The Battle of Monte Cassino

Paper Summary:

The decision by the Allies to attack the Monte Cassino, the "oldest monastic house" in Europe, was not made lightly. In fact, the destruction of the monastery at Monte Cassino, more than any other episode from the Italian campaign of 1943-1945, remains a source of heated debate. This paper provides an overview and background of the events that took place at Monte Cassino in May 1944, a discussion of the Allied decision to bomb the monastery, followed by an analysis of the impact of the attack, and a summary of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper:

"The German commanders did not choose Monte Cassino by accident, and even promised the Vatican that troops would not be stationed there. The monastery also occupied prime real estate that held an eagle's eye view of the surrounding territory and appeared to be unapproachable by all but the most determined invaders. Furthermore, it was the Allied consensus that the Germans believed the monastery's historic and religious attributes would serve to allay any potential attack on their position. Finally, German planning for the imminent Allied assault through Italy was part of the reason for this selection."

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