Cassino '44 : Five Months of Hell in Italy

This meticulously researched and exceptionally comprehensive work is poised to become the definitive reference on the Cassino campaign. The Telegraph hails it as 'a formidable achievement', whilst John C. McManus, PhD, author of 'To the End of the Earth', declares James Holland as 'our foremost authority on the Italian campaign', praising his ability to breathe new life into the grim Cassino narrative.

Professor Michael S. Neiberg commends Holland's powerful and eloquent portrayal of the brutal battle that captivated global attention and played a crucial role in determining Italy's fate.

Following their triumphs in Tunisia and Sicily, and with Italy's capitulation, the Allies were optimistic about reaching Rome by Christmas 1943. However, Hitler's orders for his troops to entrench and contest every inch of ground set the stage for one of the Second World War's most gruelling and attritional campaigns.

As 1944 dawned, the Allies encountered the formidable Gustav Line—an intricate network of obstacles spanning Italy's breadth, with the Abbey of Monte Cassino as its crowning jewel. It would take five gruelling winter months and the arrival of summer before the Allies could finally break through and seize Rome, at the cost of over 75,000 military and civilian lives, and the destruction of the historic abbey and numerous towns and villages.

Drawing from a wealth of diaries, letters, and contemporary sources, James Holland weaves together the perspectives of a diverse cast of characters from both sides—from frontline soldiers to aircrew, clerks to commanders, and civilians caught in the crossfire. The result is a compelling and often heart-rending account, narrated as events unfolded, offering a vivid glimpse into the experiences of those who lived, fought, and perished during this hellish five-month period in Italy.

Product Information:

Book ISBN:	9780857505538
Book Author:	James Holland
Book Format:	Hardback
Book Imprint:	Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of
Book Publisher:	Transworld Publishers Ltd
Book Dimensions:	340 x 242 x 46 cm
Book Publication Date:	2024-09-26
Book Pagination:	672 pages
Book Weight:	910g