Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
Tuesday, January 11th, 1944
The first major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched.
Tuesday, January 11th, 1944
French Expeditionary Corps assail the outer defences at Cassino, achieving modest gains.
Sunday, January 16th, 1944
The US IC Corps and the French Expeditionary Corps arrive at Rapido River.
Monday, January 17th, 1944
The US is involved in their first major assault on Cassino.
Tuesday, January 18th - February 9th, 1944
US forces begin making headway through the Liri Valley, capturing ground at Monte Calvario.
Thursday, February 10th, 1944
In a counter offensive, crack German paratroopers repel US forces and previous Allied gains are lost.
Friday, February 11th, 1944
US and Indian losses mount in the offensives against German positions in Calvario, the town of Cassino and Monte Cassino itself.
Friday, February 11th, 1944
The entire US 142nd Regiment is destroyed.
Friday, February 11th, 1944
The 34th and 36th US Divisions both report a high number of casualties from the ensuing offensives.
Friday, February 11th, 1944
The 4th Indian Division reports unacceptably high casualties when coming up against the stout German defenders.
Friday, February 11th, 1944
A blanket retreat is enacted by the Allies in an attempt to regroup and plan a new strategy to take Cassino.
Tuesday, February 15th, 1944
In an effort to destroy the believed German defensive positions atop Monte Cassino, Allied bombers numbering 229 strong, lay waste to the monestary.
Tuesday, February 15th, 1944
German forces, having never held a defensive position in the monestary proper, move into the resulting debris from the surrounding mountain slopes and set up solid defensive positions within the rubble.
Tuesday, February 15th, 1944
Following the Allied aerial bombardment, the second major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched.
Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th, 1944
The 2nd New Zealand Division is charged with taking the railway station at Cassino.
Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th, 1944
The 4th Indian Division is charged with taking both Monte Calvario and Monastary Hill.
Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th, 1944
The 2nd New Zealand Division assault is twarted and driven back, suffering high casualties.
Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th, 1944
The 4th Indian Division assault is repelled and driven away, suffering high casualties.
Saturday, February 19th - March 13th, 1944
The Italian winter makes its arrival and postpones any further Allied offensives for the next month.
Wednesday, March 15th, 1944
A third major Allied offensive is put into action.
Wednesday, March 15th, 1944
Artillery guns open up on Cassino while 600-plus Allied bombers attempt to shake the German defenders.
Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st, 1944
Against mounting casualties but with tank support, the 4th Indian Division gains ground.
Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st, 1944
The 2nd New Zealand Division captures German-held position with the help of Allied armor support.
Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st, 1944
The 78th British Division makes headway thanks to the support of Allied armor.
Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st, 1944
Positions on Monte Cassino are officially in Allied hands.
Wednesday, March 22nd, 1944
With mounting losses in both manpower and tanks, further Allied thrusts are called off.
Thursday, March 23rd - May 10th, 1944
A lengthy six-week period allows the Allies to rebuild their forces - though this period allows the Germans to increase their defensive foothold.
Thursday, May 11th, 1944
The fourth offensive to take Cassino is put into action.
Thursday, May 11th, 1944
Approximately 2,000 Allied artillery guns open up on Cassino.
Thursday, May 11th, 1944
A combined British, Polish and American assault converge on Cassino involving the British 13th Corps, the Polish II Corps and the US 5th Army.
Saturday, May 13th, 1944
German paratrooper forces defending Cassino being their evacuation.
Thursday, May 18th, 1944
The British take the town of Cassino.
Thursday, May 18th, 1944
The Poles take Monte Calvario.
Wednesday, May 17th, 1944
German paratrooper forces exit the Cassino region.
Thursday, May 18th, 1944
Monte Cassino falls to the Allies, costing some 50,000 casualties along both sides of the battlefield.