| BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO - PHASE FOUR MARCH 26 - MAY 18, 1944 |
Since the Battle began, the German defenses at Cassino and Monastery Hill could not be penetrated. Despite heavy bombing, the enemy held fast and continued to block the road to Rome. Now, along a 30 km (18 mile) stretch from Cassino to the Gulf of Gaeta, were positioned 17 Allied Divisions ready for the next phase of battle. The US had 8 divisions: the US II Corps (Major Gen.Keyes), the 85th Infantry Division (Maj.Gen. Coulter), the US 5th Army, the French Expeditionary Corps (Maj.Gen.Brosset), 2nd Moroccan Division (Brig.Gen.Dody), the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division (Maj.Gen. Sevez), and the 3rd Algerian Division (Maj-Gen. de Monsabert). The British Army had the task of capturing the Liri Valley and advance towards Rome. The mission was given to the British 8th Army consisting of the British XIII Corps (Lt. Gen.Kirkman), the British 4th Division, the British 78th Division, the 8th Indian Division, and the British 6th Armored Divison. Reserves consisted of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the 5th Canadian Division, and the 6th South Afircan Armored Division. Also under the command of the British 8th Army was the II Polish Corps, under the command of Lt.General Wladyslaw Anders. It consisted of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division (Maj.Gen.Duch), the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division (Maj-Gen.Sulik) and the 2nd Armored Brigade (Maj.Gen Rakowski). To the II Polish Corps was given the most difficult task of the mission - the capture Cassino and Monastery Hill. The Cassino sector was controlled by the German 1st Parachute Division and the 44th Infantry Division. The Liri Valley was defended by the Panzer Grenadier Division and a few units from the 305th Infantry Division. The coast was held by the 71st Infantry Division, 3 battalions of the 44th Infantry Division, the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division, and the 90th (Reserve) Panzer Grenadier Division. The Arunci Mountains were controlled by the 44th Infantry Division. On April 11 discussion were under way between Allied top brass and President Roosevelt for a massive offensive in the area. The plan called for a large-scale deception targeted at Field-Marshal Kesselring, to convince him that the Allies had finally abandoned further attacks on the Gustav Line, and that their mission was now to land at Civitaveccia, north of Rome. In order to remain convincing, the Allies resorted to several diversionary tactics: Code messages were sent, interepted by German Intelligence that the Allies had "planned" a landing at Civitavecchia by the US 26th Division and the Canadian 1st Corps. Allied troops were dispatched to Salerno and Naples and "practised" amphibious landings in broad daylight. The Allied air forces were conspicuously making "reconnaissance" flights all over the beaches at Civitavecchia. False information was fed to German spies while Italian partisans were "put into action". The 78th Division transfered its unit to within 80 km (50 miles) behind the front line, and openly "practised" crossing the river. As these diversions were being carried out, the Allied positions at Monte Cassino and Rapido were being heavily reinforced under camoflage. The II Polish Corps, already positioned at Monte Cassino was ordered to maintain strict radio silence. Its location was cleverly concealed by miles of camoflage. The French Expeditionary Corps consisting of 99,000 men completely hidden from view. Camoflage was so successful that it not only hid an entire army but permitted the construction of 6 bridges. The Germans did not suspect a thing. All troop movements were done secretly and under the cover of darkness. The ruse succeeded. Kesselring sent 2 armored divisions to Civitavecchia with additional reserves on standby. May 11. 23:00H The Allies opened intense bombardment from 1,600 guns aimed at German positions all along the 30 km (18 mile) length coast to the Rapido Valley. The Germans were taken by complete surprise. May 12. Within an hour the 2nd Moroccan Division, the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division, and the US II Corps, attacked Monte Faito (Arunci Mountains) capturing it at 3:00 a.m. The Moroccan 8th Rifle Division captured Monte Feuci, and soon afterwards Monte Majo. At 11:50 p.m. The 8th Indian and British 4th Divisions followed the French Expeditionary Corps in an attack across the Rapido. Despite intense German fire, they were able to extend their bridgeheads. May 13 01:00 a.m. The II Polish Corps went into battle. The 13th and 15th Battalions of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division reached Point 517 (Widno) under heavy fire and lost 20% of their men. The 13th Battalion (Col. Kaminski) was the first to reach Phantom Ridge, but were caught in a barrage of gunfire (in front and both flanks), mines and traps. Casualties were heavy and the units were almost wiped out completely. Another division of the Polish 13th Battalion reached Phantom Ridge from its southern slope but also came under heavy fire. The 5th Battalion (Col.Stoczkowski) made it up Phantom Ridge in complete darkness and battled the Germans from behind bushes and boulders. |
Two companies succeeded in reaching Point 517 passing German bunkers and coming under heavy fire. The 3rd Carpathian Riflfe Division was to capture Monte Calvario (Pt. 593) in what was aptly described as a "race against death" . Under the protection of Allied artillery fire, the 2nd Battalion scrambled up the footpath, at intervals of barely 100 paces, to get as close as possible to the summit, and wait. During artillery fire, the Germans had to withdraw into their shell-proof shelters, but came running out as soon as firing had stopped. The Poles knew that they had precious seconds with which to reach those vacant positions before the enemy could return to them and f ire on the Poles at point-blank range. |
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Two platoons of the 1st Company succeeded in reaching those vacant posts and after close combat, took ten prisoners. The 3rd Company on the western slope of Point 593 took 17 prisoners. While these tactics succeeded on Point 593, they ended disastrously on Point 569. Artillery fire had halted much too early so that Germans had returned to their positions in time to greet the Poles with a barrage of gunfire. |