We will pick you up from either your Cassino Hotel or Cassino train station at 9:45 am. Full day private tour (about 6 hours). 
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ITINERARY
• Cervaro and Monte Trocchio
• Highway6, the Rapido River, 
• The barracks with point 56 and 213
• Monte Cassino Abbey
• Point 593
• Cassino town and the Red Bulls Memorial
• Customized itinerary available.

For further information and price:  danila.bracaglia@gmail.com - WhatsAapp +39 338 2458831 or push the Book Now button below. 

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The 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division and the Battles of Monte Cassino (1944)

During World War II, the 34th Infantry Division (Red Bull Division) played a critical role in the Italian Campaign, particularly in the bloody battles around Monte Cassino in early 1944.

Background: The Italian Campaign

After the successful invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky, July 1943) and the Allied landings in southern Italy, the push towards Rome was blocked by the Gustav Line—a formidable German defensive position stretching across the Italian peninsula. At the heart of this defensive line was Monte Cassino, a rocky mountain topped by the famous Benedictine Abbey, which the Germans used as a strategic stronghold.

The Role of the 34th Infantry Division

In January 1944, the 34th Infantry Division (part of the U.S. Fifth Army under General Mark Clark) was tasked with breaking through the Gustav Line along the Rapido River and advancing toward Monte Cassino.

Phase 1: Crossing the Rapido River

• The division launched its first assault on January 24, 1944, crossing the Rapido River under intense artillery and machine-gun fire.
• Despite heavy casualties, the Red Bulls managed to gain a foothold on the western bank and began their uphill attack on Monte Cassino.

Phase 2: The Assault on Monte Cassino

• Fighting uphill through steep, rocky terrain, the 34th Infantry Division advanced towards Point 593, a crucial position on the mountain’s slopes.
• After two weeks of fierce combat, the division came within a few hundred meters of the Monte Cassino Abbey. However, exhausted and outnumbered, they could not secure the final objective.
• By early February 1944, the 34th Infantry Division, having suffered over 80% casualties, was withdrawn and replaced by fresh troops.

Phase 3: The Final Breakthrough

• The failed assault of the 34th Infantry Division was followed by further attacks from British, Polish, and other Allied forces.
• On May 18, 1944, after months of brutal combat, the Polish II Corps finally captured Monte Cassino, marking the end of one of the toughest battles of World War II.

Legacy of the 34th Division at Monte Cassino

The 34th Infantry Division demonstrated extraordinary bravery and resilience, earning numerous commendations. Their sacrifices contributed significantly to the eventual breakthrough of the Gustav Line and the liberation of Rome on June 4, 1944.

Today, the battlefield is marked by cemeteries and memorials, including the Red Bulls Memorial in Cassino, honoring the men who fought and fell in one of the most grueling battles of the war.