Allied fighting position, Snakeshead Ridge. The stones are piled up facing towards the Abbey.
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Esse Quam Videri -
Originally posted by Bill Gaynor View PostHello Bill, thanks for your words.
Relics in this area are located on the surface or little under terrain, because many of these mountain areas or in the hills are sparsely populated and there is little transit of people. In the end, some of these areas are restricted.
Cheers
MarcoComment
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Thanks JohnOriginally posted by John Hodgin View Post
I'm very lucky to found this forum years ago.
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Snakeshead Ridge in a map realized by my polish friend (very nice work in 3d)Originally posted by John Hodgin View PostComment
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Indian troops of 4th Indian Division on Snakeshead Ridge. The top of the hill in its widest point was 6 meters...Comment
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Soldiers of Royal Sussex Regiment on Snakeshead Ridge...a little bit on the left of the point where the shots with indian soldiers was taken.Comment
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Esse Quam VideriComment
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No good friend, it would not be possible.Originally posted by Marco View PostHey John...you want to steal my job???
Marco
Thanks for the "side by side," another good then and now.
How is the weather in town now, similar to 1944 or different?
Best,
JohnEsse Quam VideriComment
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My dad, who was in the Fighting Texas 36th ID, watched from his hole on different days, as both the abby and the town of Cassino were bombed and destroyed. I was too young to quiz him much about it, but he told me after a bombardment they took some German prisoners that were bleeding from their ears and noses due to the concussion. He said they were in very bad shape and could hardly speak. Their bodies were wracked.
Oh how I wish my father was still alive so I could ask questions. As a young fellow, I did not know what questions to ask....but I always listened if I could get him to speak about the war, which tortured him in his sleep for many years. This picute of him was taken as I understand it in the rest area while refitting after the Rapido River massacure.
Marco, I would like to ask you about how you handle the ordinance that you find. Is it not dangerous to pick up a grenade or mortar shell that is rusted?
Are you not affraid of mines while walking in those areas? What do you do with the stuff once you find it?
While with my father on the beach at Salerno in 1984, he did not want to walk on the sand as it had been mined during the invasion. He also told me not to pick up anything that was on the ground as it could be booby trapped. I told him it was 40 years ago. He gave me that look. I said "Yes Sir."Last edited by George Cone; 02-03-2009, 11:14 PM.Comment
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Hi George...Originally posted by George Cone View PostMy dad, who was in the Fighting Texas 36th ID, watched from his hole on different days, as both the abby and the town of Cassino were bombed and destroyed. I was too young to quiz him much about it, but he told me after a bombardment they took some German prisoners that were bleeding from their ears and noses due to the concussion. He said they were in very bad shape and could hardly speak. Their bodies were wracked.
Oh how I wish my father was still alive so I could ask questions. As a young fellow, I did not know what questions to ask....but I always listened if I could get him to speak about the war, which tortured him in his sleep for many years. This picute of him was taken as I understand it in the rest area while refitting after the Rapido River massacure.
Marco, I would like to ask you about how you handle the ordinance that you find. Is it not dangerous to pick up a grenade or mortar shell that is rusted?
Are you not affraid of mines while walking in those areas? What do you do with the stuff once you find it?
While with my father on the beach at Salerno in 1984, he did not want to walk on the sand as it had been mined during the invasion. He also told me not to pick up anything that was on the ground as it could be booby trapped. I told him it was 40 years ago. He gave me that look. I said "Yes Sir."
You are correct: go to these hills is still very dangerous. The minefields have been cleared up over the years, but many other "war relics" are sleeping little bit under the ground or just below the leaves and between the rocks. From this you will notice when, in summer, turn on the fire between the plants and then hear the explosion. When I go, I do not collect anything, and I simply photograph what I see on the surface. I no have a metal detector and I'm not interested to carry bombs or rounds to my home (one of my friends died some years ago for this). For me Montecassino is a sacred place for both reasons: for the abbey and for all the men who fought and died here. Sometimes, I tried it on Hill 593 to share a little stand alone listening the "voice" of the wind .. and it is like to hear thousands of voices of men who died there.
MarcoComment
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Hi John...weather is like than in 1944: rain since 5 january, wind and very cold..Originally posted by John Hodgin View PostNo good friend, it would not be possible.
Thanks for the "side by side," another good then and now.
How is the weather in town now, similar to 1944 or different?
Best,
JohnComment
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Wow Marco, your buddy got killed! What happened if I might ask?
My father spoke of how miserable the weather was all the time, wind, rain, mud and freezing temperatures mixed with more freezing rain. He never would take us hunting, fishing or camping as kids. He said he slept on the ground for 5 years and would never do it again.
Have you been to Monte Lungo? I knew Rittmeister Ernst Georg von Heyking, who won the Knights Cross for defending the mountain against the 36th.Comment
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Originally posted by George Cone View PostMy friend tried to open something that was not to open ... and it exploded in his hands. Unfortunately when you are too young and you think you know everything you can do fall into these incidents. An other guy who was with him was woundend in his face, but fortunately is still alive because he was at a distance.
Yes I know well Monte Lungo, where the "New" Italian Army fought first time against germans. Italians soldiers tried two times to take this hill, 8th and 16th december 1943. First attack was an half disaster, second go better because italians had the American troops on the flanks.
Have you a photo of Rittmeister Ernst Georg von Heyking?
Cheers
MarcoComment
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Yes, I have 2 pics of von Heyking. One he gave me when I was at his house interviewing him. And the other is published in the book he gave me.
The book also shows a Landser Scherling who I read about in another publication. Scherling was a MG Schuetze who was being over run by the Italians. He picked up his MG and basically mowed the attacking Italians down, thus halting their attack. The Italians had already over run some of the outposts and forward positions using bayonets as they attacked in heavy fog. Scherling was killed 2 weeks later and was postumously awarded the Ritterkreuz.
Rittmeister von Heyking was to receive the Ritterkreuz for defending Mt. Lungo against the 36th div. but was captured at Anzio before he received it. He said it was mailed home to his house in Prussia. When his family fled from the Russians, they left it there as they did not want to have it on them in the event they were captured by the Russians. The RK that is on his neck in the picture was super imposed on the picture after the war. When he gave me the picture, he wrote a very moving dedication on the back of it regarding fighting my father in a senseless war.
Von Heyking told me he never liked Hitler, that German officers were not allowed to vote or be political. He was in a bad situation having to fight a war he knew was lost, but trying to hold the land and save as many of his men as possible. I would have to watch the tape again but of the ca. 700 men in his unit on the hill, 165 got off of it with him and all 4 company commanders were killed. He said he had just taken over the unit when the Italians attacked.
He was one of the most impressive men I have ever interviewed.Comment
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