Overview
The Third Battle of Monte Cassino was a major battle from the 15th of March to the 26th of March 1944 where soldiers from New Zealand, India, Britain and Germany met in the Liri Valley in Italy. On the morning of the 15th of March 1944, bombers flew over Cassino and the overlooking ruins of the Monte Cassino Monastery on Monte Cassino, bombing the town relentlessly, unleashing 990 tons of metal and high explosives on the German defenders of the town and surrounding high ground. After the bombing finished, Allied artillery opened up sending another volley to the Germans, firing 195,696 rounds (Italian Odyssey, New Zealanders in the Battle for Italy 1943-45, Matthew Wright, 2003). With the German soldiers mostly in shock from such a devastating bombardment, the Allies approached Cassino, supported with tanks. However, New Zealand soldiers quickly found difficulty as the tanks struggled to slowly manoeuvre the many craters left behind by the bombardment, and upon entering the town, the soldiers found it in in ruins with rubble blocking streets and alleys in an already small and constricted town. The New Zealanders and their allies hit a bump when they found that the bombing and shelling had not killed all the defenders but instead aided them in some areas by improving the defensive capabilities of the town. With manoeuvrability lacking, soldiers were could easily be pinned down, which greatly assisted the Germans. Despite this, the Allies advanced through the town at a fast pace considering the environment, and the New Zealanders captured important high ground, Castle Hill and another hill alongside called point 165 while some of the Indian soldiers had taken another hill to the south west, dubbed point 435. On the night of the 15th however, rain began to pour down on the battleground, making movement even more difficult for the Allies, as the ground became muddy, rubble became doughy, communications via radio were hindered and craters which were often used as trenches by the attackers were filled up with water. The clouds also blocked the moon from providing light for soldiers to move, allowing the Germans to rebuild defences and regroup. Rain on the second night gave similar results.
The New Zealanders and Indians continued to advance for the next few days, taking the Cassino railway station on the 17th of March, but German snipers managed to creep into areas of the town that had already been swept by the Allies, pinning Allied soldiers down. The German I Parachute Division that had been in the town from its bombing proved to be adept at their ability in defending, slowing down the Allied advance, while being reinforced by more German soldiers. Throughout the battle, the attackers came very close to victory, almost blocking off the point of German reinforcements, but every time they were repelled. With the Battle stretching out and the casualties stacking up on both sides, the New Zealanders and Indians were pulled out of Cassino and the surrounding areas. By the 26th of March they had been removed.
The New Zealanders and Indians continued to advance for the next few days, taking the Cassino railway station on the 17th of March, but German snipers managed to creep into areas of the town that had already been swept by the Allies, pinning Allied soldiers down. The German I Parachute Division that had been in the town from its bombing proved to be adept at their ability in defending, slowing down the Allied advance, while being reinforced by more German soldiers. Throughout the battle, the attackers came very close to victory, almost blocking off the point of German reinforcements, but every time they were repelled. With the Battle stretching out and the casualties stacking up on both sides, the New Zealanders and Indians were pulled out of Cassino and the surrounding areas. By the 26th of March they had been removed.