Essay - W II WWII (Eagle19, 2004) World War II and the...

W II

WW***** (Eagle19, 2004)

World War II and the Battle of Monte Cassino

Introduction

***** has been known to repeat itself. Today in Iraq for example, United States and Allied troops are torn when draw*****g up plans to win the war in the holy l*****. The problems stem from their not being able to directly attack certain Muslim holy locations or shrines even though Iraqi insurgents are constantly utilizing these positions as sanctuaries and initiation points for waging battles against the allied ********** or ***** new Iraqi government. During World War *****, the Axis powers with Adolf Hitler and ***** Nazi army also attempted to use similar tactics to fend *****f attacks by Allied forces.

This report discusses the Battle of Monte ***** and the pros and cons ***** ***** Allied Forces' actions during World ***** II. A historic shrine was completely destroyed ***** the events of ***** ***** ***** during the Battle of Monte Cassino in the Italian campaign of 1943-1944. The battle ***** one of the major turn*****g points against Adolf Hitler and should therefore be completely justified. Capturing Rome was as critical to the efforts of the Allied Forces as was the D-Day invasion because Italy represented ***** southern gateway to Berlin. Once engaged, ***** Cassino turned into a pivotal series of ***** that allowed the combined forces ***** British and American ***** to move forward and eventually liberate Rome ***** the occupying German forces. This occurred only two days before ***** more widely known Normandy, France invasion.

***** War *****

***** Hitler came to power on the *****ion that the ***** people had ***** ***** taken advantage of after World War I by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler obviously believed ***** extending Germany's boarders to incorporate the entire world was the only way to stop the injustices of the ***** of ***** "Then some one has said: 'Since the Revolution ***** people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who ***** signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as *****. (The Adolf Hitler Historical Archives, vol. 4/12/1922)

Once in power, Hitler and his generals understood that they ***** to protect their southern flank. By signing pacts with Mussolini ***** the *****s, Hitler thought that he could *****n advance west and north in his quest for land expansion. ***** was the main *****a Germany intended to *****. To do this, the Germans designated several key locations called ***** Gustave Line which was a portion ***** ***** greater line of defense ***** the Winter Line.

***** Gustave Line was the western portion and was often in remote mounta*****ous regions. The Gustave ***** had the objective of protecting the Liri Valley and therefore Rome. The Germans went to great lengths to fortify these areas and the bunkers ***** other reinforced steel and concrete