Cassino

 The Battle of Cassino was a costly series of four battles during WWII fought by the Allies with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.

On 15 February the monastery high on a peak overlooking the town of Cassino was destroyed by 1,400 tons of bombs dropped by American bombers. The bombing was based on the fear that the abbey was being used as a lookout post for the German defenders. This position evolved over time to admit that German soldiers were not garrisoned there but that the risk of the monastery becoming occupied justified the action. Two days after the bombing. German paratroopers took up positions in the ruins. The destruction caused by the bombing and the resulting jagged wasteland of rubble gave troops improved protection from air and artillery attack making it a more viable defensive position. From 17 January to 18 May the Gustav defences were assaulted four times by Allied troops. For the last of these the Allies gathered 20 divisions for a major assault along a twenty mile front and drove the German defenders from their positions but at a high cost.