Name: Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Frenchs
Brand: Monte Cassino War Tours
SKU: French
Price: 90 Eur
Availability: InStock

Table of Contents

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: General Juin and the French Troops in Italy

The introduction ofFrench troopsinto the Italian theater began with theWinter Line campaign. The2nd Moroccan Infantry Divisionarrived in Naples by 1 December 1943, and the3rd Algerian Infantry Divisionwas scheduled to arrive by the end of the month. Both divisions had been trained in mountain warfare and were eager to restore the old glory of theFrench Army. While the U.S. 36th Division was attacking San Pietro Infine, the VI Corps—and in particular theFrench 2nd Infantry Division—was ordered to take the high ground east of Cardito. Meanwhile, theU.S. 45th Divisionwas tasked with seizing the peaks along the road to Sant’Elia.

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: the French are successful in Cardito Area

After their successful first engagement with German forces near Scapoli, the French achieved further victories onMount Pantano,the Cerasuolo plain, andMonna Casale. By 21 December, the troops of VI Corps were advancing toward Viticuso and Casale. General Mark Clark requested that French General Juin attack a particularly difficult sector of theGustav Line, located on the right flank of the Monte Cairo massif. This part of the Monte Cassino battlefield was clearly the most challenging area of the entire front.

Braving a snow storm in weather typical of “sunny Italy” at present, French Goums (Moroccan Goumiers) lead mules down a white covered trail on Mt. Mount Castel Nuovo. Signal Corps Photo 1-12-44. Mount Castel Nuovo, Italy. 12 January 1944(N.A.R.A. MM-5-152398)

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: It Is time to attack the Colle Belvedere

General Clark had little faith in the French Army. The main assault on the Gustav Line was to be carried out by theBritish X Corps across the Garigliano Riverand by the U.S. II Corps across theRapido Rivernear Cassino. General Clark asked theFrench Expeditionary Corps (FEC)to plan an attack on the mountain east of Monte Cassino, known as Colle Belvedere. It was not a simple task.Colle Belvedererose 800 feet and was heavily fortified with bunkers and mines, and defended by units of the German 44th and 71st Infantry Divisions.

The Rapido River had to be crossed just to reach the position. Yet General Juin knew he could not refuse Clark’s request—if the Allies were to take the FEC seriously.

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: Colle Belvedere and the Ottaduna area

It was, Juin noted, one of the least accessible parts of the Gustav Line, backed by the enormous peak ofMonte Cairo. The initial advance to this battlefield involved crossing theSecco Riverand the Rapido River, then breaking through the defenses in the valley, before climbing over 800 meters of bare rock, all under direct observation by German artillery spotters onMonte Cifalco. Having the FEC on Colle Belvedere was essential to the safety of the American “Red Bulls.” Juin’s Tunisians from the3rd Algerian Divisionwere chosen to lead the attack. On 25 January,Commandant Gandoetwas ready. The aim was to capture Hill 470, then push along the north side of Belvedere.

During a tour of French forces near St. Elia, Italy, Gen. Charles de Gaulle, chairman of the French National Committee, talks with an officer of an Algerian division fighting with the Allies. Sant’Elia, Italy. 9 March 1944.(NARA MM-5-44-1992)

The French must keep the so called Ravin Gondoet

A raven had been chosen and was calledRavin Gandoetbecause it seemed to offer cover from artillery fire and the possibility of surprising the defenders on the objective. It was a bloody battle. On 31st January, not only wasColle Belvederecaptured, but alsoColle Abate. The two French divisions were now among the defenses of theGustav Line, and Juin felt that introducing one more division into the battle would allow them to break through. Clark was not convinced, however, and he was reluctant to transfer any American unit to the French sector.

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for French: the troops

Juin wrote in his diary: “We saw them coming back, haggard, unshaven, their uniforms in rags and soaked with mud — the glorious survivors of the regiment.” They were glorious, but only about 30 percent of the assaulting companies had returned unscathed.

All the old pictures on this Page were taken fromhere