WWII Footage: Commonwealth Troops at Monte Cassino

Footage of Commonwealth and Polish Troops at the battle of Monte Cassino in 1944.

This footage shows New Zealanders, Indian Gurkhas, Canadian/British armour and Polish troops.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WW2
• WWII
• Monte
• Cassino
• Commonwealth
• ANZAC
• Polish

[thrombox]

No, swanningaround is right. Yes there was a Imperial British arrogance in the war, and to this day Monte Cassino is snubbed by Britain today, because the Poles not the British took it.

There was an uproar in British high command when the Poles hung their flag on the ruins of the monastery, only to have to congratulate their counterparts later.

Field marshal Alexander later said if he could have commanded any army in the war he would have wanted it to be the Poles of the 2nd Corps.

[swanningaround]

thrombox. Alexander was quite a good guy, I think. It was Churchill who objected to the Polish flag. He double crossed the Poles, as he did to all the allies - the Americans soon wised up to him, as did General de Gaulle. It is great that the Poles put up their flag on the monastery. The major participants in the prior battles, the US and NZ recognize Cassino as a Polish victory, and also give credit to the French. As you say, the English were just arrogant.

[lovelifesolo]

A very dear relative of mine's husband died at monte cassino 2 weeks after he got married at the age 20... it makes it all seem real when you watch this... poor poor souls may they all R.I.P x

[SARTHAK11000]

Yeah gurkhas from india and nepal... Captured 4 hills for 3 days pretty short in no and supplies... Finally pulled back on 4 day as they barely had any ammo left..

[bonemrbond]

guys ,,, which brigade reach nearer to monte cassino??????? THE GURKHAS from the HIMALAYAS...

[TheSilatiger]

guys,guys,all the troops at cassino were elite,combat veterans of nth africa,thats why it was called The great gladitorial side show,to say anyone was best is nonsense ,war is attrition,every group had a wearin down effect on the defenders.They brought the best of nth africa to fight the german nth african elite, the paratroopers

[TheWmDProductions]

The French did nothing

[drfye]

hahaha..........over 70 years later and we are still argueing about the events, same with ww1 and that was over 90 years ago.

 triple entente vs triple alliance and allies vs axis ....................hahahaha, I wonder what ever happened to it being a group effort.

[1Dougy85]

@marleyhund777 The US supplies were only a supplement to others own supply so saying anything like 80% is totally false. The US was so slightly involved in convoy protection in the North Atlantic that it doesn't rate as a point. Merchant ships were also mainly British. Commonwealth also had the ability to fight in 2 theaters. The USSR could have fought in 2 theaters also if it's effort was a small as the US effort in Europe.

[thrombox]

@2manynegativewaves You are right about the Far East, but there is a difference between being forgotten as Slim and the 14th army are and the deliberate covering up which happened to the Poles.

Start with "For Our Freedom and Yours" by Olson & Cloud, less to do about Monte Cassino but it is a great foundation for Polish history, it also covers how not only the British government betrayed but also silenced Poland. For example the Katyn massacre which was officially denied by Britain until 1991.

[2manynegativewaves]

@thrombox wonder where u get ur info from? Every campaign bar those in north west europe is "snubbed" in Britain today,this has nothing to do with who planted what flag. Poland did not fight in the Far East yet the 14 Army is still "The Forgotten Army". U cant have it both ways,either British arrogence or a British FM wishing to command a Polish Army above all others. I love Poland and respect its history but the hang ons from communist propaganda still remain.