belief, the Allies were ill prepared for the type of fighting that eventuated, particularly those that had fought in the vast open spaces of North Africa and many a harsh lesson was learned as they pushed up the toe and heel. By all accounts Monty was quite happy to leave Italy as he believed the campaign was being poorly handled. The terrible casualty rate reflects this, especially when you read about the slaughter of the likes of the poor American conscripts who were thrown into the deep end around Cassino.

My neighbour remembers the high use of flame throwers from both sides, Jerry's nasty wooden landmines, the dreaded Nebelwerfer rockets and the bloody awful rain & mud.

From a TF prospective, I think the Italy campaign offers a whole range of untapped potential, but it just doesn't seem to attract the same sort of interest as D'day, BOB and North Africa. funny really when you consider the Allies fought there for nearly 2 years. (if you include Sicily).

As for you Aussies, you poor buggers were up to your necks in it with the Japs, protecting us Kiwi's and the rest of South east Asia....:salute::
 
Desertkiwi said:
As for you Aussies, you poor buggers were up to your necks in it with the Japs, protecting us Kiwi's and the rest of South east Asia....:salute::
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To be fair the Brits and the Americans helped a bit!!{sm4}
 
Jack said:
To be fair the Brits and the Americans helped a bit!!{sm4}
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Absolutely{sm4}......and of course a few Kiwi's as well. We had quite a few US Marines stationed here too, thank goodness......ha ha some of them never left too:salute::
 
Jack said:
To be fair the Brits and the Americans helped a bit!!{sm4}
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Desertkiwi said:
Absolutely{sm4}......and of course a few Kiwi's as well. We had quite a few US Marines stationed here too, thank goodness......ha ha some of them never left too:salute::
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There were 4 Battles for Monte Cassino over several months. It was Yanks in the first try, Kiwis and Indians in the 2nd try and Brits (and Yanks??) in the 3rd try. The successful battle was the 4th try. The Indian Division captured the main German artillery allowing the 2nd Polish Corps to advance which allowed the British Eighth Army under Leese to break through German lines in the Liri river valley below the monastery. The second assault was by an out-flanking movement in the mountains by Moroccan soldiers of the 4ème Division Marocaine de Montagne who pushed the German 1st Parachute Division out of its positions on the hills surrounding the monastery. Finally a reconnaissance group of Polish 12th Podolian Uhlans Regiment occupied the ruins of the monastery after the Germans retreated .

Terry
 
Phantom Warrior said:
There were 4 Battles for Monte Cassino over several months. It was Yanks in the first try, Kiwis and Indians in the 2nd try and Brits (and Yanks??) in the 3rd try. The successful battle was the 4th try. The Indian Division captured the main German artillery allowing the 2nd Polish Corps to advance which allowed the British Eighth Army under Leese to break through German lines in the Liri river valley below the monastery. The second assault was by an out-flanking movement in the mountains by Moroccan soldiers of the 4ème Division Marocaine de Montagne who pushed the German 1st Parachute Division out of its positions on the hills surrounding the monastery. Finally a reconnaissance group of Polish 12th Podolian Uhlans Regiment occupied the ruins of the monastery after the Germans retreated .

Terry
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Thanks Terry, yeah a couple of us ANZAC's strayed into the Pacific Campaign very briefly, but we're back again now^&grin Yes the battles for Cassino were particularly nasty and drawn out affairs that proved very costly for both sides.

From a TS standpoint I think the diverse make up of the Allies and the large variety of vehicles used, including horses makes it a very interesting period. I would also have thought that the make up of the German & Italian forces and their vehicles would also prove attractive to collect?

Maybe Andy could answer this question? I do get the impression that the earlier German Para's that K&C produced for this period didn't sell well and that includes both the Camo & Grey Para's.......but I could be very wrong on that topic?

The Germans also deployed a large number of their Mountain troops as well, which I think would make a great addition to any collection.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers Toddy
 
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