The Battles for Monte Cassino

This WWII illustrated history examines the 1944 Allied attack on Italy with archival combat images paired with photos of the terrain today. The Battles for Monte Cassino—a vital stronghold on the road to Rome—encompassed one of the few truly international conflicts of the Second World War. The fighting lasted four months and cost the lives of more than 14,000 men from eight nations. Between January and May 1944, forces from Britain, Canada, France, India, New Zealand, Poland and the United States, fought a resolute German army in a series of battles in which the advantage swung from one side to the other. From firefights in the mountains to tank attacks in the valley; from river crossings to street fighting, the four battles of Cassino encompass a series of individual operations unique in the history of the Second World War. This richly illustrated volume narrates the campaign through a fascinating series of then-and-now comparisons, juxtaposing combat photos with modern images of the same beaches, mountains, and streets where the fighting took place.