Prelude to Monte Cassino

[Homer Hodge]

Juin had what Clausewitz called coup d'oeil or, in German, Fingerspitzengefühl - intuition or sixth sense.

[Marco]

Hi John, Hello Homer...
I want to bring this interesting discussion the text of a phone call from General Freyberg, II NZ Corps and general Gruenther, Chief of Staff of Clark (I'm sorry for my -surely- not perfect translation in english):

Freyberg:
"Request for the day 13 of the support in the area of Cassino.
Gruenther:
"I do not think this is possible, General. Tomorrow there are many actions in the Anzio-Nettuno area. However, can specify what kind of target to be hit? "
Freyberg:
"I want to be attacked the convent!"
Gruenther:
"It means the Abbey? But it is not even marked on the targets for our Air Forces! "
Freyberg:
"On my own is marked! However I want to be bombed! Other objectives are less important, this is vital. The Divisional Commander in charge of the next offensive (Tuker), indicates that the Abbey is a key objective, and I fully share his opinion! "
Gruenther:
"General, I do not have the authority to order as you requested. Let me talk with General Clark, this is a decision that only he can take. "

Freyberg was a wish at all costs the bombardment, counting on the fact that New Zealand might withdraw its troops from the war at any time.
He sent Tuker to Naples to search for any book or information about the Abbey and discovered that it could only be attacked with bombs with high potential. The problem is that the Abbey was not a fortress, the Germans were not in it .... had to Cassino, on Hill 593, in Albaneta, to Castle Hill, but not in the Abbey. History and witness (Italians, germans and some from Allied part) has told that since a long time and not exist any possibility that this fact is denied (from veterans also). And not only Juin was contrary to the bombardment, but also, for example, general Keyes, II US Corps commander.

[Marco]

But the strange thing is...after the bombardment the germans was really in the Abbey, but this was not still bombed! I always asked me ..."WHY"??????
And again, a little curiosity: after the war born a strange story: Allied would have intercepted a message of an german officer ask: "Der Abt ist in der Kloster?" and the answer "ja, ist in der Kloster". All we know that in german "Abt" it means "Abteilung", but also "Abbot" (The chief of the Monks). I don't know if this story is true...

[Marco]

During works for rebuild the Abbey...

[Marco]

like lunar terrain...

[Homer Hodge]

Freyberg was the most vociferous advocate of bombing the abbey as he firmly believed the Germans were using it for observation and adjustment of artillery fire. He managed to convince Alexander, the senior commander (15th Army Group and later Allied Armies Italy), who then ordered the bombing of the abbey. Clark opposed the bombing and he and others (e.g., Juin) thought it would not make capture of Monte Cassino any easier. Of course, as it turned out, they were right.
I think the reason it was not bombed again later was because of the international controversy that the initial bombing caused.

[John Hodgin]

Freyberg was the most vociferous advocate of bombing the abbey as he firmly believed the Germans were using it for observation and adjustment of artillery fire. He managed to convince Alexander, the senior commander (15th Army Group and later Allied Armies Italy), who then ordered the bombing of the abbey. Clark opposed the bombing and he and others (e.g., Juin) thought it would not make capture of Monte Cassino any easier. Of course, as it turned out, they were right.
I think the reason it was not bombed again later was because of the international controversy that the initial bombing caused.

And, once it was destroyed there was no longer any reason not to use the rubble for a defensive position.

There had been German's occasionally inside the Monastery before the bombing. But they neither occupied it, nor used the Monastery for observing Allied movements.

[grndevil44]

great work on this thread guys, the information and photos are superb

another month to go before the Polish are involved is just incredible when one views the destruction in these images,

the Allies must have thought this would solve all their problems, a mistake they made again during the bombing of towns in Normandy

thanks for all the hard work

john

[John Hodgin]

great work on this thread guys, the information and photos are superb

another month to go before the Polish are involved is just incredible when one views the destruction in these images,

the Allies must have thought this would solve all their problems, a mistake they made again during the bombing of towns in Normandy

thanks for all the hard work

john

Thanks John,

General Juin watched the Monastery being bombed and said something to the effect of, "they will never get anywhere like this."

General Clark refused to witness the bombing.

And yes, the Poles are not even in combat yet and so far French, US, New Zealand, British, and Indian divisions have been decimated around Cassino.

[Marco]

There had been German's occasionally inside the Monastery before the bombing. But they neither occupied it, nor used the Monastery for observing Allied movements.

The only members of the german armed forces entered in the Abbey before the bombardment was, in this order: General von Senger for a visit of courtesy, colonel Schlegel and captain Becker to direct the evacuation of the treasures of art, some military doctors of the Luftwaffe and, shortly before the destruction, the officers (two leutnant) who were dealing with the Abbot the ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the Sacred building.

But I want to clarify something very important, because I don't want that members of this Forum to belong from United States, England or New Zealand thought that me and/or people of Cassino in general have resentment toward those nations for that bombing. There is absolutely no way. But I think that everything was decided too easily and without knowing the situation well. And also, all the rest of the battle of Cassino was faced by the allied commanders (not Juin) with high dose of incompetence.

[John Hodgin]

The only members of the german armed forces entered in the Abbey before the bombardment was, in this order: General von Senger for a visit of courtesy, colonel Schlegel and captain Becker to direct the evacuation of the treasures of art, some military doctors of the Luftwaffe and, shortly before the destruction, the officers (two leutnant) who were dealing with the Abbot the ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the Sacred building.

But I want to clarify something very important, because I don't want that members of this Forum to belong from United States, England or New Zealand thought that me and/or people of Cassino in general have resentment toward those nations for that bombing. There is absolutely no way. But I think that everything was decided too easily and without knowing the situation well. And also, all the rest of the battle of Cassino was faced by the allied commanders (not Juin) with high dose of incompetence.

No disagreement Marco. Have read that von Senger did attend Mass at Monte Cassino, perhaps more than once.

And perhaps some visits from German military police for reasons of security.

[Homer Hodge]

I agree. The decision to bomb was reached too hastily. Clark opposed the bombing for three reasons: (1) he did not want to destroy religious and historical monument; (2) he did not believe the Germans were in the monastery as there was absolutely no reliable intelligence that they were in it; and (3) he did not believe the bombing would be effective militarily.
He rightly understood that the Germans would exploit the barbaric bombing of the monastery for propaganda purposes...and of course they did.

[John Hodgin]

While elements of the 4th Indian Division on Snakes Head ridge were struggling to fight towards the Monastery, down in the Liri valley elements of a Maori Battalion from the New Zealand Division crossed the Rapido and through vicious and difficult combat were able to seize the railroad station. This caused the Germans deep concern.

[Frank Pacheco]

Wow! Great thread Marco, John and all the rest keep up the good work. One of my favorite Ike jackets is a S/SGT with the 442 RGT on the left sleeve and the "Texas T" on the right. Initials K.K.K. CO. A.
Lookin forward to the rest of story.
Frank

[John Hodgin]

Thanks Frank. Can you post photos of the Ike jacket here?



The Maori's which seized the railway station were from the 28th Battalion, NZ Division. Maori heritage was one of tribal warfare, the Maori were fierce fighters. Their aggressive presence was probably a shock to the Fallschirmjäger defending the station.