MARCH 26 - MAY 18, 1944
At 6:30 a.m. The Polish Battalion on Phantom Ridge was reinforced by additional Polish troops. By all appearances
the area seemed to be devoid of Germans, but as soon as Polish troops were concentrated in one area, they were
surprised by intense enemy fire. The attack on Massa Albaneta was initiated by the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division
supported by the Polish 2nd Armored Brigade. Before they could achieve their objective, their tanks were hit by enemy fire
and burst into flames. The remaining tanks were destroyed by mines, killing or wounding 18 of the 20 engineers.
At 7:15 a.m. Allied bombers reached the front line and circled constantly over enemy positions. They attacked specific
targets at the command of Polish ground troops who hailed them in " like a cab." The bombers knocked out the
headquarters of the German 10th Army and the command post of the XIV Panzer Corps. A Polish garrison held onto Monte
Calvario with only 29 men and 1 officer, reinforced by a reserve unit . But they were overtaken by the German 14th Company
and 22 men of the reserve regiment. The enemy recaptured Mont Calvario. The Polish men ( 7 soldiers and 1 officer )
retreated. The Polish men of the 15th Battalion remained on Phantom Ridge enduring the most ferocious enemy fire.
They suffered considerable casualties and were at the point of total exhaustion, their men lying wounded and in shock.
Their sacrifice was not in vain - they had relieved the British units in the Liri Valley from heavier artillery fire. At days end,
the II Polish Corps had to withdraw its troops. The British XIII Corps did not achieve half of its objectives and the US II Corps
could not penetrate German positions.
May 12-13. Violent fighting continued in the Liri Valley. More bridges were built over the Rapido. The II Polish Corps was
ordered to wait and not attack Cassino town until the 8th Indian and British 4th Divisions had achieved their mission in
the Liri Valley. Gen. Juin assembled a mountain assault division comprising of 12,000 men the Moroccan Rifle Division,
and the French 1st Motorized Divison captured Santa Andrea, while the 1st Moroccan Infantry Division made its way to the
Liri Valley.
May 14. The 1st Moroccan Infantry Division pushed its way towards San Giorgio (on the right bank of the Liri River). The 3rd
Algerian Infantry Division captured Castelforte, clearing the way for a mountain assault. The goumiers of the Moroccan
supply battalion were able to climb the Arunci mountains with barely any German resistance. (The Germans had assumed
that no one could scale its rugged slopes.) The goumiers captured Monte Rotondo and reached the Ausente Valley. This
opened the southern section of Cassino. During this time the II Polish Corps were suffering heavy casualties on Monte
Cassino. Meanwhile, the British XIII Corps was slowly expanding the Rapido bridgeheads.The French posed a significant
threat to the Germans. Gen. Juins' troops had begun their attack on Via Casilina, but not from the Cassino gap as originally
intended. His troops made its way instead through the Arunci Mountains, and by so doing breached the once-impregnable
Gustav Line. The way was now clear for the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division to launch a surprise attack and cut into the
Gustav Line even further. The US II Corps captured Santa Maria Infante. After repeated efforts the British XIII Corps
was finally able to throw a pontoon bridge across the Rapido. The Goumiers Mountain Assault team climbed Monte
Fammera, near Spigno.
May 15. British 78th Division crossed the Rapido followed by the XIII Corp but neither were able to break through to
Cassino. The 8th Indian Division captured Pignataro after a short fight. The French captured key enemy positions over
Ausonia, and Monte Petrella and Monte Revole.
May 16. A company from the 16th Battalion of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division reached Phantom Ridge for a
reconnaissance mission. They were able to capture and hold enemy positions. By nightfall the entire northern section of
Phantom Ridge lay in Polish control. By sunrise the 15th Polish Battalion captured the southern slope of Phantom Ridge,
The 5th Kresowa Infantry Division succeeded in penetrating enemy positions on Phantom Ridge, and Colle Sant'Angelo but
were met with heavy fire and were driven back. Meanwhile, the British 4th Division in the Liri Valley failed to capture Cassino
town.
May 17. The goumiers had traversed the Arunci Mountains and reached the Itro-Pico Road 40 km (25 miles) behind the
Geman Cassino front. Within minutes they were on the Via Casilina. They were soon joined by the British 78th Division and
began their advance towards Rome. After months of fierce fighting the German defenses, now depleted, began to crumble.
Sections of the German defenses were wiped out. The 1st Company of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Parachute Regiment had
just 1 soldier, 1 NCO and 1 officer remaining. The US II Corps made; steady progress on the coast and was able to capture
Formia.
At 18:05 H. The commander of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division received word from the Commanding General that the
enemy was on the verge of retreating. ( This information was obtained by Intelligence interception of Engima messages.)
At 23:30 H. Enemy aircraft circled over their corps sector dropping flares - a clear signal which ordered retreat.
May 17-18 The Germans had abandoned Monte Cassino and Monastery Hill. The 4th Battalion captured Point 493.
There appeared to be no fire from Monastery Hill. A patrol was sent to survey the area. No one was found except for
sixteen wounded German soldiers, an ensign and two medical orderlies.
May 18 9:05 a.m. Lieutenant Gurbiel ascended to the height of Monastey Hill and hoisted the red and white banner of
Poland Czech, the section leader played the Hejnal on the bugle.
