Destruction of Monte Casino, 1944

Colorized footage of the destruction of the abbey at Monte Casino during the Battle of Monte Casino. In 1943, the allies completed their campaign to expel Axis forces from North Africa, conquered Sicily, landed forces on the Italian mainland at Salerno, and captured the strategic port city of Naples. The allied advance towards Rome ran into the Gustav Line, the western half of the Winter Line which consisted of German troops occupying fortified mountains and hill tops overlooking the Rapido, Liri, and Garigliano river valleys. From January to May 1944, two allied armies bashed themselves senseless against these German fortifications in an effort to advance on Rome.

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