| BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO - PHASE ONE JANUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 11, 1944 |
Jan 25. Lt-General Clark ordered the 34th Infantry Division to attack the town of Cassino from its northerly point. To do this the men had to cross a 3 km (2 mile) wide marsh, forge through an icy river and engage a frontal attack on Monte Cassino. The first initiative was to be taken by the 133 rd Regiment. Its goal was to take two positions at the foot of the mountain. The 168th Regiment was given the task to take Monte Castellone, Colle Sant'Angelo and the Albaneta farm. The 135th Regiment had to take the town of Cassino 2.5 km (1.5 miles) away, by travelling the road parallel to the Rapido and mountains. The US units had a most difficult mission. Awaiting on the opposite side of the river were imposing vertical cliffs and the formidable Gustav Line. As soon as the attack commenced, disaster struck, as tanks were stuck in the mud and the 135th Regiment ventured into a mine-field. Other units succeeded in crossing the Rapido but suffered heavy casualties. The Tunisian 4th Rifle Regiment hoised its tricolore victoriously on the peak of Monte Belvedere. The US 34th Division attempted several crossings of the Rapido but retreated under heavy artillery fire because of the lack of tank support. On January 26 only one company was able to cross the Rapido. Jan 26. The Tunisian 2nd Battalion captured Colle Abate and Point 862, nearing Terelle. Running out of ammun- ition, with no hope of getting more supplies, the Tunisians suffered horrible casualties, defending themselves with only knives and bayonets against the Germans. Jan 27. The U.S. 168th Infantry Regiment tried to extend the bridgehead already established by the 133rd Regiment. Only four Sherman tanks were able to cross the Rapido, the others stuck fast in the mud blocking the way. The Germans fired on the tanks destroying them and driving back the entire remaining company. Though the Germans succeeded in recapturing Colle Abate, the Tunisians were able to hold on to Monte Belvedere with only grim determination. Jan. 29, US Infantry reached Pts. 56 and 213 capturing them by nightfall. Simultaneously the Algerian 7th Rifle Regiment attacked Colle Abate and Pt. 862. At Anzio, the Germans fired 2 Hs 293s on Spartan, the British anti-tank cruiser and the freighter Samuel Huntington, both lying at anchor. The Spartan was hit and sank immediately, while the Samuel Huntingon was in flames for several hours. The next morning the freighter exploded destroying it and its cargo of ammunition and fuel. Jan. 30. The US 168th Infantry crossed the Rapido and captured Cairo village at the base of Monte Cairo. The US 3rd Division, the US Ranger Battalion and the US 1st Armored Division all made advances in the beach head but suffered severe casualties and were driven back. The Allied invasion at Anzio-Nettuno bridgehead increased to 70,000 men and 356 tanks. The Germans had sealed off the area. It was 5 German divisions, without air support, against 3 and a half Allied Divisions with air support. Feb 1. In a dense fog, three regiments of the 34th Division launched an attack on the Cassino front. The 168th Infantry Regiment had as its task the capture of Monte Calvario (Pt. 593), a key tactical point. The 135th and 142nd Regiments captured Monte Castellone and Colle Maiola. But Colle Abate and Pt. 862 were again taken by the Germans in a fierce assault. Feb. 2. The 133rd Infantry Division, in thick fog advanced to within 3 km (2 miles) of Highway 6 (Via Casilina). They captured the northern part of Cassino and Rocca Janula (Pt.193) The soldiers were pitched in bitter hand to hand street fighting with the Germans and were able to drive the enemy back to the north by almost 1000m (3/4mile) Feb 3. Allies were not able to penetrate into Cassino even with artillery support. However they captured Pt. 175 and several houses on the perifery. Meanwhile German paratroops, known as the "green devils" clashed with Allies in fierce mountain warfare. Germans counter-attacked at Nettuno driving back British troops to Aprilia and Carroceto halting American advances at Campoleone. The Anzio Express ( German guns mounted on railways) opened fire on transport ships at the Anzio harbor. The landing beaches were an open target. Feb 4. The US 135th Infantry Division captured Colle Sant'Angelo, but were driven back by enemy fire. The 168th Infantry Division successfully reached Monte Calvario (Pt. 593). The New Zealand II Corp was formed under the command of Freyberg. He was given the order to capture Cassino and Monastery Hill, enter the Liri Valley and block Highway 6. Feb. 5. The 135th Infantry Regiment advanced as far as the Monastery atop Monte Cassino, but Allied soldiers would not have another opportunity to come so close again until md-May. Feb. 6. The 3rd Battalion of the US 135th Infantry Regiment captured Monte Calvario (Pt.593). It was the key to Monte Cassino, and provided a clear view of the whole town. The Germans still controlled the last heights towering over Via Casilina. Once the Americans captured this area, they would have Cassino in their control. Feb. 7. The Germans recaptured Pt. 593 sustaining heavy casualties but two days later it was back under American possession. German divisions then stormed the Americans on the western slope of Monte Calvario and took back Pt. 593. It remained in German hands up until the middle of May. Feb 11. The Americans tried again to capture Monte Calvario and Monte Cassino by way of a frontal attack. The 36th Division had as its task to capture Massa Albaneta and Monte Calvario. The 34th Division was to take Monastery Hill from a northerly position. But just before the attack began, a severe blizzard hit, eliminating visibility to zero and suspending all lines of artillery support. German paratroopers waiting in their dugouts decimated the 142nd Infantry Regiment, wiping out the 141st Infantry Regiment before they had even reached Albaneta. Casualties were severe as wave upon wave of Allied troops were mowed down by German gunfire. The US II corps gave up the fight for now. Their numbers were cut to barely 100 men. The first battle for Monte Cassino was a victory for the Germans. But the battles gave the Allies the much needed experience to plan subsequent assaults more carefully. Unfortunately in the ensuing months, these lessons were frequently overlooked. |
| NEXT: BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO - PHASE TWO FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 19, 1944 |
| CONTINUED |