Cassino: Portrait of a Battle

by Fred Majdalany

Book Overview

Few battles compare with the famous, bitterly fought, and controversial World War Two conflict at Cassino, where German forces determined to prevent the Allies from reaching Rome. A former infantry... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0304352322
• ISBN13: 9780304352326
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Cassell PLC
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Good Succinct Overview

There may be many things that people can find wrong with this book: not enough perpective from the German side, not enough linking it to the general political strategies for the push in Italy, etc. It is however rightly regarded as "The" classic account of this battle. The book roughly describes the 4 phases of the battle that went on over 6 months. 1) The initial poorly prepared, and exhausted, American attack across the Rapido, how it was doomed to failure from the start. 2) The initial battle of the ridges behind the town and the rough complex night and day engagements on the ridge between the Indian/ Gurkha companies and the German Paratruops (now there is the very definition of tough fighting; Gurkhas and German Paratruppen). 3) The attack of the marvellously well-equipped New Zealand Division in the town and the brutal house to house fighting and close in urban combat that went absolutely nowhere.4) The last phase where, after trememdous build up and a weaking of the German defences to shore up Anzio, British-Commonwealth, Polish and French troops pushed in and broke the line after some of the most intense bombardment of the war. One should not forget that Majdalaney fought in these battles and has an eye for detail. He maintains that although the Germans were on the surrounding heights of the monastery, they were scupulous in trying to move out the civilians and priests and never violated the Abbey. But it was never necessary that they be in the monestary anyway since the high ground around the monastery more than met the German observation needs. Majdalany also ties in the battle well with the events in Anzio and how the Cassino battle played in counterpoint with that on the beaches. I am sure that there will always be another 800 page opus on any battle, the product of our societie's obsession with the word processing software, that will offer ever more detail, but for a measured history covering all of the main points of the battle --- all in under 300 pages ---- then it will be hard to beat Majdalany.

Second best, yet still very good.

With "Cassino:The Hollow Victory" by Ellis being the standard, this book is a close second. It is also much easier to find, which avid military readers must keep in mind. The book starts out with the overall situation of the Italian front, describes the importance of Cassino, and descibes to battle to the reader. It seems like every book on the Italian Campaign sets up the books topic (compare with books on the Bulge and D-Day), the reader who is knowledgeable will breeze thru it and get to the heart of the book. If you can't find Ellis's work, grab this one.