The Controversial Decision at Monte Cassino

As the Allied march to Rome stalled at Monte Cassino, a fateful decision to bomb a historic monastery in 1944 remains a controversial and contested decision in the eyes of history.

Amidst the tumult of World War II, few military operations evoke as much controversy and scrutiny as the bombing of Monte Cassino. Situated in central Italy, the ancient Benedictine monastery atop Monte Cassino became a pivotal strategic location in the Allies' campaign to push Axis forces out of the Italian peninsula. However, the decision to bomb this historic site, and its consequences, remain subjects of heated debate among historians and military strategists alike.

The Underbelly of the Axis Empire

In September of 1943, the Allies launched an amphibious invasion on Italy. After securing North Africa, the Allies, influenced by Winston Churchill, decided to take Italy. Support for the war in Italy was waning. The Allies saw an opportunity. If they could invade and secure Italy, they could remove them from the war and strike Adolf Hitler's Axis empire on its underbelly.  

After successfully landing at Salerno, the Allies began their push north. The American Fifth Army, led by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, was tasked with taking the western peninsula of Italy. Their progress was challenging. They faced adverse weather, difficult terrain, and formiddable German defenses. 

The Germans had strategically dug themselves into various positions with two key objectives. The first was to delay the Allies' march up the peninsula. This would allow time for the Germans to strengthen the Winter Line and block the roads to Rome. The second was to inflict as many casualties as possible. Strike hard and then strategically retreat towards the Winter Line. And one of the strategic resistance positions the Germans took was at Monte Cassino. 

Meeting at Monte Cassino

Monte Cassino was a monastery that offered a commanding position for Axis forces. It stood 1,700 feet over the Latin Valley. With unparalleled observation and defensive capabilities, the Germans made it near impossible to bypass. They flooded local valleys and took advantage of their position to make difficult river crossing more challenging with precision artillery. It was a linchpin that became a key obstruction for the Allies and their goal to reach Rome. 

With progress stalled, the Allies faced a decision. The monastery's commanding position would require a heavy loss of life to take by force on foot. Additionally, intelligence reports suggested that the Germans were utilizing the monastery as a strategic stronghold. They were believe to be directing their artillery strikes from it. Moreover, it was believed they were reinforcing its walls and converting its chambers into defensive positions.

In the context of the broader Italian campaign, the capture of Monte Cassino was deemed essential. The Allies needed to break the stalemate and open the path to Rome. Facing mounting pressure for decisive victories on the Western Front, Allied leaders proposed a controversial plan. To neutralize German defenses and resume their march to Rome, the Allies wanted to drop bombs.

The proposal was very controversial. The monastery at Monte Cassino was of significant historical importance. The summit had been settled in the 5th century by the Volsci people. When the Romans captured it in 312 BC, they built a temple for Apollo on the summit. And from that time on religious structures and monks called it home. It would witness and withstand invasions, sackings, and earthquakes. Referring to Monte Cassino as a priceless piece of history would be an understatement.

No Going Back

On February 15, 1944, the plan to bomb Monte Cassino was approved. During the morning, 142 B-17, 47 B-25, and 40 B-26 Allied bombers unleashed over 1,000 tonnes of explosive and incendiary bombs. When it was said and done, the summit of Monte Cassino was left a smoking mass of rubble.

The destruction was immense. Over 1,400 irreplaceable manuscripts and other historically significant documents were destroyed. So too were 230 Italian civilians who had sought refuge in the monastery. The Allies' bombing accuracy was poor. Allied soldiers who were amassing for an invasion were also killed in the bombing. Needless to say the bombing sparked outrage and condemnation. 

What the Allies failed to recognize was that the Germans weren’t at Monte Cassino. They were on nestled into nearby bluffs and peaks, not the monastery. Ironically, the German commander Albert Kesselring recognized the historical significance of Monte Cassino. He ensured German troops were not positioned there to prevent collateral damage. 

Taken By Foot and Force

When the dust settled, amidst the backlash, the Allied bombings were deemed unsuccessful. Though the destruction temporarily disrupted Axis defenses, the Germans were able to regroup and refortify near the ruins. As a result, the Allies were left to take Monte Cassino on foot by force. Those subsequent battles were marked by fierce combat and heavy casualties on both sides. It prolonged the campaign and exacted a heavy toll on Allied forces.

By late May of 1944, the Allies finally broke through. On June 5, 1944, a day before Operation Overlord and the Allied invasion of France, the Allies captured Rome. But the road to Rome had been brutal. As for the bombing of Monte Cassino, it stands as a cautionary tale of the complexities inherent in warfare. Moreover, it serves as a somber reminder of the cost of war.

History for the Hurried:

April 11, 1968: A week after the assassination of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

April 12, 1961: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. He traveled aboard the Soviet spacecraft Vostok I to an altitude of 187 miles above the earth and completed a single orbit in a flight lasting 108 minutes.