Monte Cassino

Duration: 8 hours Starting from: €320.00

MONTE CASSINO ABBEY

The Benedictine Abbey was bombed and totally destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt to its original style and is the mother house of the Benedictine Order. 

The monks grow everything they have and are very passionate about beekeeping so this is also a chance to buy their special eucalyptus-flavoured honey. 

There will also be a short stop at the British War Cemetery where there are 4,200 graves. They are beautifully kept and for many people this is the highlight of the trip. 

 THE BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO 

The abbey was destroyed on the 15th February 1944. 

299 bombers discharged 454 tons of bombs. The town of Cassino was bombed uninterruptedly and consecutively for four hours by 775 bombers charged with 1,376 tons of bombs. The bombers were assisted by 250 fighters. After the aerial bombardment, 856 pieces of artillery came into action. 

Who took part in the battle: 

Allied forces: 345,000 soldiers - 2,000 cannons - 2,300 tanks - 10,000 lorries - 950 bombers - 400 fighters 

German forces: 40,000 soldiers - 290 tanks - 82 self-propelled guns - 410 artillery pieces - 200 light pieces - no bombers - no fighters 

Among the Allied Forces there were the British Army and the 5th US Army, There were soldiers from almost every country that took part in the war. The 41h Indian Infantry Division, the 2nd from New Zealand, the 91h Brigade of Australian Explorers, the 1 SI Scottish Infantry, the 1st  French Expeditionary Force, the 2nd Polish, the 81h Canadian, the 1st Israelite Brigade and the 37th Fortified Bulldozers Regiment. 

Among the German forces there was the 15th Multinational Armoured Force. 

Commanders for the Allied Forces were as follows: 

  • Eaker for the Mediterranean Operative Force
  • Alexander for the 8th British Army
  • Truscott for the US Forces
  • Freyburg for the Indian and the 2nd New Zealand
  • Anders for the Polish
  • Juin for the French Expeditionary Force

Kesslring was the supreme chief in Italy for Germany
Frido von Senger was Commander-in-Chief of the 141h Armoured Force 
Heinrich was the Commanding officer of the German Forces in Cassino 
Schrank commanded the 5th Infant