Photo: Civilians near the town of Acquafondata (FR) Historical iconography by Associazione Linea Gustav. Source: National Archives Washington D.C. THE WAR OF THE ITALIANS: THE CIVILIANS 19 July 1943. The enthusiastic reactions to Italy’s entry into the war are immediately dampened, and the population of the Cassinate is in for Read more…
Photo: American barons during the battle of the Gari river, they carry the wounded to the rear. January 1944. Historical iconography by Associazione Linea Gustav. Source: National Archives Washington D.C. THE AMERICANS: THE DISASTROUS DEFEAT ON THE GARI RIVER AND THE BOMBING OF THE ABBEY OF MONTE CASSINO On January Read more…
THE GERMANS AND THE GUSTAV LINE With the beginning of the Italian campaign in July 1943 and after the amphibious landings in Salerno and Bari in the September of the same year, the Allied Powers start their slow and tortuous advance through the peninsula. Generals are optimistic about capturing Rome Read more…
THE FRENCH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE AND THE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE GUSTAV LINE The French Expeditionary Corps led by General Alphonse Juin, mainly made up of troops from French protectorates and colonies, has played a significant role in the allied military operations since their beginning: along the Bernhardt Line in June 1943 Read more…
THE POLES AND THE LIBERATION OF MONTECASSINO The war in Italy has been raging on for months. The Allies, stuck along the Gustav Line, has experimented the efficiency of the Wehrmacht and suffered numerous losses. The few and insufficient results achieved don’t lead to unhinging the front, and the Germans Read more…
THE MILITARY OPERATIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH POWERS ON THE HITLER-SENGER LINE AND THE ROAD TO ROME Over a thousand weapons are used in the offensive against all the known German targets on 11 May 1944, at 11.00 pm. That is the fourth and final battle of Cassino, which leads to Read more…