[brazzaville]

Good evening.

Monte Cassino was a mountain in Italy which dominated the the German Gustav Line from January until early summer of '44.

There was a very old abbey on top that was destroyed by Allied bombers to deny it's use as a observation post and stronghold.

German paratroopers occupied the ruins and held the Allies at bay through spring. When the Gustav line was finally pierced, southwest of Monte Cassino, I believe, the surviving paratroopers simply melted away and pulled back to a new defensive line.

Allied forces drove north, linked with troops from the Anzio bridgehead and drove into Rome.

There were still intact German units fighting in the north of Italy when Berlin fell in 1945.

It's a pretty amazing story no matter whose story is being told.

Michael Frazier

[cold666pack]

Very very helpful, thanks for explaining in lay terms. Very grateful.