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The importance of Memory in the history of Monte Cassino Abbey
“We must keep the memory of the Battle of Monte Cassino alive for future generations,” said Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of National Defence, on 28th May 2019 during the ceremony at Montecassino Cemetery. In front of 5,000 people and the last remaining Polish veterans, he reflected on how, 75 years ago, after three months of fierce fighting across four battles—including the devastating bombing of Monte Cassino—troops from around the world finally opened the way for the Allied advance to Rome.
The importance of Memory of the four Battles of Cassino
It was the most strategic—and brutally intense—period of the Second World War in Italy, with approximately 55,000 Allied and around 20,000 German casualties. The battle also caused the complete destruction of the town of Cassino and the historic Monte Cassino Abbey. To honor those who died here, three cemeteries were established: the Commonwealth, the Polish, and the German war memorials. Yet, after 75 years, the feelings and perspectives of those remembering these events have undoubtedly changed.
Cassino is a symbol of peace
I was told that when the Polish troops finally reached the center of the ruins of the bombed Abbey, they found some wounded German soldiers there. These soldiers were overjoyed to see the Poles arrive—they were relieved to be captured and to know that the war was finally over for them. Exhausted from fighting, dying, and taking the lives of other young soldiers, a unique bond of friendship developed between the Germans and the Poles in that moment.
The importance of Memory for the new generations
They kept in touch, exchanging letters over the years, and even met once a year in Cassino. I remember seeing them embrace each other warmly—soldiers once enemies, now friends united by shared history.
We must never forget what happened here, because war, with all its fighting, death, and suffering, must never happen again.
Join one of my Second World War tours to discover new stories about the Four Battles of Monte Cassino, and to hear firsthand accounts from the veterans I’ve had the honor to meet over the past 15 years.
We offer several Monte Cassino battlefield tours—write to us to learn more!