Today we began our exploration of the areas around Monte Cassino. In order to maintain our understanding of the war from more than just the Canadian perspective we began our day by heading to San Pietro. This was a small but ancient town on high ground of the valley leading to Monte Cassino, making it crucial land to be occupied. The Americans would take the task of gaining this position while other nations fought for other valuable pieces of high ground. In the process of liberating the city the Allied forces used a great deal of artillery barrage, which destroyed much of the city. Evidence of this damage can still be seen in the old city as you see old walls that were once buildings and the destruction of their beautiful church. After we spoke about the military operation that took place we entered the museum to further our understanding of what the civilians would have gone through.
When we entered it was very dark, all we could see was a fountain with water running across a timeline on the ground. This represented the ancient history of San Pietro that was pure for such a long time until the war raged through and the city was destroyed! We then moved to a room that demonstrated the effects that were had upon the citizens of this town. They were forced to flee into the mountains and live in caves for months while war continued around them and their lives were constantly in jeopardy from either German snipers or Allied artillery bombardment. I have heard stories about the difficulties that soldiers must endure during war but I think it is difficult to understand what that must have been like from a civilians perspective so I am very grateful that we have been looking into that part of the story. People lost their homes, did not know if or when they would get food and water, lived in caves and lost loved ones. This story really made me understand their struggles and consider the total consequences of the war.
After our time in San Pietro we moved on to the river that the Americans had to cross before continuing on to Monte Cassino. Here many lives were lost but this operation and other events occurring in the Mediterranean forced Hitler to dramatically increase the German commitment in Italy by temporarily taking forces from the Russian front and from France. This was a serious risk and meant the Allied mission in Italy was working. As we stood and listened to Professor Windsor the rain began to pour down on us, making it quite cold. This was a minor taste of what soldiers would have experienced. For them it was winter as they fought their way across no mans land in the pouring rain and mud while being completely exhausted from months of constant fighting and fearing for their lives. So although we got a minor taste of their experience it cannot compare to what they must have felt and the hardships they endured.
From there we drove up the beautiful mountain side of Monte Cassino to a look out to discuss the Allied plan for taking the Abbey of Monte Cassino. Here we began the discussion of the controversial decision of the Allies to bomb the Abbey, even though they had previous promised they would not. The Abbey was almost completely destroyed by the war and had to be rebuilt. The Abbot at the time refused to let Allied troops assist in the clean up because he was too angry and believed that they could not make this tragedy better by helping clean. After seeing the monastery, the devastation for the destruction was understandable. However as seen in the reconstruction of the Abbey, things can be rebuilt. But a mans life cannot be remade.
Our final stop of the day was the Polish Cemetery right by the Abbey. This cemetery was absolutely beautiful. There were so many flowers and rosary’s honouring the men who fought in the war. To me this demonstrates that there are many people who still remember and mourn the loss of these men who served humanity and sacrificed themselves. It was truly a spectacular place to be laid to rest and find peace.
Rachel Cleary
After our time in San Pietro we moved on to the river that the Americans had to cross before continuing on to Monte Cassino. Here many lives were lost but this operation and other events occurring in the Mediterranean forced Hitler to dramatically increase the German commitment in Italy by temporarily taking forces from the Russian front and from France. This was a serious risk and meant the Allied mission in Italy was working. As we stood and listened to Professor Windsor the rain began to pour down on us, making it quite cold. This was a minor taste of what soldiers would have experienced. For them it was winter as they fought their way across no mans land in the pouring rain and mud while being completely exhausted from months of constant fighting and fearing for their lives. So although we got a minor taste of their experience it cannot compare to what they must have felt and the hardships they endured.
From there we drove up the beautiful mountain side of Monte Cassino to a look out to discuss the Allied plan for taking the Abbey of Monte Cassino. Here we began the discussion of the controversial decision of the Allies to bomb the Abbey, even though they had previous promised they would not. The Abbey was almost completely destroyed by the war and had to be rebuilt. The Abbot at the time refused to let Allied troops assist in the clean up because he was too angry and believed that they could not make this tragedy better by helping clean. After seeing the monastery, the devastation for the destruction was understandable. However as seen in the reconstruction of the Abbey, things can be rebuilt. But a mans life cannot be remade.
Our final stop of the day was the Polish Cemetery right by the Abbey. This cemetery was absolutely beautiful. There were so many flowers and rosary’s honouring the men who fought in the war. To me this demonstrates that there are many people who still remember and mourn the loss of these men who served humanity and sacrificed themselves. It was truly a spectacular place to be laid to rest and find peace.
Rachel Cleary